Can We Do Better Please?

A young man by the name of Derrion Albert was killed...beaten to death by gang members. I won't go into detail because it sickens me and because you can find it all over the internet. I do have questions though:
Why are our young black men so angry with each other? Why is it so easy to beat someone to death and just walk away? Why has gang violence been an issue for so long? Why do I feel like nothing is changing?

It pisses me off because I feel like we, as a society, aren't taking the necessary steps to stop this type of hatred. We aren't encouraging the younger kids to do and be better. It seems like all they know is pain, and I can understand that...I might not know their exact pain, but I know pain, pain that lingers in your soul, pain that just doesn't go away, damn near suicidal pain, I've been there....but I knew there was more out there for me; it seems like they don't know that. It seems like they're hurt so much that they don't care about life anymore, and that, that should hurt us. I can't even place blame on anyone for something like this, because I blame us all. Are we failing our youth, our teenagers? Are we not setting our expectations high enough? I know we're not. We can't be bringing our "A" game because if we were stuff like this could not and would not happen. We have to do better because I'm tired of hearing about what colors you can/can't wear in a certain places; I'm tired of hearing about who's block this is and who's got that block; I'm tired of hearing about how the white people don't treat us right when we don't treat ourselves right. It doesn't make sense...it never did and it never will.

We have to learn how to support each other because if we don't no one else will. Instead of throwing up your fist every time someone looks at you wrong, try shaking someone's hand, try being friendly, try smiling. We have to look in the mirror and own whatever reflection we see; if we don't like that reflection, it's up to us to change it and make it better. There is no need to be so angry that we feel the need to tear each other down. Life is priceless. Even when it seems like the world is against you, Thank God that you have a life to live!

Keep Derrion's family in your thoughts and prayers.

- Jerz