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I think when white America's hatred of African-Americans go so deep as to arrest 7 year-old boys for riding a bike we are more than in trouble in this country. What happen to the times when officers were friendly, talk to the child and tried to be a mentor. We have certainly gone back in time - slavery time. It is time for the people to stand up and say - NO MORE!
2:12 PM | B Wall
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This ignorance just keeps feeding the line that a Black life does not matter. It's a travesty that in this day and age, with all the other world problems, that children are being treated like criminals. A tantrum can result in a felony; that alone impacts this young girls life before it even gets started! Jail for riding a bike on a side walk... absolutely crazy!
5:33 PM | Anonymous
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Unfortately, times have changed. When I was growing up there were many things to do and it took a village to rise a child. I live in an area where quite a few of the children have no guidance and have become worse then the teens... So depending on thesiutation, in some circumstances children should be arrested, (sort of like being scared straigt).. especially if we have repeated problems from them.. Don't get me wrong, I believe children can be rehabilited if the right resoures are availabe. We must also recognize that now a days children are more mature them back in the day... As far as Desre'e Watson goes, if this was her first time acting in this disruptive manner, perhaps they should have had a counsellor speak with her. It could have been an emotional problem and sending here to jail was not the best remedy. I agree with Pam Burnham, different situation call for different solutions.
6:49 PM | W. Walcott
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Its really crazy how now a days just because a child a 6year old at that gets arrested for acting out. When all of us were that age we all were like that but now children are getting charges brought against them its crazy. But if it was little billy or becky that would have just gotten a time out.
8:20 PM | michelle
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I am a teacher and see many many students act out. Different situations do take different measures. It's easy to say everything is racial but what are we doing as the community to help these children who are raising themselves and just do what they see. Today's children are so much different from prior generations. I am amazed daily and even more amazed at the parents (some are older). America sees what they want to see but what are we doing about our children. We can't expect the oppressor to take care and nurture the oppressed. There is a deep seeded problem in America called hatred but there is a greater problem with us that we must address with ourselves.
8:51 PM | candice
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I work as a Youth Rehabilitation Counselor in Delaware. I see the disruptive, disrespectful behavior of children of ages ranging from 9-18. I believe if children are held accountable for their behavior at an early age then I would not see some of thesechildren at the tween age. I do believe that some of this behavior extends from their home life i.e. parental education or lack of. But at a certain age a child needs to be responsible for their decisions, behaviors, and consequences that comes along with it. If anyone is to blame it is the PARENTS! If my child was disruptive in school, she would need to worry about me not the police!!!!
9:55 PM | Stacey Conway
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I agree that there should be some consequences for acting out. Children in America do not believe that there are consequences to their actions. Many people say arresting this child was wrong, but what should they have done. I do not agree with arresting children but we live in a society where we have a lot of parents who have to work 1 to 2 jobs to provide for their children. Because of their hectic schedules as well as having multiple children they may not have the time needed to spend an properly discipline their children. When I was a child, my parents gave the teachers permission to discipline me and knowing that, I was always on my best behavior. My point is alot of people mention "It takes a Village to raise a Child", but the mindset of parents today makes it difficult for that Village to step in and help them out. So no the child should be arrested, the parent should for not teaching their child how to act in public.
9:58 PM | Stephanie
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I think that this is a scare tactic used by police and authorities so that they children fear them. Alot, of times when they are older who cares if the cops, teachers or any one of adult age tells our children what is right or wrong because in most casesby then it is too late. I am a mother of six five of which are sons and from the very beginning with all of our children we raised them to show respect thus, first by setting an example. I teach,and I see alot of children across color lines who have no respect when they are being spoken too. And, as for the parents who are at most times just as ignorant as the children there is no negotiating. Please, don't get me wrong I am against arresting children (depending on their circumstances)or even making believe that children are going to be arrested(happened to my son while in a hospital at the age of four) But, I also believe that it is up to us as a people to raise our children first and not wait for the law to get involved to show them
10:04 PM | keke
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My son was arrested in 2007 for stealing a video game from the gym at school. He brought the item back before he was asked, and apoligized. What he got in return was handcuffed, and a ride to jail. The school called the police before they called me. My son had no prior record. The only thing he had ever been iin trouble for was not turning in his homework, and eating candy in the hallway. It was obvious by the demeanor of the vice-principle that she was somewhat afraid of my son, and was wanting him out of her school.
11:08 PM | A. Boswell
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It is a shame that society would even take the time to arrest a baby, because that's what they are they need to deal with the real criminals and leave the babies alone.
1:28 AM | Anonymous
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my heart cries out to the child who is mistreated by the system. we have to start going to our city council meetings and know what is going on in our communities. we do have a voice and we know how to use it when things get way out of hand but we need to you use that voice before things get bad. alot of times black children don't get second chances when it comes to the police. my son was charged with assualt charges on a teacher. a known gang banger hit him in the head and he finally got tired and hit him back but a teacher came from the back and tried to stop him and he slipped and fell. the school called it an accident. to make a long story short, felony charges are on his record for assault of a teacher.
8:22 AM | brenda williams
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I am very sad to hear this, because I have a son and it could happen to him I tell my son every day that I love him and to have a good day. Unfortunately parents today don't tell their kids that. When I was growing up we had respect for our parents and adults around us. Our kids have to have respect for themselves and others. The world we live in today, we, and again I say we have to school our children about the problem in America called hatred. The problem comes from the raising we have for our kids if you teach hatred that what they learned.
11:50 AM | Angela
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What has happen to America? Locking up children at this age is not going to solve the problems of white visa black crime. Mind you if this was a white child it would of made NBC, ABC CNN, ECT.... To change America and the downfalls of society We must all change our minds, about how we truly feel about each other and each ethnic groups . It is Easy to say , but rarely done!!
9:32 PM | Chelle
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I read all of the posts before responding and I think each person has valid points. I come down squarely on the side of NOT arresting children, particularly children who are just losing their baby teeth, and who are not committing Class 1/Class A crimes, i.e., felonies. Many points for and against parents, teachers and school systems can be made; however, I believe the problem is wider and deeper than just that. The problem is systemic. The problem is rooted in evil. The problem will not change simply because we want it to. The solution, though, is worth dying for. I wish I still had the code of student conduct booklet from when I was a child, which included school rules and penalties for breaking those rules. I'm sure it would read quite differently than the ones that my children receive now. Back then, the rules and regs WERE NOT based on local/municipal juvenile justice system laws and ordinances. America eats her young... Alive
10:01 PM | Mary - Atlanta by way of Miami
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Seeing this story really angers and saddens me. To know that we live in a society where children are jailed for "being children" is a very serious and scary thing. I am the mother of a 5 year old little girl and I could no imagine getting a phone call informing me that my daughter was arrested by the police for having a temper tantrum at school. I see that many here have mentioned that today's children are not like yesterday's children and that today's families are also not the same as yesterday's families being that many have multiple children and have to work 2 and 3 jobs. This may be true, however, does this mean that families who do not fit the societal nuclear mold should be punished or that what happens to them does not matter? Does this mean that because a mother is a single parent or a dad is a single dad and has to work more than they are able to parent that she or he is a bad parent? I don't think so. I think she or he is a parent who is very much like many parents tod
10:15 PM | Barbara
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To me what these cases are showing and also some of the comments is the failure to put CHILDREN FIRST!! You may have to work 2,3 jobs put WHO decided to have CHILDREN, Living in Baltimore and in the same area as Gerard in some twisted way the police weretrying to help!! Figuring scare him now and they won't have to arrest or worst(shoot) him 10 years down the road. It does take a village to raise a child put with parents attacking teachers, egging the children to beat each other into coma's we need to stop fighting with authorties for doing the only thing they know. We needed to take a HARD LONG LOOK at the parents of OUR children and start holding them ACCOUNTABLE!!!
11:03 PM | Cassandra
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How long will we paint ourselves as victims??? That little boy who was arrested for sitting on a dirt bike was 7 years old, where was his mother? Before Essence writes a story, it should thoroughly investigate. That little boy's mother was under investigation for crimes against the community (drug dealing). Dirt bikes are illegal and a menace to the citizens of Baltimore City. And last but not least, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START LOOKING AT THE LACK OF PARENTING THAT BLACK CHILDREN ARE RECEIVING? We expecteveryone in society to do something about it except the ones that are responsible for our children,US. These children are our future, let's not throw away another generation because of our community's inability to accept personal responsibility. Everyone was up in arms about the statements that Bill Cosby made, HE WAS RIGHT! WAKE UP BLACK AMERICA, the prince is not coming. We have to save ourselves.
11:05 PM | Dana
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oh so they will take a black baby off to jail before they take a white man to jail i bet if there were a white male on da other side of the street they woldnt say nothing theyll probably ask him if he needs help. this is a shame. and they wonder why dontnobody trust what we call the law. smh
11:51 PM | miaa
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That is so very sad! I don't think words can express my anger for a six year old being treated that way. Wake up everybody. If we allow this to happen, we are only allowing it to happen to someone's child. What next, a child being shot by the police because the cop felt his life was in danger? Sounds familiar doesn't it? Put your child in the picture and see how you would feel. Let's stop hating on each other and start standing with each other.
12:16 AM | Terrence
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THAT IS POSSIBLEM LITTLE KIDS CAN BE ARREST NEVER HEAR THAT. MUST HAVE TEENS ONLY BUT 6 YEAR OLD NEVER DO THAT ARREST LITTLE KID. THEY IS WRONG POLICE NO REARSON KIDS :(
1:05 AM | Debra Nicholas
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I THINK SO PARENTS PLS WATCH OF RESPECT TO KIDS AT HOME MUST ON TIME HOME.. DO NOT ALONE KID SELF STORE ANYTHING SO MATTER. PLS MUST HAVE PARENTS WITH KIDS. MY SON ALWAY WITH ME ONLY GROW UP WITH ME NOT HE ALONE NO WAY. MY SON IS VERY GOOD SMART GROW UP HAVE SIGN L. INTERPRTER FOR ME ONLY SOOO MUCH MY HEART MY SON.
1:10 AM | Debra Nicholas
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Andrea Yates can kill five children and not get charged with murder because she was a white mother and so she must have been stressed and received sympathy. Why is it when black children do things that are not acceptable they are demonized and sent to jail. There is no way that someone can convince me that it is appropriate to send a child to jail for a temper tantrum or for riding a bike. Even if he drove a car on the sidewalk it would have not warrented those actions. I have three sons and I am really scared for them, not because they are bad kids and don't come from a god fearing familky, but because of the obviuos predijudice that are set upon them as soon as they are looked at. My 22 year old college graduate, dread lock wearing young man has been pulled over by the cops to many times to count. when is going to stop.
7:34 AM | Anonymous
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I think we are reverting back to the way things were in the sixties, individuals feel it is ok to treat African Americans as nothing but 2nd class citizens, racism is rearing it's ugly head and becoming worse. We have an African American man running forpresident but our African American boys are being thrown in jail for riding a bike on a pavement. It's a shame and it hurts that this is allowed to happen. We have to stop allow the justice system from treating our young men and women as if they are nothing but criminals. Children will be children, but if we as parents have to teach them morals and respect, they will grow to give and demand to be treated the same. It's a shame that in this day and age a police officer felt is was necessary to arrest a 7 year-old child for riding his bike on a pavement. We have to do better and demand what we deserve, to be treated like any other individual, not judge and convicted becuase of our skin color.
8:00 AM | T Warren
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I work with children everyday and to have a young child arrested is damaging to that child we teach our children to respect authourity but when you have them arrested for riding a bicycle on a sidewalk or crawling under a table for crying is going to far; instead how creating a place for them to ride bikes, how finding out why that child is crying think before you pick up the phone to call 911 for something like that.
8:38 AM | Anonymous
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We live in a time and age that things are constantly changing and our children are being exposed to so many more things. Yes as parents there are times that we may need to step up and for some reason that doesn't happen. But, when a 6 year old child isarrested and charged with a felony we have begun to loose sight of community. We no longer live within that and unfortunately its beginning to show.
9:18 AM | S.Davis
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I am a case manager contracted through the Department of Children's Services. It is normal to have a case with children who are unruly and disruptive at school. I have had children who have physically assaulted prinicipals and teachers, cursed, screamed at and even cursed
9:21 AM | Roxy Slay
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This type of behavior from the cops will stop when we start to invest in our own children, businesses, churches, schools and politicians. When we start to love ourselves enough to not let society or the media dictate who we are as a race. As parents, we need to make more sacrifices in putting our kids needs first , by volunteering in the schools, parent teacher conferences, mentoring, ect. Home schooling is another option, because we can incorporate our own culture in the currriculum, so our children can have a better perspective of what and who we are as a race. Leave no black child left behind. Take care of home. Love one another. Always pray for a better world for our children.
9:35 AM | Sherice
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This is an outrage. We need to do what ever is necessary to protect our children from this. If this is only happening to our children, obviously it's racially motivated, because children of all nationalities will out this way sometimes. So it's not about the behavior, it's an attack on the black children. The long term effect of this couldb be devistating to an adult let alone, a child. First of all the parents need to discipline the children and if necessary, give the teacher permission to disciplinethem, but getting them arrested is just way too far!!!
9:41 AM | Anonymous
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I want to know one thing was the child warned. Meaning were there signs posted, was the child or children advised not to drive dirt bikes on the sidewalks. We get so caught up on the child, but lessons must be learned and when I last heard dirt bikes, motor bikes were made to be used in a open space and not a residential sidewalk. I know some may think I am being harsh, but take in consideration those who have to walk where those 7 year old boys were riding their dirt bikes, they could of easily beenhurt or worse.
9:53 AM | E
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When I was a child, teachers demanded respect. It was there duty to control the children and to provide a positive learning environment. I feel that now more concern is with keeping the "peace" and allowing kids to be themselves. At the age of 6, a child does not know who they are and look to adults to guide them. Children need nourishment to grow, not agreement and not passivity. Teachers are not molding the children like they use to. They don't involve the parents as they should and to be totallyhonest, they often give kids too many options. What happened to giving detention when kids didn't behave? What happened to sending them to the principal's office when they acted out? What happened to writing on the board 100xs "I will be respectful ofothers?" Teachers need to go old-school because it worked. Teachers should have an interest in a child's success. It is not soley about teaching abc's and 123's... Parents, we have to step up too. We have to monitor the teachers.
12:56 PM | Yvette
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What a tragedy that Black America is punished criminally for actions that White America is offered therapy for. When does equality begin?
2:10 PM | R Thompson
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I have seen it happen to my three children. They get judge for being Black. Teacher's assume that they are trouble makers with no guidance at home. When they find out that my husband is an engineer with a masters and I am a business owner their tune changes. My 6 year old son got written up for inapropriate touching
2:39 PM | Toni Chain
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I think it's cruel for the police to single out our black children,but on the flip side of it. The police our helping our youth at an early age. if they choose not to arrest the white children. then they will put more in jail as they get older. Whites think they are trying to out smart black people. But as far as i am concerned it helps. look at our black youths today. horrible. no adults to assist them as they get older. we need more black professionals. White people are ignorant. they are killing each other in malls,schools, taking purses in church.ok, so think about it. We become stronger,with their assist and the parents of the children who are being harassed. It's a blessing from god. think about it.
5:16 PM | Blackice48@msn.com
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I think it helps, hell with what anyone else has to say. When a store gets robbed i hold my breath because i am hoping it's not a black person. when my son was out taking people's property. his ass had to go. but not to jail. to boys town. education..ourbabies are dying everyday.drive by shootings., child gets hit. you was the shooter? young black adult who who did not have that teaching from a black mother. some of us raise our children by ourselfs. haave you ever went into a store and watch a white child curse out their mom. what does she do. nothing.sit you kids down an put a book in their face. give them a house hold chore. because this is their life. and a lot of black young adults are locked up. that what piss me off. and my son, he is a black electrian. hello
5:32 PM | it time to listen
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far too many black men have become victims of volience. so do you want our young youths to become victims. well they are. sometime police interavtive will save a young black adults life. if they don't like going to jail at an early age. then hopefully they will not put themselves in jail at a later age.
5:39 PM | Anonymous
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I can't think of any situation that constitutes arresting children at 6 or 7 years of age! I wish to be fully informed of both cases to make a more intelligent and well informed response. I have worked in middle schools and high schools and I am appalled at the parents who fight (physically) and curse in front of their children. With that said, I have seen many of "our" children react with violence too (including verbal). Too many of "our" children want to retaliate with fighting and/or with weapons,as they perhaps were beaten and were witnesses of violence in their own home early on. All I can say, may God bless us all in finding resolution and SOON!
5:57 PM | DS
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What has happen to turn you against the children? You mean it's time for the mothers and fathers to worry about their children being treated so unjustly? Isn't enough to see and hear everyday of a black man or a black woman being locked up? Now to read what you are doing to the children. When is all of this going to stop? And I think it is up to the people to stand up now and let them know we will not take this. I don't care if everyone has to march and parade with signs. We take care of their babies and the lock up our babies. They want to even give the babies a record where they will have them on file for future arrest. It's time for action not talk. Please wake up my people.
10:31 PM | Shareing a thought.
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Oh, my goodness. This is ridiculous! We can't just sit back and let this happen. We need to do something. This discrimination can ruin people's lives. America is supposed to be the land of oppurtunities, but it is never going to be that way if things like this happen repeatedely.
12:34 AM | Neena
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i think america is afraid of the educated black child. so they lock them up at a young age to break them. i also feel that the teachers, principals are lazy.they do not want to be bothered with the slightest problem in school. when i was a kid if you gotin trouble the treacher would handle it inside the class. the principal was only called if your mouth got out of hand and we respected adults back then also. see when the adults do not respect the kids, they get no respect. i saw the footage of the little girl. the teacher was taunting her and encouraging her behavior. she was not trying to calm her down at all. everyone wants nice paycheck but he or she does not want to work for it.
2:29 AM | Anonymous
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We are teaching kids to fear and distrust the police. If something happens and they are in need of help, they may think twice and who knows what may be lost....our life or theirs. Something needs to be done and quick.
1:11 PM | Tashiaj
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I feel is not a black on white problem than its parents not parenting problem. There are problems with children's behavior all over this country. Children in the school system are not being helped with their issues and counseled . Yes, the child riding the bike on the street should have been handled with a kind warning from the officer, but other instances of children misbehaving and causing disturbances in the school/classroom should be handled accordingly. Children are sent to school to learn and nothave their education sacrificed for misbehaved students. Parents get into your child's school and take lead in our future black society. They need guidance, leadership, morals and values from you. Then this topic would not be an issue to debate.
2:10 PM | Elaina Moore
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While this is an unfortunate case - something was needed and I don't believe it should have been jail. As ever case is different what about the 7yr. boy that went joy riding last month in his grandmother's car. He picked up his cigarette smoking friend(same age) and proceeded on a rampage hitting everything in sight. And when caught by the police the only thing he had to say was how he enjoyed doing bad things and that his mother and grandmother should be responsible for paying back the damages. It's this mentality that scares me. Today's youth are having a lot more problems coping and help is needed from everyone not just the parents but the community and yes sometimes the police. But again, the action should fit the crime and in this case I am sure a stern warning would have been more than enough.
4:25 PM | Resheemah
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why are so many youth walking around being arrested when there are grown adults that need to be locked. the world is crazy, I just dont understand. when i was coming up it was safe to play outside, now there is so much crime and injustice that its just not safe.
1:46 AM | CONFUSED IN LOS ANGELES
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I am in law enforcement and a single mother of three boys. I raised my children to respect THEMSELVES and others and any problems with an adult should be brought to my attention. I totally agree that it takes a village to raise a child, but there are some parents who would prefer that you MIND YOUR BUSINESS, and leave their child alone. The 7 year old child may not have known he was doing anything wrong, all he knew was that he was having fun. True, someone could have been hurt, but I honestly feel the police should have taken this child to his parents and advised them that it is unlawful to ride a dirt bike on the sidewalk/city limits. Think of the mental and emotional stress placed on a mind so young.
7:37 AM | dyamonds
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This is totally ridiculous! He is seven! Riding a bike on the sidewalk is a minor infraction, not a crime for arrest. As children, how many of us rode our bikes on the sidewalk, out of fear of riding in the street? For a child of seven it makes perfect sense. This child should not have been arrested nor detained. The officer should have simply explained t
8:36 AM | Terri L.
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I think that is crazy to arrest such a young child. But for riding a bike that make this even more crazy. A child is going to be a child and I dont think he was bothering anyone, just having fun. And for the little girl this is a child and like the mother say I dont know any one who cann't handle a 6 year old too. Many kid have tantrums and disrupt the classroom many time. But this is a kindergarden class, what do you expect. omg
8:48 AM | Paula
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Please don't be fooled by the age. Some of these children are "adult" in actions, foul-mouthed, and vandalism. So, I say "bravo" to the cops. By the way, in this town, children are not supervised and will trespass in a heartbeat. And, their "mothers" will shout, "(s)he is just a child." Tell an insurance company that when dents must get fixed or when a homeowners has to clean up the mess!
1:11 AM | coatesville, pa
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Being the mx of 2 boys I am deeply concerned about how quickly our young ones are being arrested. My hope is that something will be done about this as soon as possible!
10:16 AM | concerned mx in Florida
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So did they want to boy to ride the dirt bike with traffic?? And the school should have called that girl parents so they could beat her tail for acting like she lost her mind. Are they trying to scard these kids straight or have it so that they will return to jail? We are suppose to be helping our kids not hurting them. Its already bad enough that the police in NY got a pat on the back for the Sean Bell case. This is crazy....we need to pray more now than ever!!!!! Lets bless God
12:00 PM | Rissa, VA Beach VA
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This is truly an outrage. However, we as black americans need to stop acting like this is new. We also need to start being accountable for the lessons we teach our children. Disrespectful behavior, disregard for law/authority, being the proverbial bay-bay kid is not acceptable. Slave labor is in effect. The more minority children they can get used to being locked up the more legalized slave labor the powers that be can use. Alot of the negativity that needs to be changed is also in our own communities. We have to stop overlooking things and confront negative behaviors immediately. White america isn't worried about us, because they no longer feel we are a force to be dealt with. We became complacent, while our cultures' extract was being being removed. Now, alot of people think black america is GHETTO FABULOUS---GLOBALLY!!!!!
1:13 PM | MsO-Cali
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Alot of black children are not being properly parented. They are running around like wild cats, terrorizing the communites. It's not a nice thing to say but, it's the truth. Some mothers/fathers are working. However, a great number are just trifling. Some are just collecting checks. Putting emphasis on material things first instead of teaching the child how to strive for an education and a different way out of the ghetto. Gand banging is the other trick, not only do they become slaves to their own kind, but they ultimately become slaves of the penal system. We have to get us right first, and unite as a culture. If immigrants can come to america dirt poor then find a way to become legitimate business owners, we have to accept that we have to get our stuff together. Bottom line.
1:26 PM | MsO-Cali
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What a shame that the Florida Police Department does not have anything better to do than arrest 7-year kids instead of arresting the rapist and murderers that are roaming the streets.
10:17 PM | Pamela
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Attempting to "scare straight" is one thing, this is something else entirely!. I don't have children of my own and I can't even imagine the anguish that these parents are feeling.
8:26 AM | Nadia Davis
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what do you expect, a child is given more power by the Government than the parent. Unfortunatley...I believe this is just the beginning.
1:46 PM | a good father
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Yes, our young black youth are experiencing harsh penalties. Here in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the youth are angry. The low social economic status community is in dire need of immediate community centers for the youth. As a social worker, I have observed a problem. Most children have houses to reside in but do not have homes to be reared in. Due to the economy shift, parents (mostly single) are forced to work two jobs to maintain a household. I pray Obama address these issues. We need to place neighbor back in front of hood and establish the communites. Ignorance plays an important role in our silent suffering. If we could target a proactive approach, and assist the communities, crime, teen-pregnancy, the rate of highschool drop out, mental illness, molestation, substace abuse, and the increase of incarceration would be decrease significant. Black America was once unified and we need assistance to do it. I love you Black America. Ms. M. Bell
3:00 PM | Life
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GOD IS NOT SLEEP CONTINUE TO PRAY AND HE WILL SEE YOU THROUGH YOR TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF COURSE WE ALL GO THROUGH THEM IN OUR LIFE. CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR HEAD UP GOD HAS NEVER FAILED ANY OF HIS CHILDREN. FRANNY
10:39 PM | Anonymous
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Although some kids probably deserve it because they are acting out, talking back or being disruptive, I don't think they need to go to jail unless the child is a threat to herself or others. I think teachers are more scared these days and it is understandable because there is so much going on in the schools now. But teachers should know the appropriate discipline to apply to a situation and this teacher obviously overreacted. I think the child should have been taken out of the classroom (to prevent further distraction), called the parents, and warn them of the consequences if it happened again.
10:54 AM | CT
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What in hell is wrong with that principal for calling the police on a 6-year old? Yes, a 6- year old might can injure you, but I don't think they can do it serious enough to warrant calling the police. There had to have been somebody in that school that could handle that child and calm her down. Furthermore if the police did come, they did not have to arrest her, if they had any kind of decency and sense, all they had to do was talk to her and that might have calmed her down. As to the 7-year old boy, all he did was ride his bike down the street. What kind of crime is that? If he wasn't supposed to do that, all the police officers had to do was tell him that and send him on his way. Why don't they pick on these white kids that are sitting in theirgarages making imitation bombs, and doing other sorts of crazy stuff that is far worse than what these two little black children were doing. I truly believe that it is open season on black people, especially where the police are conce
4:03 PM | shorty J
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Yes, I think children that age should be taught that their bad actions have consequences, but handcuffing and jailing two kids that age was way out of line. There had to have been someone in that school who could have calmed that little girl down, and since when did riding a bicycle on a sidewalk become a crime? All the police officers had to do was tell that child not to do it and send him on his way.
4:12 PM | Anonymous
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being a parent most would think this would seem outrageous to me. but it does not. i'm sick of bad (yes bad) children interupting my child's classes, hitting my child, ect. even when the parents are called the children are not disiplined, just excused and the instructors are " at fault". if the first story is the girl whose tantrum aired a while ago she deserved to be removed by officers. why should any under-paid teacher have to deal with that?
6:10 PM | Anonymous
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with a Preisdent that goes around kiiling innocent women and children in unprovoked wars. Spreading teeror and fear in his own country and around the world, America has lost the respect and morality it had on the world stage a few years ago. Now this is way over the limit and goes to enhance the growing feeeling that americans like their bllodthirsty President are generally cruel and insensitive. How sad for a country that held up as a beckon of hope and freedom to the rest of the world.
5:28 AM | bush-less World, Africa
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The Democratic Primary has tried to elevate Hillary Clinton for the plight of all women after being defeated by Barack Obama. However, Black women have always uplifted all women since the beginning of time....
1:32 PM | T. Saahir
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Also, many police departments are now targeting our young men by labeling them as "gangs" so that they can justify their federal gang task force grants! Non-violent offenders are locked up (forced to quit jobs and be labeled as felons) and many jails are now run by private businesses. So of course, the more the judges lock up, the more money the state makes! Young people beware - the police, judges and prosecutors are working together against you! (P.S. this doesn't apply if you're white - you'll belabeled as a "fraternity" and get work release or some alternative sentencing that will allow you to remain employed).
3:18 PM | C. Dewese
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Are you kidding me? Have you SEEN the video of this fist-waving psycho kid? They shouldn't have arrested her, and it was wrong to do so, but the teachers panicked when she wouldn't settle down. It wasn't because of her skin color, it was because of herACTIONS. There isn't a white man agenda out for black people. And anyone who thinks so is ignorant.
11:50 AM | Anonymous
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this is happening every where and we are suppose to depend on the naacp and people like them and they know these things are going on but instead of helping the people they try to represent they would rather get their fifteen minutes we need a group that is for the people in every state to look out for our people we still get railroad in the courts around the world where is the naacp then nowhere to be found what are they good for i live in nevada we have an naacp here i wanted to join but for what i wantto help my bothers and sisters that are in these courts being tricked what plies says in his song 100 yrs is so true and to better our people we need to show them that they have someone to call on when the truth is being bent when we see that we have people behind us it makes us want to do better we know if we are being discriminated against we have someone to help us we want just say forget it they don't care about us anyway so why should i have to follow their rules and thats whats g
12:51 AM | selethatreylis1
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we need to stop worrying about what white people are doing to our kids if its wrong instead of always talking about it we need to do something you would think that we have no educated black people out there willing to help get our people get on the righttrack mexicans can live 15 in a house until they all have their own and we can't even get our black lawyers to help the ones who can not afford to defend them self in this corrupt system why is that i'm tired of hearing us talk about this lets do something we have lots of black people with money that can help why aren't they help stop talking and do something we have been talking since slavery and nothing has changed they are still sending our kids to jail for years but the kids who shot that school up are already out is that not a shame lets stop talking and lets work together to get our people back on the right track and you people who are blaming parents have you ever wonder how that mother grew up what she watched and learned are p
1:11 AM | jodypam1
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Any one who has to call the police to arrest a six year old and they do it are powerless. The parent first, then the counselor should have been enlisted to qwell this disturbance no matter what the degree. Unless there is a deadley weapon involved the police who are trained to use deadly force are simply out of place in the process of curtailing a six year old girl's behavior, and they know it. Unless the young man riding the bike was trespassing there was no legal reason to arrest him either. So what is the solution to the behavior exhibited by the adults in these cases. We can't forget that the responsibility for children lies with the adults responsible for them. Were are these childrens father's? I don't just mean people that give birth to children but a biblical definition of a father. It's evident the teacher couldn't handle her responsibility. The administrators must have been out to lunch. If they physically hadn't left the building they were out to lunch mentally.
2:53 PM | Any Person With Any Sense
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This incident made a lot of Black parents angry! I have worked as a Substitute Teacher, and observed how teachers, particulary whites ones treat our children. I was substituting at this one school for a week, along with the classroom teacher. One little girl, would act out every day, but I noticed that she came to school with uncombed hair and dirty clothes, and wondered to myself what was going on here? Finally on that Friday, we were at the playground, she became upset and sat in the corner pullingher hair, and screaming that she was going to kill herself! I said to the teacher, white woman, what are you going to do about this, this child is saying she will kill herself! Teacher, looked at me and the child and said to me I am going to do nothing, she acts like this all the time! To me a big red flag went up when this child said that she would kill herself, besides coming to school in that manner. But the media, does not care about the trama to this little six year old, but w
2:32 PM | J Marie
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All I know is that children are our future, But we as a people don't realize that the way we are answering to the crying out of our children is only teaching hatred and creating Uncaring, Coldhearted, and Rebellous Men & women. I walk these streets everyday thinking back to my childhood though I personally didn't get the things I wanted from my parents I got the things I needed from Every Adult in my Family. They came in different forms from each individual but once I was old enough to understand I realized I got everything I wanted and needed. A family which included friends of the family and neighbors, teachers, ect..., People who cared about all the children. Don't get me wrong I'm no where near perfect, I was a teen mom, who has been through a lot. But I realized patience, understanding, love, or even a simple smile can make someone think.
4:09 PM | roshawn
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I worked as a teacher assistant in my home town of Lynchburg VA the Summer after I graduated college. A lot of the staff told me that the school was the most neglected and the most students were from a project near by. The students were more mature or "grown" as we say. A lot of their parents were younger than me. One of the teachers had an altercation with a famale student. The student threatened the teacher, yelled, got in her face. Just totally disrespectful. (mind you, this girl was 5'9 in the 5th grade) A meeting was arranged with the child's Mother, the school principal and teacher. The mother was just as disrespectful. She made excuses and took up for her daughter's behavior. Parents should be more responsible for their children. AND school staff should be able to handle situations before they get out of hand. There are also a lot of teachers now they seem clueless or don't care.
5:14 PM | Anonymous
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It's about time that African-America stand up and fight for justice for our kids someone need to say this is wrong. what example is this setting for anyone arresting a kid none whatso ever. Please parents take a stand and fight for justice. write congress or local politicans and let them know how this can not possibly be right. kids need to be told what is right from wrong not handcuffs on and thrown into prison.
5:21 PM | Evelina Williams
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I would Like permission To use this Information on My Television show. We have already spoken on and taped a few shows of the school to prision pipeline. This will be along the same lines, this is totally out of control. We have to stand up and let the powers that be know we have a voice. I am Frustrated to no end!
6:38 PM | Chan
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Children who are not disciplined at home are subjected to "Whatever" when they come to school and disrupt in an environment where learning is susposed to be taking place. Naturally when they are allowed to wallow in selfishness and do whatever they wantto do, there is no regard for others. It has been my experience that children care nothing about the number of your degrees and other credentials;they just want to know if you love them. They will withold their work and ensure that your day is most miserable if they can't get the love and attention that they crave...esp in the form of structure and discipline. Many children are not in an ideal situation at home and don't have the faintest idea as to why they are "Acting Out...they are just children dealing with adult problems and being robbed of the most precious time of their lives, CHILDHOOD. I submit that there is a greater force at work, one that is against ALL children, but especially the impoverished black child...a sense of
2:41 AM | Jean Clark
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This is disgusting! Arresting a 6 year old child? Call the parents and let them handle it. Not the police squad!
7:38 PM | Anonymous
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Unfortunately, we are seen as criminals first.... They will go through the actions of arresting and sending a child to trial before they try to get to the root of the problem... Unfortunately, I have seen it more than once within my own family. At the age of 9 my son was sent to court and sentenced to 6 mos probation because a young white boy pulled a knife on him and in defense he kicked the boy. At the age of 15 my son was nearly expelled from school because he mentioned the word "Columbine". School officials told me "the context of the conversation didn't matter, all that mattered was the fact that he said the word." Now mind you the children were have a conversation on the effect Columbine has had on them as students. They weren't speaking negatively about it at all, but, because he is a young intellegent BLACK MALE they were intimidated so this was just one incident where he was targetted by school officials.... it's a trend and unless we stand up as parents our children have no
1:29 PM | Boston,MA
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Here we go again. The author bases her story on one extreme example, but the reader is left with the strong impression that this extreme example is representative of the whole. Thank God most of us have gotten wise to this tactic and learned that relevant news stories like this are neither news nor relevant.
6:32 AM | Matt
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All of you niggers need to go back to Africa. You complain about people being racist when you're the ones commiting most of the crime in America especially the violent crimes. I think it's pretty obvious why alot of people dislike niggers.
2:48 AM | Tom Lee
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When our 6 and 7 year olds are arrested, the indoctrination of being less than is born into the child's reality, and the institutionalization of despair begins to live with them forever. What's next? A 5 or 4 year old being prosecuted for throwing a tantrum after being told they can't ride their tricycle on the sidewalk, or a 3 or 2 year old crying uncontrollably and spitting their milk up on a babysitter? Afterall, these acts of innocence falls within the scope of prosecutorial regression. Isn't thatwhere we heading? STOP! Enough, let's get real, ... are we serious here? What kind of law enforcement professional could read the memorandum of rights to a child who barely read and write? Wow, our tax dollars are proving to be more than a waste, evenon the municipal level. As an African-American, I am qualified to say this: the laws of justice, were written to exclude just-us!
1:17 PM | Richard J. W. NYC
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Where are the parents before all of the disruptions? Hold the parents responsible for their children's actions and this problem wouldn't be here. The problem stems straight from how and what the parents are doing. Life is tough and everyone needs to quitwhining about how others owe them something. Instead of being part of the problem be an example.
2:15 PM | Anonymous
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I feel that this is a sad situation. When it comes The florida school system dealing with our children they don't really what to deal with them at all. I often wonder if this was a white child how would they handle the situation. would they cuff them and ride the to the police station? I feel the code of conduct is made just for the black children, and the adminstration have a choice to punish black children in full force if they want and when it come to punishing the white children it's a slap on the wrist. So if you have a child in the Florida school system and there black you have to remind them that this society is not for them so what you do reflect ten time as worst because of your skin. Time have not change people just learn to hide their racist and they have to law to say it ok within reason. the Reason depends on the color of your skin.
4:27 PM | Anonymous
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The mother seems like she expects the teachers to handle her childs classroom disruption. Thats the problem with today's parents, they dont give their children simple home training, so the kid runs amuck in the classroom, and the parent has the audacity to blame school teachers for not being able to control a child that hasn't been taught self control in the home!!
7:36 PM | Ray
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Legalized slavery in the USA is well documented for the whole world to see With this ongoing ugliness the the sun gets hotter. Melonin is a big savior and its being killed off. The only way to get it by those who will most assuredly need it, is to love it out of us When will they understand the concept of God! oops (Good)?
7:48 PM | Patrishah Stewart
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Just the mere fact that people are writing these kids should be arrested is a shame. It shows everyone the truth. If these kids were white this would never happen and it would be broadcast all over the news.
11:37 AM | v
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I'm sick of it. I'm sick of black men being portrayed as thugs and gang bangers by the media. It is so bad that if you are educated and have degrees such as myself you are considered acting white. What the hell. I am as brown as they come. And in this country I'm considered black of course and I am very educated. It makes me mad then sad then even more mad how blacks are portrayed. The only real positive images I see is Barak on the path to become president. He is an educated brown man and is also being attacked. It just never ends. I have lived in several countries. I lived in Europe for a year and never dealt with anything like I have in my own country at times.
11:42 AM | v
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I teach special Ed. and I have seen this happen time after time. I do believe that this is a form of racism. I think that all schools have criminal expectations and lower educational expectations. I believe that parents need to assist children in being school prepared. I do believe that we should stand up and refuse to have our children treated this way but I do not believe that monetary rewards educate white adults as to how our children need to be treated. I believe that they will throw money to clear their names. Stop suing and start communicating clear expectations.
4:38 PM | Lisa Ratliff
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We have all heard the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" But DANG!!! look at the mamma. She sitting in the picture looking getto fabulous and it seems like the little girl all thugged out in baggy clothes and corn rows. What ever happend to leadingby example. And teaching our girls how to be young ladies and our sons how to be young men. To me, in my opinion, it all leads back to the parents and the community. We as black people do not look out for each other like they did when my grandparents were alive and well. Nowadays we are robbing and looking at each other sideways. Don't get me wrong, I am absolutely disgusted and appauld by what has happended to this baby. And I pray the mother get every dime she deserve. But we have to take responsibility for our part. When was the last time you corrected someone elses child, in love, when you saw them out of order? When have we as parents allowed someone else to correct our child? Why are we scared of children? The devil is a liar!! I
5:43 PM | Anonymous
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most of the teachers today have not a clue about black children, so why are these white teachers, who have never been around black children all of the sudden suspose to teach them.
5:46 PM | Delores
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Everyone is failing when it come to these children. As soon as you say why din't they handle this differently remember that you and I are THEY. We must all be learn to treat each other with respect. We have world leaders that resole problems with war andwe wonder why childern are violent. It's not about black and white, it's about hate.
10:32 PM | John Goldsby
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Teachers are not allowed to physically touch students or parents flip their lid...so yes police are often called upon to restrain children that need it. 6 years old or not, the child can still physically harm adults and maybe now she is afraid to act that way again. Fear is not always such a bad thing. Maybe if the kid was afraid of the consequences of her actions she may make better choices in the future!
11:04 PM | Matt
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I disagree that children of today are more mature than children from back in the day, and that "in some cases" this kind of reaction is warranted. Children today are the same as 20 or 100 years ago, and they want the same things: love, attention, affection, and appreciation. The difference today is that they are exposed to information and adult situations at a much earlier age without supervision and guidance, and the quality of parenting, expectations, and community involvement (the village raising the kids) has decreased. We live in the information age, thus the access to adult situations and information is at their finger tips and they are NOT ready (not mature enough) to process that information. They do not have the maturity to handle the vast and, in many cases, extremely provocative violent information. Just because they develop faster physically doesn't mean they are mature. They are our children, and they are obviously under attack. As bad as some of these white kids ar
10:00 AM | David in Texas
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Ya, it is very sad to hear stores like this. Kids shouldn't be arrested that just turns them in to untrusting adults of the government and even turning the to a life of crime. But parents are the ones to blame there lack of discipline, they don't help totech there kids and think thats only the responsibility of the school.
12:34 PM | Mohammad
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My comment is this,...why would an online African American Woman's magazine allow individuals to post comments on their site calling African Americans ni**ers? We know the feelings that some Caucasians have for us. But on a different note, the arresting of young children breeds hate, and more acting out. The families who need assistanceshould be able to get it from their local school board, school counselors, etc. Have people forgot about the Big Brother/Big Sister Organization? Where they try to match young people with mentors. We need more accountability and I bet, if the parents were arrested instead of their 6 and 7 year old children, this nonsense would stop.
1:50 PM | granny357
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When I first read this story I was appauled to think that a 6 year old could be treated in this manner, then I became afraid. Afraid for all the children who are mistreated and mistrusted by the government both local and federal. I believe strongly that it is up to us as parents, especially BLACK parents in AMERICA, to stand up and unite since noone else will do it for us. I went to school in an all-white Jewish middle-class community for 12 years because my family believed it would make me a better person and give me opportunity. What it made me was complacent, submissive and tolerant of everyones' ignorances without being able to express my frustrations. Today I am not that woman I am a woman who has been an activist here in Boston, MA all her life and will not stop at no. I believe that all children should be treated fairly and that we have to innitiate that process and set examples even if the ones' we have to be role models for is the government. Dont ever feel bad and get bo
3:48 PM | Kenyatta
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Of all the comments I have looked at no one has mentioned the church. Were both of these families of the children active in their church? Every one wants to place blame but remember when you point a finger three are pointing back to you. I agree this is wrong but there is a right way to approach everything and get the right results. Even it means freeing up your time and getting down to the schools. I also wonder if these parents were members of the PTA. The only way to resolve these type issues is to remain active and positive
5:19 PM | Phyllis Lesley
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I could probably spend the rest of my evening responding to the myriad of ignorant statements made here but i'll settle with just the first one. The incredible statements made by "B Wall" is so typical both in its ignorance of the facts of this case and the realities of this nation. Who are you to judge this case? Do you know for certain that this was a white officer? Do you know for certain that the arrested individual did not become belligerent and threatening with the officer, prompting him to arrest the young man? Do you even know the manner in which this kid was riding the bike? And lastly have you ever worked as a police officer in Baltimore? The answer to all these questions is undoubtedly no but why let that stop you from making an ignorant statement about this case. From these incedents you somehow draw the conclusion that "white America's hatred for African-Americans is so deep." The fact that you would even compare the America of 2008, which despite all its obvious flaws, is
6:05 PM | Anonymous
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A 40 million dollar lawsuit for getting pulled off a dirt-bike and hand-cuffed. Are these people serious. Thats probably half of Baltimore's annual law enforcement budget. This family needs to get real and stop acting like innocent victims.
6:10 PM | jason
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I just think its funny that these "victims" claim to be targeted by a system of racial violence yet they're the ones befitting most from this broken system when they file these exorbitant 40 million dollar suits over nothing.
6:13 PM | anthony
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My Daughter and her Three friends were severly beaten up at their middle school in sherman oaks California, none of us got a phone call, girls did not get medical attention, food, or allowed to call home, the were treatened, harrassed, and placed in a room, I am speaking of 16 8th grade Hispanics giving a very bad beating two days in a row to these girls, and when we questioned about our rights as parents, and the girls civil rights, the were kicked out of the school. We Applead At the school board and won. Why is it that the greedy politicians not step in and fire the administrators for not doing their jobs. They failed our girls horribly. Thanks
2:55 AM | Mother
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After reading all the comments I noticed no one mentioned anything about the child having no father. I guess because you can not blame that on the white man. Where are the studies on single black mothers? I guess since there is no angle to hate whiteyit goes overlooked. I also noticed that there was no accountability for the 6yr old, how about look at the big picture instead of looking to blame someone else!
7:22 AM | Jacksonville
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What a shame it has been allowed to come to this. If parents and teachers were allowed to use the old fashioned discipline on their children and God had not been taken from the schools, where for some, was the only place they could learn about and respect him and his teachings, much of societys' problems would not be happening. Children are having children with no parenting skills, no ability to discipline due to the laws and then being sent off to school where there is still no discipline allowed so what good can happen to the future generations.
8:23 AM | Anonymous
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I think that statistics speak for themselves. These reports cannot all be blamed on "white America's hatred for black America." Take some responsibility and make changes that will be reflected in these statistics. Prevalence of imprisonment in the United States The prevalence of imprisonment in 2001 was higher for -- black males (16.6%) and Hispanic males (7.7%) than for white males (2.6%) -- black females (1.7%) and Hispanic females (0.7%) than white females (0.3%) Lifetime likelihood of going to State or Federal prison Lifetime chances of a person going to prison are higher for -- men (11.3%) than for women (1.8%) -- blacks (18.6%) and Hispanics (10%) than for whites (3.4%) Based on current rates of first incarceration, an estimated 32% of blackmales will enter State or Federal prison during their lifetime, compared to 17% of Hispanic males and 5.9% of white males. Characteristics of State Prison inmates Sixty-four percent of prison inmates belonged to r
1:48 PM | Justin
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Characteristics of State Prison inmates Sixty-four percent of prison inmates belonged to racial or ethnic minorities in 2001 Characteristics of jail inmates More than 6 in 10 persons in local jails in 2002 were racial or ethnic minorities, unchanged from1996. An estimated 40% were black; 19%, Hispanic, 1% American Indian; 1% Asian; and 3% of more than one race/ethnicity. Source: US Department of Justice ??? Office of Justice programs http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm
1:50 PM | Justin
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America is changing and people are waking up incident by the incident. But if we don't consider the times and what The Honorable Minister Farrakhan has been saying for over 40 years... it's over for those who desire to intergrate oil with water. "If a man wont teach you right, how can he treat you right?" Elijah Muhammad
2:15 PM | Anonymous
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Adults that can rationalize the criminalization of 6 and 7 year olds need to be handcuffed and carted off to jail. The charge: Idiocy. And if you are a teacher and believe children should be taken to jail then please quit ASAP and find yourself a new profession because you don???t deserve to teach. Thank you!
9:03 PM | H.S.
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This is just another way for the" high officials" to lable black males as being more out of control so sad people don't see this.
2:22 PM | Anonymous
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Tom Lee you are so sad get a life
2:42 PM | Anonymous
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All of us have been at a grocery store at one time or another and seen Little White Timmy/Becky go "straight crazy" on his/her Mom... Where were the police and handcuffs then? To them that's (temper tantrums) just a part of being a child... However for us it becomes ANIMAL CONTROL... You do the math... Like Marvin said, "Make me wanna holla, the way they do my life..."
3:12 PM | Terrytown
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Lets stop pointing fingers and get together and insist that this attack on our babies ends NOW!
3:38 PM | ebony
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justin, and just who do u think is putting black men in the prisons? and men of diff shades and less pigmentation or getting off and staying out of jail having committed the same crimes...There is a constant attack and sytem set in place to aid to the continued suppression of black here in america and it is out of PURE hate because of FEAR.....FEAR of blacks realizing that they are the incredible beings that they truly are and acting on it.................................. did you know that it cost moreto house a young man in prison per year than it does to send him to college for a year. PONDER THAT! and WAKE UP!
3:47 PM | Ebony in ct
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Jean Clark, The behavior of our more tan challanged Americans has been talked about by blacks for centuries... for their childrens unrulyness and lack of discipline..them slapping and spitting on their mothers and throwing tantrums in public and talkingback and swearing at adults.. and then they grow up to be the ones on the news for mass murders and its not considered to be a big deal...its just over looked.. "oh but Timmy seemed like such a nice young man" and then its forgotten..... Its NOT the history of Blacks that is a violent one..... now is it???.. its actually NOT our inate nature but some how the media has painted to be so......How often do you see a black child doing those sort of things? probably never.. lets get real here.. black childrenhave been the poster children for how a disciplined child should act....yet an attack has been lauched on them to try to break them early ..i think to stop the recent surg of educated and wealthy young blacks here in America.giving b
4:11 PM | Ebony
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Society has changed it's way of raising children. I have seen a lot; parents (mothers/fathers) that not only feed and clothe their children but also teach them from the words of their mouth about rights and wrongs on a constant basis and the child still acts out in school/public. But we fail to acknowledge that many children are going through different things in life as young as they are, and the average child is not going to come out and say, I get's no attention at home, I'm being bullied, I'm being Assaulted, I get called B--ches and Motherf--ker at home by my parent/s, or dad is beating mom or Vic versa. There are no positive talks, no encouragements going on at home nor at school so what's a child to do. "ACT OUT." there use to be prevention assemblies held at schools to make children fill comfortable about telling an adult when something is wrong, ???no more???. If adults are always angry and in a tainted mood children will continue to ???ACT OUT??? They will not come to adults a
4:26 PM | Don't Turn Your Back
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The purpose behind using the brutality of the police and courts against black children is multi-fold; 1) it gets the child into the database, fingerprints dont change over time, nor does dna. 2) it supports and magnifies the fear factor of white vs. black, which is one the darlings of the media. 3) it dehumanizes the child and begins to change the mind and the self-image, the younger you start dehumanizing someone the better you are demoralizing and segregating him or her from the greater society. Thats one less job we have to worry about giving to a black seems to be the underlying message. one less credit application, one less teaching position-the list is endless. 4) Once having been arrested this now, like poor credit, also blocks you from a whole range of opportunities that whites whether they have a criminal record or not have access to easily. 5) The purpose of hate stems from the ignorance of fear, the lack of humanism, to sequestor barriers that provide an imaginary safety fro
7:37 PM | Erik Barrington
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I work with children daily and until you are in a bad situation that has been initiated by a 7-12year old, I do not think the media and public will ever understand. The vast majority of this generation and their parent have been raised much differently than black children from the 40 to 60. It is my experience that when I call a parent about their child misbehaving their comments are: what did you do to him/her? What do you want me to do? That is if you can reach them at all. They give you a number on monday which is disconnected by friday. Children come to school angry, unkept, hungry and ill. How do you make a parent responsible and accountable for their children. Until parents become aware that they are raising their children to be of no character with no sense of morality we will continue to see children go to jail. Most of the children that I come in contact with are being raised by a grand-parent or in some cases a great-grandprant. The mother's and dad'd are in jail, dead or
11:34 AM | B. Winters
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Ebony, I would most certainly have to say that ???the white man??? is responsible for ???putting black men in the prisons.??? Thank you for educating me on the ???constant attack and ???sytem??? set in place to aid the continued supp? here in America.??? (These comments are what we whiteys call sarcasm.) As a ???white man,??? I can truly tell you that the PURE hate lies not in the color of a person???s skin, but in their inability to take accountability for their actegards to FEAR of blacks, the only thing I fear is that I actually might have to pay for another person???s college education, other than my children???s. Maybe it is just the fact that I had to pay for my college education with a scholarship based own merit, not the color of my skin. Let???s say that ???the white man??? is responsible for some of the black men that are in the prison population. What percentage would you be willing to concede are there due to their own actions
2:32 PM | Justin
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Can you possibly blame the entire African American prison population on a conspiracy? White guilt will only get the African American population so far. Eventually African Americans as a whole will begin to look inward and will not like what they see. I believe that this is already beginning. Perhaps you should jump on the bandwagon.
2:33 PM | Justin
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What do any of African-Americans expect? Or any race for that matter? Look at your leaders? An enclave of the "GOB" system that has merged together to make it impossible for you to stick together and stand as one against racial injustice. Until then it will continue. For the most part we are too busy chasing the false "American Dream" and too materialistic to start now! Educate our children! Teach our children self-respect, pride, and dignity, issue a no tolerance to any kind of abuse and teach them thatour people have always been better, stonger, and more intelligent since the beginning of time. Why is now that because of slavery that has to change? They enslaved your mind, lifestyle, way of thinking, impoverished us so we can fight amongst once another and be jealous of our brothers and sisters that strive for excellence. They taught us to think status is symbol and not love and freindship to our own people is the most important. People wake up and get us together. Join in the fight
1:00 AM | stephanie
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sorry to tell u but this aint jamaica, if your kid has dreadlocks hes using drugs behind your back if you dont know, hes way too cool for conventional american living. prolly working drugs cos everybody thinks hes cool. please....i live in rochester and all it is here is these mini's running around like lil dmx's. pitbulls, weed, vulgar mouths.... good luck when these ones make babies @ 12! im moving to dubai where that mess dont fly. peace out
10:11 AM | uhm
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great job black america!
10:12 AM | fantastic!
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in essence, i really dont care. i dont know any blacks so this dosnt effect mepersonally, however i would like to not experience this poor situation so i commend the early arrests. if its not or later, id prefer sooner than after one of them hits me in the head with a lead pipe! then i gotta pay for its rehab and reintergration? ill pass, give me a gun. this should be akin to pest control, no?
10:15 AM | Anonymous
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i thought we took care of this.
10:16 AM | what ever happned to aids?
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ima white dude and yall are triflin. im tryin to watch my stories
10:24 AM | hi
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sorry to tell u but this aint jamaica, if your kid has dreadlocks hes using drugs behind your back if you dont know, hes way too cool for conventional american living. prolly working drugs cos everybody thinks hes cool. please....i live in rochester and all it is here is these mini's running around like lil dmx's. pitbulls, weed, vulgar mouths.... good luck when these ones make babies @ 12! im moving to dubai where that mess dont fly. peace out
10:47 AM | uhm
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America is truly on the decline and its only a matter of time before we hit bottom. Any society that allows 6 year olds to be criminalized is indeed guided by the force of evil. Perhaps the real issue is that the powers that be need more fodder for themulti-billion dollar prison industrial complex. Any rational set of adults would have taken this child out of the classroom and attempted to reason with her. The next step would be to contact the parent to inform her of the situation and of the accompanying consequence of the child being removed from a normal classroom situation if the parent can't or won't t help resolve the matter. The lunatics who brought the police into this situation should all be fired due to their incompetence.
4:26 PM | Kali
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I have seen young kids get spoken to by cops when they miss behave. Many of the kids around where have no guidance they watch their older brothers use drugs and have sex on the front porch of their homes. These very same kids are the ones that are very disruptive at the movies, stores. What happen to the time when black people had respect for themselves and others? When did we become victims of ourselves.
9:10 AM | Benson Shiner
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I see nothing worng with teaching a child that their actions were wrong. Too many parents, black and white, do not do a good enough job of teaching their children how to act. They decide that their child "is an angel, and could never do anything wrong." I have heard it a million times as a teacher in Miami, Florida. Teach your kids right from worng! Don't complain when someone else has to do it.
4:18 PM | Anonymous
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Why did the police take the child to jail?! That is ridiculous! They could've taken the girl to the pricipal's office and called her parents/emergency contacts. There was no need to take that child to jail. A simple talking from the officer would've put her in her place. If not then let the parents discipline the child. NO NEED TO GO TO JAIL FOR THAT MESS!!!! I AM SO OUTRAGED!
4:54 PM | D. A.
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I heard about this situation and had something very simular happen to my son when he was 13 years old at his Junior high. Wake up people, these are no accidents racism is now being perputrated on our children. Society, the school systems and the policehave zero tolerace for our children. They are not given the benefit of the doubt in any situation. Unfortunately , it robs our children of their childhood because they don't have time to be children and make the silly mistakes and choices that childrenare suppose to make and learn from. They have to be on their toes everyday and think like adults and be put in adult situations. These mistakes are costing them their freedom. What a sick world we live in when you have adults perputrating racism on our children. This is called abuse.
6:42 PM | Anonymous
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we as black americans are under seige and this has been going on since slavery and still exist today. It has never stopped and continues on all levels in this society. Our black men, women, and children are incarcarated at high numbers. Were is the progress....We have auctioned off our souls... and there is no return.... We have black faces of america....they dress up...and pretend... but if you look in their eyes their is no soul...
11:23 AM | arlene m
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This is a complete misuse of law enforcement. It is far from a joke. There is one individual that attempted to prove some superficial point by quoting statistics. I'm sure if he chose to delve more deeply he would find that there are two sets of laws. One law applies to those that are white and the other for blacks. Not too long ago I found the use of illegal drugs has increased dramatically in white suburbs and decreased in black neighborhoods, however an the number of blacks on drug related crimes percentage wise continues. Additionally I would like to say that identical crimes perpetrated by both races always ends up with the blacks receiving the maximum of full extent whereas the for whites this is rarely the case. And please don't point to a black entertainer and try to make a case it doesn't hold water.
12:37 PM | EEEsdom
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Not only are our children treated like criminals; they are being treated like animals. i am not sure the police departments actually know they are to protect and serve all communities. often times they {police }are the good guys and blacks are the badguys. it is at times a case of cowboys and indians at the exspense of black children. i have witnessed children being pepper sprayed, police in riot gear and what could only be described as swat tactics to dispearse a crowd of unruly children. it's pathetic and a total disgrace. i must add we have ourselves to blame for the behavior our children display. it's a situation that needs to be addressed by all in our communties and we need to protect and serve our children, to combat this situation, and that includes: discipline on every level, running out crimimnals, and drug dealers even if they are family, enforcing curfew, and raising our children and if parents can't do it the state sure will. accountablility and responsibility, t
1:31 PM | Marcia
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White America? I am sick of hearing this. Those kids were not arrested by "white america" they were arrested by the police. Not every white person hates you but if you keep up your hatred towards them...
2:54 PM | JonIrons
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I think it is crazy to arrest kids at such a young age. The folks who put the laws in place need to remember they were once a child. It's like children now days have to protray themselves as an adult. White folks need to realize that in the black communities single parents have to work and can't supervise our children 24 hours or afford daycare. Summer camp prices are out of this world. Children 13 and older is just lost during the summer. What happen to summer programs the city provided. What happened to the programs for the child that get on the wrong track. Our children are our future. I live in NC and there are no programs except jail if the kid get on the wrong track. They act as if everyone is perfect. Remember the jail is just like a business. In order to keep the jail running it has to have customers and if it mean young children then that's how the law is. They are always taking how much the court system in back logged and we wonder why. The police wonder why so many kids (bla
3:51 PM | E Carter
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The major problem with Race is we were never ment to live together. As you read you can see this,Ask your self this, what was segregation Do you understand it.... If all the whites live here and all the blacks there, Would you be happy? Ok lets all live together,are you happy ? No Because you say White this, White That,This is all White people hear from Black people> How white has em Down, The white people now a days are not the same ones from back in the day.They dont owe Black people nothing, Black people needs to stop plaing the White Card every time they dont get what they want out of life. In 1865, the 13th Amendment outlaws slavery and in 1868 the 14th Amendment grants equal protection of laws to blacks. You are Equal to White, After 143 years of being free Black people, a white person thinks that you should think and act like free black people. If you caint control your kids stop having them,
5:20 PM | "The Problem"
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I have a now 17 yo son who upon moving from Hawaii to Las Vegas was arrested & profiled on two separate occasions. One for being humiliated by a school gang member & told to committ a crime or else? Afraid he did what he was told & the Judge not believing served my son with 9 |
