Solution #3: Provide our own security, to protect our children in our communities.
When I was in high school, I use to see Guardian Angels on the train, I don’t know how effective they were because they didn’t carry weapons, but I think that organization can serve as an example, for providing security to our communities. The Fruit of Islam and different groups in the past have tried to patrol the streets and provide protection for the citizens and guidance for the youth. What about the young people? I believe some of the more influential teens and young adults, people who the so-called criminals look up to, can also so organized and protect their own community. This philosophy may instill a belief in the underdog, providing hope for people who have nothing. The late Tupac Shakur who was taught the skill of organizing from his family ties to the Black Panther Party said this regarding the organization of our criminals and thugs.
“They should give Money to the Ghetto. I mean I think even Gangs can be Positive; it just has to be organized. It has to stay away from being self-destructive and be more self-productive. I organized the OG’s in the East and the West Coast in the Penitentiaries to come up with codes of ethics for criminals. It’s called the code of thug Life. It’s a code to put an end to the violence. In Watts, Compton, Chicago wherever, we got all these people all over the country saying yes we go by this code and we go be against attacks on people that are not involved with the street gang or drug trade and illegal business at all. I mean all that kidnapping and shooting drive-by out the car window, we against that.”
I think about gang leaders Jeff Fort and Larry Hoover, two political prisoners who had considerable influence on the youth in Chicago. Jeff Fort famously prevented people from rioting in his neighborhood after Dr. King death, while Larry Hoover famously organized the youth to go and vote in masses while starting his growth and development programs.