“Kiladelphia”…no doubt, some ignorant person(s) will take a strange pride in such a name. To some, being associated with such a name denotes a toughness on their part. But, when your city starts getting such a name, something is really wrong.

This is the name that, in some circles, is being given to Philadelphia, PA after the murder rate jumped to 406 killings last year. 85% of those killed were black men.

However, just as you have some folks who embrace such a moniker, there are others who so wholeheartedly reject it that they are moved to action.

Thus, this is why some 10,000 Philadelphia residents are answering a call to help lower crime in that city. While these people will have no police powers, they will help through conflict resolution and mentoring.

More importantly, it is not headed up by law enforcement or the city government — this is actually being spearheaded by citizens.

So, much respect to those who stepped up. I hope your enthusiasm infects us all.

Popularity: 40% [?]

Mos Def, Bun B (of UGK), David Banner, Common, Talib Kweli and M1 (of dead prez) are all highly-regarded rappers but, they are now also being recognized for their stepping up on behalf of the Jena 6.

As posted here previously, Mos Def (as well as Bun B) were actually down in Jena as part of the protests. David Banner, while not being able to be in Jena, used his tour as a platform to discuss the plight of the Jena 6. Most recently, Mos Def, Common, Talib Kweli and M-1 organized a school walkout in protest of the Jena 6’s prosecution.

However, Mos Def did have some pointed words for other rappers who haven’t lent the time or voices to this issue. He calls them out in the following clip:

Popularity: 46% [?]

UPDATE: Authorities are now saying that the reports of Nailah’s body being found are premature. According to police, the body found is so badly decomposed that the identification of race is not possible. Also, according to police, no family members have seen the body. I will follow up with more details as they emerge.

Original Post (originally titled “Sad developments in Nailah Franklin saga”): Though authorities have not confirmed this, a family member of Nailah Franklin, a 28-year-old pharmaceutical sale rep missing for a week, is saying that a body found near a nature preserve is indeed hers.

The body was found this morning not far from where her abandoned car was found a few days ago. Her uncle, Jon Merrill, is saying that the body found is Nailah’s.

As stated previously, no suspects have been named but, police are looking at a man she dated briefly. Nailah had filed a complaint against him for threatening phone calls he made to her.

My prayers go out to the family of Nailah Franklin. May they find peace and justice.

Popularity: 38% [?]

Just an FYI for everyone who doesn’t know — thousands of protesters are in Jena, Louisiana right now in rallies of support for the “Jena 6″.

I am heartened by the show of support for these young men who have clearly been overcharged and would have spent the most productive years of their lives behind bars over this, if prosecutor Reed Walters’ charges been allowed to stand.

Now, I only hope that we take this same spirit of justice back to our own communities and call for fair and just treatment of all black people, even if the offending party happens to be another black person.

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Black kids are disproportionately represented in the foster care system.

Why?

Perhaps a recent study by the Government Accountability Office sheds light on this issue.

Poverty, bias and difficulty in finding adoptive parents are key among a number of factors that contribute to the higher proportion of black children who end up in foster care, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office.

The report, completed last month, said its survey of 48 states and the District of Columbia showed that most jurisdictions have taken steps to address the disproportionate representation, including involving families in decisions regarding children’s care, building community support to help children remain within their families and to widen the search for relatives to care for the children. The states, however, also reported that they had limited ability to analyze data and come up with strategies and often relied on assistance from universities and non-governmental organizations for help.

“Families living in poverty have greater difficulty accessing housing, mental health, and other services needed to keep families stable and children safely at home,” the GAO found. “Bias or cultural misunderstandings and distrust between child welfare decision makers and the families they serve are also viewed as contributing to children’s removal from their homes into foster care. African American children also stay in foster care longer because of the difficulties in recruiting adoptive parents and a greater reliance on relatives to provide foster care who may be unwilling to terminate the parental rights of the child’s parent — as required in adoption — or who need the financial subsidy they receive while the child is in care.”

As a person who may one day adopt a child in the child welfare system, I hear from those on the front lines of this issue. I know that black children in this system have lower foster placement and adoption rates. If we are truly a country concerned about family values, what better way to show that than to help families in need stay together?

Popularity: 28% [?]

Over the weekend, an arrest warrant was issued for 24-year-old Rodolfo “Gomez” Godinez in relation to the shootings of 4 college students in Newark, NJ, which left 3 dead and one injured.

Godinez is charged with “three counts of murder; four counts of robbery; one count of attempted murder; conspiracy to commit robbery; and weapons charges.”

Two juveniles and one adult, Jose Carranza, are already in custody. It is possible that more suspects will be named.

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A juvenile has been taken into custody in connection to the killings of three black college students and the wounding of another. Police found him hiding out at the home of a relative.

Police are still looking for two more suspects, one adult and one juvenile.

Already in custody are an unnamed 15-year-old and 28-year-old Jose Carranza. Both have been charged with 3 counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

A relative of one of the victims is now asking if authorities could have prevented all of this.

At the time these crimes were committed, Carranza was on bail after being indicted on aggravated assault and weapons charges from a case he caught in April and a July arrest on 31 counts which include a sexual assault on a child under 13 and endangering the welfare of a child under his supervision. Furthermore, Carranza is in the country illegally. So, if he’s in the country illegally and already accused of such serious crimes, was was he let back out on the street with the possibility of creating more mayhem?

I think these and more questions will continue to be asked as this story develops.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Earlier this week, I posted a story about the shootings of 4 New Jersey students which left 3 dead and one wounded(see “A Community Enraged”). It is believed that they were victims of a robbery attempt. Terrance Aeriel, 18, Iofemi Hightower, 20, and Dashon Harvey, 20, were killed execution-style behind a school near their homes. Natasha Ariel was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the head.

Police now arrested to individuals in relationship to this crime. An unnamed 15-year-old and 28-year-old Jose Carranza are now in police custody. Police tracked down and arrested the 15-year-old and Jose Carranza turned himself in just as the Newark mayor Cory Booker was about to announce a warrant for his arrest.

Both have been charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Police are still pursuing leads that indicate that others may have been involved in this crime.

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If it’s one thing that truly angers me, it’s seeing young life cut down senselessly. Whether it’s on some foreign battle field or a street at home, the result is still the same — somebody’s child is gone.

It’s particularly shocking when you see kids who are doing the right thing. Today, three college students are dead and another wounded after being victims of an attempted robbery.

All four were to attend Delaware State University this fall. Instead, today, we mourn the deaths of Terrance Aeriel, 18, Iofemi Hightower, 20, and Dashon Harvey, 20. Natasha Ariel is currently hospitalized after being shot in the head by one of the assailants.

At present, no suspects have been named and a $50,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the arrests of those involved.

So, I sit here angry, knowing that three kids who, for all we know, could have contributed greatly to society, are dead today because some persons (and I use the term loosely) thought so little of their lives that they took them without thought.

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Sorry that I haven’t been posting much lately but, I have a good excuse.  My wife and I are looking into fostering (and hopefully adopting) a black child.  So, we are busy turning our house upside-down in preparation.  This means that the spare bedroom that used to be my “office” is gone (my biological son called dibs on it) and I had to relocate to a corner in the family room.  But, in the end, I believe this to be worth it.

You know, it’s funny how people react when you tell them what you’re looking to do.  They look at you like you’re some saint.  I ask them not to put me up that high. My wife and I aren’t “saints” — we’re two people that want another child.

This is something that we have talked about for years.  You see, about 7 years ago, my wife discovered she was adopted.  She found out by going through some of her mother’s papers after she passed.  Though shocking, it was by no means devastating.  In fact, she realized that she was lacking for nothing, especially love, as she was raised by two parents who instilled in her good moral values and a strong work ethic.  Thanks to her upbringing, she has a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Education and, hopefully, will one day have her doctorate.  Not bad parenting work for a truck driver and a housewife.

So, knowing the good that can come from adoption, we are looking to bring another child into our lives.  In our opinion, there are too many black children being bounced around here in “the system” for us to go looking for private domestic adoption or international adoption. Not that there’s anything wrong with going that route — we just chose a different one. We fully expect challenges and know from having a child of our own already that it’s hard work.   But, like I said, I believe it’s worth it.

Wish us luck!

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