Page 16, AC Phoenix, March, 1992
Phoenix Teens - News & Views
By Aprelle Alexander-
Williams
Special to the Phoenix
Black-On-Black Violence:
A Teen's Perspective
I believe that Black-on-Black
violence is the most senseless
phenomenon in the world. Not only
are we destroying each other, but an
entire race as well.
One of the reasons I say "we" is
because most of this violence takes
place among young Black males
between the ages of 16 and 32. I'm
16 and this whole thing is very
scary.
As a teenager I know that life can
be hard, especially for Black teens,
specifically. Black males. But as
hard as living is, it is very easy to
get a gun off the streets, cheap.
Unfortunately, as teens, we want
the easy way out. want instant
gratification. This is why many of
us are drawn into the quick money
that drugs offer - not realizing that
the quick money can mean an
equally quick death.
The need to be accepted is another
reason "we" are seduced into life-
threatening situations. This need is
one of the big reasons gangs are
formed and teens join them. It is all
such a waste.
On a personal tip, I have most
recently been affected by this
vicious cycle of violence. A close
friend, we'll call him J.C. for the
sake of anonymity, was gunned
down in a senseless act of violence.
Life was viciously stolen from his
body after 18 years. I have always
been told that we have our entire
adult lives to work, that our teer
years are a time for learning and
fun. J.C. has lost this time to a 12-
gauge shotgun and another Black
"brother." Hence, two lives have
been taken: J.C.'s to the bullet and
the other "brother's" to the penal
system.
Now, more than ever, we are
living in a world where we have to
watch our backs. You never know
who's packing (a gun). J.C. never
had a chance because the other
"brother" was supposed to have
been his best friend! Who do you
trust? Where has our carefree
adolescence gone? Why should we
live in constant fear of our own
people?
Every time a school function is
planned, I hear statements like,
"You know n rs don't know
how to act," or "My momma won't
let me come 'cause she says a bullet
don't know no name or color," etc.
This is sad, folks.
We can't even begin to enjoy our
youth. This cycle of violence needs
to stop before we wake up one day,
look around and there's nothing - a
race of people destroyed from the
inside. One thing may survive this
self-inflicted genocide - a roach. I
understand that they would survive
a nuclear explosion!
(919) 273-7406
10:30-5:30 Mon-FrI
202 W. Market St.,
Greensboro 1-4 Sat.
Discover your pot of
gold in our Rainbow
Natural
Food Center
Introducing NO SUGAR
& NO CHOLESTEROL:
Ice Creams, Cookies &
Snacks, Cheeses, Salad
Dressings, Vegetarian
Sandwiches, Pizza & More!
PLUS
Bulk Fruit up to
25% OFF
Fresh & Wonderful - Come In
For Details & Save $
Brisbon Builds Dreams
For G'boro Projects’ Youth
It About
Our
Teens
By Cathy Daniels-Lee
Phoenix Staff Writer
When asked to share his
childhood memories, Ervin Brisbon
still vividly remembers the poverty
he experienced, and the sense of
hopelessness he felt as a young
boy.
"It was hard. I remember getting
surplus food and being ashamed. I
remember not having lunch money
and watching other children buy
their lunch. I remember the riots in
1969, the burnings, and the whole
mess."
Brisbon and his five siblings
grew up in low-income housing in
Greensboro during the sixties. His
mother was the head of their
household, and his father was
absent. Brisbon remembers doing
well in elementary and middle
school. However, by the time he
entered high school, the evil forces
in his environment had started
pulling young Brisbon in the wrong
direction. Eventually he dropped
out of high school and turned to
drugs and alcohol.
"I didn't have any aspirations,
and nobody told me I should. So, I
looked for death, and I looked for
destruction. In the projects you
don't have aspirations. You just live
from day to day."
However, today Brisbon is a
changed man. He has earned a high
school equivalency diploma. He is
productive, articulate and soft-
spoken, although he is the first to
admit he has quite a temper.
Brisbon is the founder of
Dreambuilders, a non-profit organi
zation designed to help youth who-
live in public housing.
I asked Brisbon what took him
off the road of "death and
destruction" and made him want to
become a positive role model for
disadvantaged children.
Brisbon replied, "After reading
the biography of Malcolm X, I
realized I had a responsibility to
make things betters. The purpose of
Dreambuilders is to bridge the gap
between the home, the community
and the school."
Dreambuilders, which is currently
based at Morningside Homes in
Greensboro, helps children with
their homework, teaches them
responsibility, and increases their
self-esteem. This small but
determined organization touches
young lives, giving the children
hope, encouragement and vision.
However, like most non-profit
organizations, money is always a
major concern. Brisbon relies on
donations from churches, busi
nesses and individuals to sustain
Dreambuilders. Yet, even though
his financial resources are
sometimes limited, Brisbon's
commitment is steadfast. Although
he and his wife have three children,
Brisbon wants to do more than just
make a better life for his own
family. Brisbon is determined to
touch the lives of many and to make
a positive difference in his
community.
I asked Brisbon what advice he
would give a young child growing
up in the projects today.
Brisbon's response was, "I
would just tell them to always look
for truth. And what I mean by that
is that you should always try to
educate yourself as close to the truth
as possible. What is the truth about
what I need to do to make my life
better? What do I need to do to
know the truth about how I am
supposed to act as a man or a
woman? There are signs and places
where you can go to find truth. The
church is one of them."
Furthermore, Brisbon savs.
"Never, ever believe that because
someone treats you a certain way
that you can't do exactly what you
set out to do."
Although he may be considered
controversial by some, Brisbon is
definitely committed to improving
the quality of life for youngsters
growing up in public housing. HIs
commitment and dedication to
helping children is a positive
example for all of us.