The wounds of children are a black eye for adults. Most folks would say that "blood is thicker than water." What they mean is that people who are blood relatives are closer than folks who are not related. They share something called heredity which is the passing of genes, physically and mentally to their birthed offspring.
In a gang mentality, people become related through the "Hood Heredity." They make up their own definition of blood relations; they teach you how to share blood, shed blood, give blood, receive blood and spill blood. The Hood Heredity is passed on through the saggin' genes of Social Heredity.
In an urban structure, Social Heredity is passed on through the traits and habits of fear as evidenced by blight, poverty, urban decay and violence. One might argue that these would be more related to Environmental Heredity and I would not dispute that. My point is that habits become ingrained generationally. That causes an environment that has become socially acceptable - in all walks of life.
That brings up another disputable point: Why would I say that urban decay and violence are socially acceptable? Because nothing is done to change the fact that young people have been infected with a jail gene that causes "Cell Heredity." Over 3,000 children nationwide have been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. http://www.eji.org/childrenprison Many other children have been given free passes through the revolving door of recidivism. Rehabilitation is not a priority in houses of detention.
When we examine the amount of money spent on intervention compared with money spent on prevention, our true priorities are revealed. Our priority is not creating a Heredity of Opportunity. Where we spend our money is a good indicator of what we truly value. The following information was taken from the "Cradle to Prison Pipeline Campaign:"
[Nationally, 1 in 3 Black and 1 in 6 Latino boys born in 2001 are at risk of imprisonment during their lifetime. While boys are five times as likely to be incarcerated as girls, there also is a significant number of girls in the juvenile justice system. This rate of incarceration is endangering children at younger and younger ages.
This is America's pipeline to prison — a trajectory that leads to marginalized lives, imprisonment and often premature death. Although the majority of fourth graders cannot read at grade level, states spend about three times as much money per prisoner as per public school pupil.]
- See more at: http://www.childrensdefense.org/programs-campaigns/cradle-to-prison-pipeline/#sthash.hVL2zeH7.dpuf
All heredity starts as a seed somewhere. Heart Heredity will pass on genes of value that will help create healthy communities.
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
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