The recent shooting in Dallas, Texas, captured in broad daylight by a cellphone, showed the brutal reality of how quickly life can be taken away. A young Black man, moments before, was standing in a parking lot, seemingly unaware of the danger that approached. The shooter, also a young Black man, walked up to him with a firearm and, in front of multiple witnesses, ended his life in a flurry of gunshots. The sight of such violence, while unfortunately not uncommon in many of our communities, still strikes the heart with grief and shock. The finality of death, the irreversible nature of a single, emotionally charged moment, reminds us of the fragility of life.
Damn Dallas In Broad Daylight…😳🤦🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/jJ0NWXkgpz
— Lil Rico ⑨ (@IAmLilRico) October 16, 2024
It is easy for mainstream media to categorize this event as “Black-on-Black crime,” a term that demonizes and isolates the struggles of Black men, as though other races don’t experience violence among their own. When white men commit violent acts against one another, it’s never labeled “white-on-white crime.” The same holds for Latinos and Asians. Yet, when the violence occurs in our communities, the media hastily frames it as though we are a people doomed to destroy ourselves. This narrative reinforces stereotypes and further alienates us from the empathy and understanding needed to address the roots of these issues.
What lies beneath these tragic acts of violence are factors that have plagued our communities for generations. Poverty, broken families, poor mental health resources, and the lack of true spiritual guidance all play a significant role. However, at the core of this issue is a deep emotional weakness that manifests as rage—rage that is often misdirected at one another rather than the systems that have failed us. This lack of emotional resilience, when coupled with stressors like poverty and systemic racism, can lead young men to believe that violence is the only solution.
The Impact of Poverty and Systemic Racism
One of the most potent drivers of violence is poverty. When people live in an environment where opportunities are scarce, competition for limited resources can turn deadly. Our young men are often raised in communities where jobs are few, education is underfunded, and hope seems out of reach. Systemic racism ensures that these conditions remain unchanged, feeding into a cycle of despair. The prison-industrial complex profits from this despair, funneling Black men into cells instead of classrooms. Once incarcerated, the potential of these men—future fathers, business owners, leaders—is cut short, ensuring that they will not contribute positively to their communities.
Broken Families and Mental Health
Broken families are another issue. Many of our young men grow up without strong male role models. Without a father figure to teach them how to handle conflict, emotions, and responsibility, they are left to figure out manhood on their own or through the distorted lens of media and toxic street culture. This lack of guidance often leads to poor decision-making, particularly when it comes to handling disputes. The absence of emotional intelligence—a key trait of manhood—makes it easy for anger and frustration to escalate into violence.
Mental health is another aspect of this issue that is rarely discussed. Black men, in particular, face an overwhelming stigma when it comes to seeking help for mental health challenges. Depression, anxiety, PTSD from witnessing or experiencing violence—these are realities for many, but few feel safe or supported enough to seek treatment. Instead, they bottle up these emotions until they explode in tragic ways, as seen in the video from Dallas.
Over a damn phone, pray for our people… pic.twitter.com/uhJZfOFAuo
— Lil Rico ⑨ (@IAmLilRico) October 16, 2024
There is also a spiritual component to this crisis. As a community, we have lost touch with the spiritual principles that once grounded us. There was a time when life was seen as sacred, when elders imparted wisdom to the young, and when disputes were resolved through understanding and dialogue. Today, many young men do not see the divine in themselves or others. Life has become cheap in a world where material success is valued over human connection, and as a result, they act out of a profound sense of emptiness.
Emotional Weakness and Strength
At the core of this issue is emotional weakness—an inability to deal with life’s pressures in a healthy way. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Emotional strength can be taught, cultivated, and passed down. It begins with recognizing the importance of emotional intelligence, learning how to manage stress, and understanding that not every problem requires a violent solution. When our young men learn to control their emotions, they can better handle conflict, disappointments, and the inevitable challenges that life throws their way. They can also begin to see one another as brothers rather than enemies.
Moving Forward: A Call to Manhood
It’s time to reclaim our young men from the clutches of this destructive cycle. We must reframe how we think about conflict, manhood, and community. This begins by teaching our young men that there are alternatives to violence. They must be shown that real strength lies not in the ability to destroy but in the power to build and uplift.