Code of the Street

Violence Prevention

Violence among young African American men continues to be a large public health problem. Statistics reveal that homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans age 10 to 24 year olds (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 2014). Additionally, among youth and young adults age 15 -24 years killed by firearms in the US, 60 percent were African American or Hispanic (Teplin, McClelland, Abram, & Mileusnic, 2005). In a study by Teplin et al., researcher found in a study of youth processed in the juvenile justice system that Young African American men were more likely to die a violent death compared to non-Hispanic white or Hispanic youth (Teplin, McClelland, Abram, & Mileusnic, 2005).

Many young African American men particularly in urban settings live by the ‘Code of the Street’, in which they exert extra masculinity to intimate peers and to establish credibility (Stewart, Schreck, & Simons, 2006). The problems with violence are worsened by ill relationships between police and young African American men. Reports indicate that the likelihood of police contact (including stops) for African America men in urban settings is higher than in any other ethnic group (Meares, 2008). Some youth may feel harassed, embarrassed and develop significant distrust for police officials.

To ameliorate this problem programs should be developed to address violence prevention. In response to the public outcry to violent situations among African America youth and police shootings in place like Ferguson, MO, President Obama recently began the My Brother’s Keeper program as an institute to develop leadership, conflict resolution, interpersonal, and life skills among youths but particular for young men of color. Ongoing study and data collection is needed to inform programs like this and to help reduce violence among the target population.

References

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (2014). Youth Violence: facts at a glance. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/yv-datasheet-a.pdf

Meares, T. (2008). Legitimacy of police among young African-American men. The Marquette Law Review 92, 651.

Stewart, E. A., Schreck, C. J., & Simons, R. L. (2006). “I ain't gonna let no one disrespect me” does the code of the street deduce or increase violent victimization among African American adolescents?. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 43(4), 427-458.

Teplin, L. A., McClelland, G. M., Abram, K. M., & Mileusnic, D. (2005). Early violent death among delinquent youth: a prospective longitudinal study. Pediatrics, 115(6), 1586-1593.

Public Service Announcement: Gun in on Gun Violence

Commercial: Gun in on Gun Violence: A Public Service Announcement

Time:              1 minute 15 seconds

Agency:          Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated

Media:            To air on Facebook, Instagram, and Television

Did you know that homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans age 10-24 years-old?  Did you know that in 2010 homicide rates among African American males were 18 times higher than Hispanic males and 4 times higher that White males. Enough is enough! We have to save our youth now! We hear you 3^rd ward, we hear you Houston! Turn in a firearm at Texas Southern University, between October 1-31, 2014 and redeem it for an iPod Mini or attend one of four community town hall meetings about violence prevention for a chance to win an iPod.  For more information visit www.TexasSouthernUnivesity.edu/GunInOnGunViolence. It’s time to take a stand! Gun in on Gun Violence.

Format:

Script:

1-      Did you know that homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans age 10-24 years-old?

2-      Did you know that in 2010 homicide rates among African American males were 18 times higher than Hispanic males and 4 times higher that White males.

3-      Enough is enough! We have to save our youth now!

4-      We hear you 3^rd ward, we hear you Houston!

5-      Turn in a firearm at Texas Southern University, between October 1-31, 2014 and redeem it for an iPod Mini or attend one of four community town hall meetings about violence prevention for a chance to win an iPod.  

6-      For more information visit www.TexasSouthernUnivesity.edu/GunInOnGunViolence

7-      It’s time to take a stand! Gun in on Gun Violence.

Cast:  

1-      (1) African American male age 30 and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

2-      (4) African American teenage males all age 15

3-      (1) African American teenage female age 15

Scene 1:          Actor: African American male age 30 exits a CVS store and stops at the entrance. He begins to recite Scripts. As he is speaking Scene: 1 fades to Scene: 2.   

Scene 2:          (Visual Scene no sound only the male actor from Scene: 1)  

The 5 African American teenagers are on the street corner of Old Spanish Trail and Griggs Rd. in Houston, TX Greater 3^rd Ward community. The youth appear to be talking and begin to argue outside of CVS store. Move to Scene: 3

Scene 3:          Fast-forward : A homicide scene outside of convenience store has occured. The female teen has been killed and her body is lying on the ground covered with a white bloody sheet. Viewers are able to see that it is the girl because her hair is slightly visible from under the sheet. Police are questioning the four males about the murder. Youth are sitting on the ground handcuffed. Television cameras, media personnel, and community members view the scene from behind yellow caution tape barriers.

Scene: 4          Fade back to Scene: 1 where the Actor completes the script.  

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is the oldest Black Greek-lettered organization found in 1906. The organization has several civic service programs including the Project Alpha, My Brother’s Keeper and Go to High School, Go to College Programs. These programs aim to support the development of African American youth and young adults through mentoring and teaching life skills.

Website: http://www.alpha-phi-alpha.com/index.php

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). Youth violence facts at a glance. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/yv-datasheet-a.pdf

Jones-Webb, R. & Wall, M. (2008). Neighborhood racial/ethnic concentration, social disadvantage, and homicide risk: an ecological analysis of 10 US cities. Journal of Urban Health, 85(5), 662-676.

YBMHI: Facts and Figures

African Americans represent 14% of the U.S. population (44,456,009) yet have the widest gaps in health care compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Individuals experience alarming rates heart disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, STDs, and cancer.  Early health education and prevention activities among this population, particularly youth and young adults, is paramount to improve health and outcomes in later life.  Among the population, the health and wellness of young African American men is of particular concern. According the the US Census there are 7.4 million African American males between ages 10-34 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). It is imperative that programs are developed to improve health among this growing population.

Public Health Issues:

Key public health issues among young African American men include HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, poor health insurance, and violence (Battle, 2002).
HIV/AIDS: African Americans continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV infection. HIV/AIDS. In 1999, AIDS was the number one killer of African American males between the ages of 25 and 44 years (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999).  Ten years later, the estimated rate of new HIV infections among African Americans (68.9) was 7.9 times as high as the rate in whites (8.7) (Center for Disease Control & Prevention, 2014). Of all of the new HIV infections among African Americans, 51% were among men who have sex with men (MSM) (CDC, 2014).   

Health Insurance: Nearly 4 out of 10 young African American men lack health insurance (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2006). 

Violence: Among 10 to 24 year olds, homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans; the second leading cause of death for Hispanics; and the third leading cause of death American Indians and Alaska Natives.

References

Battle, S. F. (2002). Health Concerns for African American Youth. Journal Of Health & Social Policy, 15(2), 35-44.

Center for Disease Control & Prevention (2014). HIV among youth. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/age/youth/index.html?s_cid=tw_std0141316

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (2014). Youth Violence: facts at a glance. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/yv-datasheet-a.pdf

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (2006). Young African American Men in the United States: race, ethnicity, & healthcare fact sheet. Retrieved from: http://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/7541.pdf

U.S. Census Bureau (2010). Age groups and sex. Retrieved from: http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF2_QTP1&prodType=table