The nexus between poverty and abuse

by Leigh Graham · 2008-12-30 23:00:00 UTC
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Yesterday's news was abuzz with some disturbing findings from criminologists at Northeastern University in Boston: the homicide rate among adolescent black boys is rising, even as it is generally on the decline among their white peers.  Boston is one of six major U.S. cities with increases of at least 75% compared to murder rates in 2000.  Although the study and coverage point to the cutting of social programs as contributing to this growth - including diverting anti-gang and community policing funds to homeland security/terrorism efforts - mention of the likelihood of high rates of poverty in the neighborhoods under study is slim.

Taking the Boston case as an example, homicides are clustered in three neighborhoods: Roxbury, Mattapan and North Dorchester.  These neighborhoods have majorities or pluralities of black residents, and the percentage of black children living in poverty ranges is near or greater than 30% in all cases.  These are the kids who rely most on the libraries, sports programs, child care providers, mentors, youth groups, and after-school jobs and activities that cities, churches and local non-profits provide.  As Jamelle points out over at PostBourgie, reversing this trend requires sustained attention and investment in inner-city neighborhoods where violent crime, and gun violence in particular, is so prevalent.

This isn't about merely stepping up a police presence, in fact, this only points to the major need for criminal justice reform, especially to break the school-to-prison (and back) pipeline.  This is about breaking the "nexus between poverty and abuse" - as even our neighbors in the country's wealthiest communities are learning, sadly.

Leigh Graham
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