Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 January 2000 — Page 4

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21,

Sat to know your eye doctor

DEATH

Continued from A1

Set your sight on quality...

The quality you’re looking

for.,

Dr. Lloyd earned her medical degree (M.D.) from Indiana University in Indianapolis. After completing her residency in ophthalmology at Howard University Hospital in Washington D.C., Dr. Lloyd trained other ophthalmologists both at Howard University and at the State University of New York in Buffalo. Dr. Lloyd specializes in comprehensive eye care, glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and laser surgery.

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large on talk, but well short of adequate solutions. “Black males play a significant role incausingthenumberofBlack 1 victims to be so high,” he said. “But things are not going to change until more African-American male adults become involved in the lives of young Black males. At least one Black male family member should be a guiding light for young Black males.” To address solutions, the commission’s report first identifies two problem statements that have caused the continued degeneracy of Black males locally and nationally. First, the commission believes I the lack of Black male adult involvement in the lives of younger males contributes to this problematic street culture, which breeds gang activity and the infusion of drugs into the community. Secondly, the lack of proper nurturing for young Black males has led to a deficiency of positive, redeeming ideas in the community which could ultimately lead to crime prevention. Increased community action, the commission believes, is the road to community revitalization. Specifically, it is advised that each sector of the community engage in volunteer efforts, increase programs targeting youn^ black

males, role model and mentoring programs, increased recreational activities and community partnerships. . To change the negative mentality pervading many young Black minds, the commission also urged the community to aggressively recruit Black male adults to become more active in the lives of their younger brothers. “We do have a disproportionate number of Black males incarcerated and uneducated,” Jackson added. “But we also have a population of brothers in leadership that must take the leadership role for those who are no longer able. Right now, obviously we are not doing as good a job as we can.” Commission Chair and State Representative Dr. Vemon Smith is one community leader that continues to take this idea quite seriously. An active leader in the Gary community, each week Smith brings young Black males together through the African-American Achievers Youth Corps, Inc. in hopes of saving them from the vices of Black on Black crime. But, what strikes him as being most significant is not only the continuing violent trend, but the apathy the community seems to have towards it. “It has become acceptable among the African-American, it’s

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horrifying," said Smith. “That what disturbs me most. We’re doing nothing to control the availability of guns getting to thesi’ > young people. It’s only when we c • get tired of this that a change will! • occur.” j« • To eliminate the problem of • i gun infusion into urban neighborhoods, Smith said he will continue v fo sponsor and support bills aimed at limiting the accessibility of guns T to youth. In the meantime. Smith* 1 and the commission urge the com*, munity to more adequately ad-*^ dress the question of how guniu; reach young Blacks in the first

place.

“We have to continue to build sensitivity toward this issue,” h4;, said. ’\;i Added commission member v , Mindy M. Lewis, the report, whiles s substantial in its presentation, is,., merely a starting point to addressing the larger problem at hand. “One of our goals as a commis-j < sion is to get information out as a, j way to help organizations create,;] better policies,” she said. “Gum j violence is on the rise and folksy, need to know that. “We wanted to make sure we fr , put out more than just a study,”,5 Lewis continued. “The key is not;, just to get the information, but to), make specific recommendations^, so that we can find solutions. This : , is not just a Black male problem, it’s a societal problem.” ■ . . While increased community, participation is the most impera-..; live step to decreased gun violence in the Black community, thecommission also reported that the v state must work hand-in-hand with, increased outreach initiatives.,, With new partnerships and programs, local and state government. must also more adequately fund-, prevention, intervention and treat- c . ment components across the state.. £ Each federal, state and local outreach agency should further make r violence prevention a priority, the. t report added. “There are studies that have c . been and will beconducted,” Jacfro, son advised. “We live this evqy- ] day, we know this data exists. / Unless we do something about the data, nothing will change.” Gun-related violence will be a r major topic of concern later this >' year, as the Indiana commission r will play host to the National Con- ^ ference on Black Males in Octo-„ ber. The conference will assemble each Black Males’ Commission, from around the country in an ef-, fort to further identify steps toreform in the African-American-community. Copies of the survey are available through the commission by , calling (317) 233-1744. The In-, dianapolis Recorder also has cop-. ies available and can be obtained i at the office.

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