Teens killed on both sides of the Atlantic
The death of 15-year-old Shakelia Taylor this past Monday is another sad reminder of the problems with violence that have recently been lately gaining more attention. Taylor was a former Chicago Public Student, who had been enrolled in school in Indiana. Although her death doesn’t add to the headline of “another CPS student “killed,” it is no less important or tragic.
Equally tragic was the murder of 17-year-old Amar Aslam in England. Aslam was beaten to death in a park in West Yorkshire. It is unknown whether his death was gang related, but gang violence has been a growing problem in parts of England, some attributing it to racial tensions.
It is interesting to compare the racial element in gang violence here and in a country like England. Whereas race seems to be at the center of the gang violence in England, gang violence in the U.S. is examined by the racial makeup of the gang members and victims. For example, all of the CPS students killed by gun violence this school year were black or latino. Out of that, all but one were male. Local-area groups like CeaseFire recognize this element; the make up of their staff and outreach workers is predominately male. But this shouldn’t overlook the problem of violence and teen girls. What problem is that? More to follow…
Thursday, May 29th, 2008
