Carl Word on the new violence

Here's my Sunday column, which really oughta carry Carl Word's photo and byline:

Sometimes, I don't know what to say.

Times like these, when kids are falling down with 9mm bullets in their bodies, I've got no wisdom.

But I know who does.

So I punch seven digits and Carl Word of the Urban League — a man who has been there, who gets it — is telling me about how those kids are somebody's children, and their parents need take the stand of their lives against their children's violence.

He's so passionate, and I can't take notes as fast as he can talk. So I interrupt him and run — me, with the gimpy knee — as fast as I can across the street to his office.

And as soon as my audio recorder's running, he picks right up where he left off, starting with the teen shooters.

"They're gonna have to grow up and understand about the decisions they make, man. This ain't no cartoon, man. You don't shoot people and they bounce back up."

"... The parents, if they don't talk to them and they don't have a relationship to talk about stopping the nonsense, that's where it really starts, man.

"And I think the second thing is, we really have to grow up as a community. As cold as it sounds, there's kids that wanna be saved and there's kids that never get it. They don't get it. There's some grown folk that don't get it.

"And we have to make a decision.

"When they get it, we bring 'em in. But until they get it, we can't be held hostage. And then they just cannot hang with us, man."

Carl and I understand each other. The translation: get with the program or go to jail.

"Those kids didn't drop out of space. You hear me, man? They've been through our educational system, they've been to our churches, they walk the grounds here in the community, they'll walk past you and I."

"...To the parent whose kid's out there doin' it: If you need help, holler, man, just holler. But be willing to sacrifice what it's gonna take to make it right. Even if it we gotta take 'em in and get 'em straight and get 'em up out of here."

"... I been to a lot of funerals, and everybody at the funeral knows. And there's the code of silence. It means that it's OK. And it's not OK.

"I tell those guys:

"'Yep, your boy gone. What was accomplished? One died, one go to prison. Who wins? Think about it.

"Parents, think about it: your son died, this one go to prison. And then you live, ever after, grieving because your kid is dead or grieving because your son goes to prison instead of standing up and saying 'I will die first before you go do that crazy-ass stuff.' They're somebody's kids, and whoever's kids they are, they need to go after their kids."

"... As far as prevention, they would have to come forward. And they know where we are. They know where Mr. Fred Jones is, they know where Carl Word is, they know where the pastors are, they know where Tim Reynolds is, Keith Matthews. They know where to come, man.

"They know that we love them unconditionally. ... They know that we'll be at the funeral, that we'll cry, and we'll ask why. And then we'll ask, 'Who's next? And at what cost? Why can't you bury that personal anger?"

Speaking of the insults that often start the violence, Word continued, "'Which one of you has the nerve to break the cycle, to say 'I quit. Call me a punk. Call me a fag. I'm out, man. I'm saved. I'm a Christian, man. I'm goin' to God. I don't wanna hurt my mom and my little brothers. I no longer want my house shot up. I wanna grow up and be a productive man. I want kids. I want my kids to go to school and get an education.''

"... It's not hard. it's doable. They gotta give up the foolishness."

If you can help me to get Carl Word's thoughts into the hands of a parent or a kid who needs to see them, please do so. Carl, Tim Reynolds and Keith Matthews all can be reached through the Urban League office at 962-5553; Fred Jones can be reached at Battle Creek Central High School, 965-9535.

Comments

[Annie]

An excellent article, Carl Word. You remind me of the Bible verse: "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: Now I know part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love of humanity), these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

[flora]

CARL WORD

thank you and GOD BLESS, keep it up if one gets saved amen

[Tracy Gober (Wallace)]

As I sit in my office in Atlanta Georgia, I can't help but feel pain for the place that I was born and raised. Carl Word is absolutely correct, When do parents take responsibility for their kids? When do these young men start to believe in themselves? and relize that violence is not the answer,the piece that you hold in your hand does not make you a man, but what it does show is how soon you want to die or be sent to prison for the rest of your life. I am truly happy to know that after all these years Mr. Carl Word has not given up on the well being of the young generation of Battle Creek.
Thank You and Keep it going Carl Word

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