There is virtually not one major city where the carnage that has gripped Newark, New Jersey does not exist to either a lessor or greater degree. In a span of less than 36 hours there were five murders, two of them children, innocent bystanders to senseless gun play and three shootings, one of them near fatal. These murders in New Jersey largest city comes of the heels of the Short Hills Mall murder of a young attorney, where the alleged perpetrators are said to be from the Newark area.

Whether viewed from afar, or up close, the randomness, senseless of it all gives one far more than reason for pause. The city appears to be coming apart at the seams. Yet, those of us that have grown up in Newark or lived there for years, knows that violence is not new to this city. In fact the murder rate now is far less than it had been during parts of the ‘80s. However, there is a difference between then and now. That difference is the randomness, the wantonness of the violence today as opposed to then.

During the ‘80s and even into the early ‘90s, before drive-bys became the rage, errant high-powered bullets, finding their way into the bodies of children were near non-existent. It was the “exception to the rule.” Now it has become near par for the course, the lives of the innocent collateral damage. There was a period where this internecine warfare that we now wage one with the other was near non-existent. What happened and why?

IN THOSE DAYS GIANTS WALKED THE EARTH Genesis 6:4

There were problems then, though not of our own making. There was blatant discrimination, school desegregation, housing discrimination and a legal system that was overtly blinded by color. However in the midst of these Hydra headed forms of racism arose a cadre of strong black men and woman who were more than up to the challenges of that day. This raises the question, is it that the problems now are larger or is it that those that would solve them are smaller, less engaged, less committed to the struggle that besieges us now?

We who are sired from the loins of giants, from those that tackled far larger and entrenched obstacles than face us today, suddenly find ourselves speechless and without a plan to save our most precious commodities, our children. There is a disconnect between ourselves and our at risk youths. And the cause for that disconnect does not lay at their feet. Absent demonstrations that continue to shout “STOP THE VIOLENCE,” we often seem to be at wits end.

Where are our action committees, our think tanks, and our planning boards? How often, if at all, are we in our Youth House, our group homes and our high schools, engaging, mentoring, trying at the root to make a difference in our ‘at risk’ community kids’ lives. Where is the spirit of Malcolm; the relentlessness of one our own city’s Amiri Baraka, the courage of Huey P. Newton and the righteous indignation of Martin Luther King?

We have allowed ourselves to become bystanders and observers while our city spirals out of control, our children are murdered in cold blood, and those that are lucky enough to escape the randomness of internecine violence, lives lived in near PTSD? One day people will look back on this day and wonder, where were the strong black men and woman when their communities disintegrated and imploded?

My brothers and my sisters, you can make a difference, but you cannot do so from the comfort of your couch. You have to become engaged. Seek out organizations that are taking this bull by the horns. If, you cannot find one, then create one with liked minded friends or family members. Do not wait until the senselessness strikes you or your family personally before you see the need to act.

In closing APFFC’s motto is instructive, IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN? AND IF NOT YOU, THEN WHO? If, you cannot lead then follow, but get involved.

Your brother, Akbar Pray

Akbar Pray is the author of “Death of the Game” and “Last of a Dying Breed.” He is also the Editor in Chief of the online E-magazine “The Urban Perspective and Founder of the non profit organization APFFC “The Akbar Pray Foundation for Change”. Follow Akbar on Twitter @akbarpray322 and on Face Book @ Wayne Akbar APFFC Pray.