What’s Wrong With This Picture?
WARNING: If you are someone who is easily offended or overly sensitive, I suggest you skip today’s post.
I’ve been doing my end of the year look at the city’s murder rate. I say murder rate because murder (an unlawful killing) is different from homicide (a killing), police action shootings and shootings done in self-defense. Unless someone gets whacked in the next couple days Indianapolis should come in at about 100 murders, one of the lowest numbers since 1997.
However, out of those 100 or so murders, 57% were African-American and 53% were black men, and a third of the murders were black men under 30 killed by firearms.
It’s never a good thing when 25 % of the city’s population account for more than half the killings. We can speculate and debate the reasons for the high murder rate. But more importantly I hope that in 2010 one New Year’s Resolution will be for Indianapolis’ black community to stand up and say “enough is enough” and start to do a better job of policing its own and work to improve conditions that cause these kinds of problem in the first place.
December 28th, 2009 at 7:52 am
You are right that it is a problem that needs to be addressed not only here but nationwide. I don't have the answers but I do know that 1000 yard signs is NOT the answer.
December 28th, 2009 at 10:04 am
While I don't disagree about addressing the issue of trying to lower the murder rate. I do take issue with you automatically putting it in the terms of race.
While I have no doubt that your numbers are accurate. Did you by any chance look at that economic comparison of the murders rates. I would almost bet that the racial differences disappears when you compare family income.
So if my assumption is correct then it would not only be a Black community issue to deal with but a American issue and poverty.
Abdul, you are just perpetuating a stereotype with your laziness. I don't really expect much more than that from you though.
It is a shame that you are doing more to damage race relations with this type of post than help.
Because when real issues of racial discrimination are being discussed some person will use these statistics to defend their racist actions and views.
So you won't have a real discussion on why the murder rates are so high, but just more finger pointing at the black community at all of our flaws and thinly veiled explanation for racist behaviors and opinions.
December 28th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Hey Mike,
What did I say that was racist? And what has Black leadership done for you lately? Get a clue, dude!
December 28th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Abdul,
You didn't say anything racist, nor did I say you did. Please reread my post. I didn't mention Black leadership in my post either,not sure where that came from.
I do have a clue that the statistics you posted probably isn't a complete picture. I pointed this out. If you took the time to frame the murder rate in something other than race such as income, zip code, age then it would be a good place to start discussing solutions.
But you continue to take the easy way out to appease your conversative white base of listeners. By just looking at it in racial terms without even attempting to dig deeper into the issue you give ammunition to people who are closed minded about real racial issues out here.
We would have waited a couple more weeks for a more comprehensive look at the breakdown of the murders rate in Indianapolis.
So I do believe someone needs to get a clue, but it isn't me.
I mean come on Abdul the incompleteness in your reporting isn't even hidden this time. Do better.
December 28th, 2009 at 11:45 am
I'm in agreement with Mike.
If there was a more complete data set, with race AND economics, the ratio of black v. white crime would probably be more accurate. Of course, that's only a hypothesis, but I believe that singling out race as the relevant factor without exploring the economic data does not allow a representative perspective of the drivers behind violent crime.
Here's a quick example: The poverty rate among blacks in Marion County is more than 2.5:1 of the poverty rate among whites. If you eliminate all suspects whose income is >/= the poverty rate, I wonder what the ratio would be for black:white murderers. The result is close to 1:1 using current numbers if you assume the poverty rate for 100% of 2009's murders.
December 28th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Posters,quit hiding your head in the sand and making excuses.
December 28th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
While I certainly agree that all community leaders need to stand up and pledge to help make our city safer, I have to wonder at thinking about this in terms of race. Would our city really be a better place if 25 of the victims had been white instead of black?
December 28th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Yard signs may not help, but they cause no harm. Why pick on such a harmless outward expression of frustration?
Look–when someone breaks into a home and murders folks, the law may technically say it's a murder or a homicide or manslaughter–it makes no difference to the loved ones left behind.
If the black-on-black crime is increasing, it is incumbent upon our city leaders top dissect the problem and try to address it. If that's even remotely possible.
But I'm all over listening to excuses about economic hardship leading to crime. If it leads to a man stealing some food to feed his starving kids–that's one thing. But if it's a crime committed because some thief wanted items to fence for his drug habit or his own economic use, or for stupid retribution, then my sympathy is finished.
I am aware of more than one shoplifting crime committed to feed a family. My cup of empathy overflows for that case.
But we seem to be full of excuses–when it's 100 outside, it's too hot, thus tempers overflow. When economic times are tough, that's the reason.
The time for individual responsibility is here. Absent some horrible personal economic tragedy, there is no reason for petty crimes. And there's never a reason for murder. Or manslaughter. Or whatever the prosecutorial term is. Ever. Throw away the key.
December 28th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I agree with you, TH.
FYI, my comments on racial statistics and economics had no bearing on individual responsibility.
December 28th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Good. After 2-3 shots, 18 months, pick a parameter- are you equally onboard for abandoning subsidized dysfunctional parenting? If a failing new birth single mom or dysfunctional couple being subsidized by taxpayer checks get over 2-3 visits for abuse or neglect over 18 months, isn't it time for our state to put the child first and remove it for an adoptive family?
December 28th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Ditto.
I did a bot of checking…back in 2003 the number one cause of homicides in Indy were arguments.
Here is the link to an interactive homicide map:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A...
December 28th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
“..start to do a better job of policing its own and work to improve conditions that cause these kinds of problem in the first place.” I have to wonder why skin pigment should be it's own tool for 'policing'. How would one do that.. church and social organizations dedicated to skin color, or some sort of racial police entity to patrol targeted neighborhoods?
Silly me, I thought we were beyond this.
December 28th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
You are correct that yard signs do no harm. When that is the only crime fighting tool implemented in two years of the Ballard Administration then it is an issue.
December 28th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Don't criticize how the game is played if you don't understand the game strategy involved.
That program involves much more than posting a sign in a yard. Several crimes have been solved because of networking which is the backbone of the so called “signs“ program.
One more point of interest for you inglorious Ballard haters……….the “sign posting” was endorsed by Peterson first….Ballard expanded on the idea and it works.
December 29th, 2009 at 8:07 am
What did you say Abul? You said black. That is always racist.
December 29th, 2009 at 11:05 am
I'd be interested in knowing what percentage of public assistance dollars go to 25% of the population.
My point is that throwing money at these problems doesn't make them go away. Just like throwing money at IPS doesn't improve it. In fact, it seems the more money IPS gets, the lower the performanc.e
December 29th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
People need to learn the difference between the words 'racial' and 'racist'.
December 29th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
But Abdul, you know the black community never stands up to say “enough.” They'll wait for their folks in the democrat party to come around and offer up a program that will take them off the hook for accepting any responsibility for their actions…just like putting it off as a “poverty” issue. I know, I'm a whitey, and Lord knows a white man can never say anything about race (screw Holder, people like him are the real cowards). The black community as basically a monolithic entity will have to decide to man-up and take on some of the issues facing them instead of waiting around for someone else to take the fall or do the heavy-lifting for them.
December 30th, 2009 at 4:47 am
I'm still waiting on Jackson and Sharpton to come to town and begin their 'shakedown'.
December 30th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I'm still waiting on Jackson and Sharpton to come to town and begin their 'shakedown'.