Innocent lost, part 2

Sherdavin Jenkins’ murder trial couldn’t have come at a more unfortunate time.

The past two weeks has seen the death of and a severely injured youth — both in Chicago and both by beating.  The victims were 16-year-old Derrion Albert and a 14-year-old, both are boys.  

Derrion Albert, 16, was beaten to death by gangs on a Chicago street on Sept. 24.

Albert was beaten to death in front of the Agape Community Center on Sept. 24 by a gang of boys which was recorded by an eyewitness (see video here).  Then, less than a week later, the 14-year-old was beaten at night on another side of the city.  The younger of the two victims fortunately survived.

Just as in Jenkins’ case three years prior, the “street code” of ‘Stop Snitching’ has prevented anyone from coming forward with information about the deaths.  Luckily, circumstances allowed arrests to be made in both cases (thanks mainly to the video tape in Albert’s instance).  Three are charged in the Albert murder, the oldest being 19-years-old.

Although the ‘Stop Snitching’ credo has been around since 1999, rapper Cam’ron made it infamous in his 60 Minutes interview in 2007.  After being shot in 2005, Cam’ron refused to reveal who shot him saying:

“Because with the type of business I’m in, it would definitely hurt my business.  And the way I was raised, I just don’t do that.  I was raised differently, not to tell,” Cam’ron said.

As much debate can be said about the good and/or bad of the rap culture,  statements and ideas such as those presented by Cam’ron, along with the glorification of the street life by rappers has put a black light over the culture of rap music.  By that argument can wait for another blog space.

What must happen is the lost of innocence, like that of Jenkins and Albert.  Rather being gunned down accidentally or bludgeon to death, kids losing their lives long before it can get started good is senseless and ridiculous.  If the children are our future, and they are being eliminated, will there be a future?