Frustrations...
 

******I did a search and didn't find anything related to this.*****

Yesterday, I witnessed something very disturbing. One of the two jobs that I have is teaching math to African American males and females to prepare them for the Minnesota Basic Standards Test. There are two sites that I have to visit, and both are in bad neighborhoods. Yesterday, after the program, I got in the car and started driving back home. We were at a stop light, and all of a sudden I noticed the car behind me swoop to my left. That was really wierd to me bacause there wasn't another lane to the left of me. So as I continued to observe, I noticed these African American young males, throw up gang signs. I was frightened immediately because I thought maybe somebody was about to start shooting. The light was red, so I couldn't move, and there was a car in front of me. So then the car sped up and tried to get back in the lane I was in, and ended up hitting the car in front of me. Of course, they didn't stop because they had just hit this car, and the police would have to get involved. So of course, I dipped out quickly and crossed the river to my neck of the woods. But yesterday frightened me because I was caught up in the middle. What if there was shooting? I could be dead right now. I'm so baffled as to why there's so much senseless violence. Lately, Minnesota has had so many gang related deaths. And there have been quite a few innocent people that have died as a result of this. What's going on?

And then, I think about the other things that African American people are being faced with: Diabetes, Cancer, Heart Disease, Illiteracy, AIDS, etc. What's going on with the African American race?

Don't be frustrated! Coming from NYC, alot of people see it as a way of life. As for me, you can see that spoiled. My family and I lived in what can be considered as the good part of the Bronx. I grew up in a mixed neighborhood. I didn't see gang violence or activity until after I graduated college. And I live not far from a project.

What I am saying on the gangs is that, many think they have no other choice. It also goes back to "slave mentality" and rejection of "white values." What frustrates me is that many people--our people--believe this the way to live. We are dying younger and younger. do we need this? No.

As for the other part of your "frustration," I am a diabetic. Though I hate the poking and the drugs, I use to blame myself. But Before I got this disease, I was eating healthy and exercising under the consideration that I was still heavy. I got it because of my father. Who was very healthy. So I am not sure what to say. The race is dying from one affliction or another, they question is what are we as African Americans, first, do about it?

Re: Frustrations...
 

This doesn't answer your question, and I know you were frightened, but part of the solution would have been to get the license plate number or at least a partial and a description of the car.

I can imagine what part of town you were in, but if it ever (and I pray it doesn't) happens again you should register that information in your mind and if necessary wait and call the police when you get home. That way, you are safe but the police do then have info from an eye witness. Why? Because if they spot the car later and they have your report, they will have probable cause for a stop and search. It may just be the step needed to get some perps off the street.

I will also say that since we are in Minnesota, it may seem that it is a new phenomenon but it isn't. Many of us moved here to escape what was an everyday, common occurance in our home towns. And while it has increased a lot here, it is still small potatoes compared to other medium to large cities. I say that to say, that unfortunately it has been happening in our communities since I can remember. So I am not sure anymore what we can really do as long as drugs, poverty, and yes, racism continue to plague our people.

GLAD YOU ARE OKAY!!!!