What Happened to Community?

Have you seen the recent article about the woman in Detroit whose children froze to death in the car because she was homeless and all the shelters were full? This story has gotten so much social media buzz, and battles of the sexes have been ignited in attempts to determine who is essentially responsible. Some point fingers at the mother, and claim that she was neglectful in her actions and choices. Many aim their condemnation at the father, saying he should have taken the children when asked and provided for them better. Instead of shooting shots at the parents, my question is, what happened to community?

I grew up in the 80s, during a time period where all your neighbors were considered family and everyone felt it was a duty to look out for one another. I can remember my grandmother feeding kids, letting children take baths, and making sure no one fell through the cracks. Communities protected children, helped out struggling parents, and prevent children from going into the system. We valued the lives of our neighbors, we cared about the children, and we operated as a unit. We all knew that if we needed an egg or a little milk for cornbread, and we didn’t have the money or the store was closed, we could go to our neighbors house and borrow some. If we outgrew clothes or bought new furniture, we would check with our neighbors before throwing it out, to see if anyone could use them. We paid attention to what our neighbors were going through and we didn’t turn a blind eye to mistreatment. Grandmothers and aunties were the safe spaces for all the family’s children, and all the kids who lived on your street somehow became your cousins.

Now, grandmothers are young and still clubbing; we don’t even know who our neighbors are; and we can’t really call on family members for assistance. Fathers are absent or inactive and mothers are too prideful to ask for help. Single motherhood has left young men lacking in examples of real men, and fathers would rather pay child support and remain “hands off.” People are choosing microwave relationships based purely on feelings and sexual desires, and having babies with people who care nothing about them. The environment is toxic and dysfunctional, and all the elders do is watch, or make it worse. The only ones suffering are the children. How did we get here?

In the picture above, the Black Panthers created a model to help in their communities. They gave out food and pioneered a program that later became the WIC program we know today. Children received free breakfast, families received food, prisoners got commissary, shoes, clothes and rides were given out in abundance. The community came together to provide for the needs of those in the community. No one worried about if someone was getting something they didn’t deserve, no one took advantage of anyone else, and everyone got what they needed. In order for us to survive as a people, we have to get back to the community mindset. Everyone has to stop talking, control their emotions, and put their actions where their mouth is. When it comes to the children, who will essentially pick up the mantle and walk into the future, the elders have to set all feelings, emotions, and shortcomings aside, and do what is best for the collective. Men have to get back to being men; lead, protect and provide. Women have to get back to being women; nurture, love and educate the children.

As a community, we need to use this tragedy as a catalyst to do better. A fire should have been ignited inside of all of us to organize and do what we can for those in need. We should all have a personal goal to recognize those in the community who may need our help and assist in any way we can. That may be giving a father a ride, watching a single mother’s kids for her to run errands, taking an elderly person to a doctor’s appointment, or even volunteering with a local group. I am personally pledging more of my time to provide young people with the tools to start out a career in the medical field, to train young teens and mentor more young women and girls, and to offer any assistance that someone may need. Finally, in the words of the illustrious Dr. Huey P. Newton, ‘I think what motivates people is not great hate, but great love for other people.’ Go forth and grow.

🖤🖤T🖤🖤