Do YOUR Part!

Charkes Nesbitt
Feb 21, 2016
2 min read

While on one of my social media websites, I came across a news article highlighting the number of youth deaths caused by guns from 2013-2015, in Miami-Dade County. The count was 68 with most victims being African-American boys. Since then, at least 4 more have occurred, bringing the count to 72. I don't know about you, but that evokes a great deal of emotion for me. I feel sad, mad, and indifferent-- all at the same time. My sadness is brought on by the thought of a school aged child losing his life. And the madness is brought on when I think about the animals who commit these heinous crimes. And then I become indifferent. I begin to settle in the sentiment of "If they don't care about themselves, why should anyone else?" And for those who have replied with an immediate "I do care about what goes on, what the hell is she talking about?", ask yourself the following questions:

"What role do I play in what's going on in my community?"

Am I a responsible adult?

Am I a responsible parent?

Am I a responsible citizen?

Have I resolved all of the bullshit and dysfunction in my life so that I am at least conscious about what's going on around me?

Have I asked my child what's going on in school?

Have I checked my teenaged son or daughter's book bag?

Have I checked his/her social media page?

Do I know his friends?

Have I read or listened to the news?

Have I voted, ever?

You see, no matter how harsh the criminals responsible for these crimes are punished, if you don't do your part, then you are just as liable as the person pulling the trigger. Doing your part means repairing yourself. Doing your part means loving yourself. Doing your part means educating yourself. Doing your part means educating your child. Doing your part means making your child accountable, even if its for the most meaningless thing. Doing your part means consistently and persistently putting your foot in your child's ass for sub-standards. Doing your part means making sure your child is in the house at a certain time, every day. Doing your part means not cursing at your child's teacher when he/she called. (The teacher actually knows more about your child than you.). Doing your part means not letting snap-chat, IG, FB, Twitter, or these dumb-ass songs our children listen to raise them--that's your job. Doing your part is getting off of your ass and going to work. Doing your part is going into your child's room and looking under their beds and in their closets--you'd be surprised about what you will find. Doing your part is being the adult, parent and citizen your child needs you to be. Because if by chance you are able to follow one of these criminals home, you'd find a parent that has not done their part!