These have led to many negative issues in the African American community.Teen violence not only contributed to the high homicide rates of African American youths ages 10-24 but also to the decline of property value in these areas. To combat these issues, Americans need to come together and show the youth there are people that care and want to be positive role models and provide them other ways to express themselves other than acting out in violent ways. The cause of teenage violence can be attributed to many things. One of the main factors in teenage violence is what the teen has been subjected to at home and at school.
Another factor is frustration due to the lack of positive opportunities and role models combined with poor economic and learning conditions. According to “Family First Aid” (2004), exposure to violence and family conflict, harsh discipline practices, lack of involvement in the child’s life, and no discipline are all issues in the home that can contribute to a teen participating in violent activities. In their teenage years, children are very impressionable and should be given proper direction to ensure they go in the right direction.Witnessing constant violence in the home could cause the teen to think these things are natural and carry them out outside of the house.
The beliefs that they don’t belong and no one cares for them at home, which is brought out by little or extreme discipline and lack of involvement in the teen’s life are factors as well. In many cases, the teen is committing violent acts to lash out at the lack of attention that they are receiving at home. In school, being bullied and peer pressure are some of the biggest reasons teens react violently.When teens are bullied in school, they believe they must protect themselves to stop the bullying or they witness others dealing with bullies and think they need to become bullies as well to deter others from bullying them. The lack of positive opportunities and role models combined with poor economic and learning conditions is another cause of the violence amongst teens. Positive social organizations such as organized sports teams, support groups, and civic organizations are programs missing in communities.
These organizations are things that can be used as ways to deter teens from going down the path of violence.Most communities impacted the most with teenage violence; don’t have the means to provide these opportunities. These things can not happen without an increase of positive role models, especially positive males. Throughout the United States, it is noted that more women are involved in the community than males.
More men should step up and become involved in the teens lives and show them that there are more things to do than be in the neighborhood committing senseless acts of violence and remaining in the prison system. The issue of teenage violence directly affects the African American community.Homicide has become the leading cause of death for African American youth ages 10-24. According to the Center of Disease Control (2004), in 2001, 5486 youth between the ages of 10-24 were murdered.
Of those reported murders, 85% (4659) were male and 15% (827) were female. During this time frame, the homicide rate for African American males was 58. 3% (2819) and for females the rate was 6. 6% (312). At this rate, the teens who are supposed to grow up and be the future, will either be murdered or placed in jail for committing murder.
Another way that the African American community is affected by the teenage violence is by the lowering of property values in those urban areas. The violence has depreciated the value of houses and land making it so no one wants to move into those areas and help clean them up. Many homes are in these areas are remaining vacant and easily accessible to people breaking in them and using them to conduct illegal activities. Gangs tend to use these areas as there breeding grounds to recruit new members as well as targets.This makes it hard for real estate agents to sell these homes and help change the environment. The depreciation goes further than just monetary values.
The violent crimes have made it so that the parks are not safe in these communities. The children can go outside and play with friends without fear of being hit by a stray bullet. Parents are not able to have the enjoyment of going out and teaching their children how to ride a bike, skate, or just go out and run and have fun without fear of not being able to see another day.Those living in the eighborhoods need to ban together to take control back of the neighborhood. Those that can help should reach out and do whatever is possible.
There are many ways that the cycle of teenage violence can be broken. More people need to become involved in the teen’s lives. Teens need to be shown that someone cares about them. Someone will be there for them when they need it. Children need someone to provide discipline that may be needed without being harsh.
If discipline needs to be taken, it needs to fit the situation. Not all discipline requires use of a belt or switch.Start new programs for the youth that may be inexpensive. Starting in the neighborhoods, take notice to what the kids like to do. If there is children that like to dance, a dance club or step team may be a great idea. The youth need to be active so they will not have the time to get involved in gangs and violence.
More adults need to be positive examples to the teens. Find ways to avoid them seeing people having disagreements and if they do happen to see it, explain to them it is all right to have disagreements and show them the proper way to handle disagreements.Teen age violence is an issue that definitely needs to be addressed. The youth today need to find better ways to express themselves in other ways than contributing to the unnecessary violence going on today. The responsibility also can’t be placed on the teens only.
Adults need to also step up and contribute. If something is not done quickly, there soon may not be a future generation that will be able to make valuable contributions to improve the world.
