THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 25, 1996 TAG: 9601230093
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: GUEST VIEWPOINT
SOURCE: BY JEROME L. WILLIAMS
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Some social forecasters predict a substantial increase in black-on-black crime in 1996.
They say the rate is expected to increase, especially among young black men.
They also predict that many young black men will become even more involved with the penal system.
Nevertheless, these forecasters could not have predicted what recent events, such as the Jan. 15 ``March Against Violence'' held in Norfolk, have proven. There is a ``renewed'' spirit of self-determination in the black community.
``We Shall Overcome'' filled the air during the march. Selected as the day to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that Monday conjured up images of a past struggle still left unconquered. However, that day's events also symbolized something much more important, a willingness to address these struggles head on.
``When I look around my community and see the killings that are going on, I realize that talking about them is not going to solve them,'' says Maggie Warren, co-organizer of the ``March Against Violence.'' ``We have to go out and show young people that we are here for them, then we can make a difference.''
As the nearly 100 participants marched down Princess Anne Road, the determination to make that difference was clear. With banners held high and voices united in song, the marchers commanded attention while walking past several violence-stricken communities.
``Honk your horn if you believe we should stop the violence,'' co-organizer Felix Simmons urged. Using his bullhorn, Simmons continuously enlisted the participation of passing drivers. Many drivers, both black and white, honked their horns. Some even held up clenched fists in support of the march. Amid the noise of the car horns and the bullhorn, a community was looking to another source for solutions: itself.
``It's time for us as a community, black and white, to come together spiritually, economically ... to stop the violence,'' march participant Amir Mutee said.
Norfolk resident Charles Whitehurst echoed Mutee's sentiments.
``With all of the problems such as the economy facing us today, we need to come out and work together in order to solve them,'' he said.
This particular march, as well as others throughout the area, are becoming much more frequent than in years past. Possibly spurred by the Million Man March last October in Washington, the increase in such events has raised awareness of the issues they seek to address.
However, some critics in both the black and white community assert that such marches make no real impact on the many problems they seek to address. Still, others are quick to disagree.
``Instead of sitting home doing nothing, we decided that by coming out and marching, we would be doing something positive,'' said teenage participants Tamara and Tameka Jarvis.
Their involvement reflects the increasing participation in these marches by the very same young people that the events hope to reach. Gone are the days where only the parents brave the elements.
As the sign held up by a 4-year-old girl read, ``If it is to be, it is up to me.''
It was obvious that day that the black community is truly practicing that belief. MEMO: Jerome L. Williams is a free-lance writer who lives in Chesapeake and
works in Norfolk.
by CNB