By: Troy Campbell
Something For Sunday
In the wake of George Floyd’s unfortunate death, worldwide protests, and civil unrest, many people are beginning to ask a legitimate question. “If black lives matter so much, why is there so much black on black crime?” Let’s dive right into it!
Historically, we have been taught that gangs in African-American and Latino communities began with unruly youth in ghettos and barrios who were angry, out of control menaces to society. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. The first gang in Los Angeles wasn’t black or brown…it was white! Yep, that’s right, white young teenagers. In the 1940’s and 1950’s, a racist street gang called the “Spook Hunters” was formed in South Gate, California as a reaction to the growing African-American population in the neighboring city of Los Angeles (United Gangs.com/spookhunters). The term Spook Hunter is extremely demeaning and derogatory, as it was used to describe a black person of dark complexion. This gang of white racist teens inflicted unspeakable intimidation and horror upon the targeted youth and their families in African-American and Latino communities. Their reign of terror included bombing homes, vandalism, and assault and battery. The Spook Hunters enjoyed the twisted thrill of joyriding through Los Angeles, jumping out of cars and savagely beating up young black people for no other reason than to express hate. They were easy to recognize because the back of their jackets donned an animated caricature of a black person’s face in a noose. How in the world were they able to get away with this outrageous, nefarious behavior? Great question! They had the full support of both the LAPD and the white community, which means they could commit all the hate crimes they wanted to without fear of consequence or prosecution.
White supremacy, systemic racism, Jim Crow laws, and Spook Hunters kept blacks confined to Central Avenue (West of Alameda) and restricted Mexican-Americans mostly to East Los Angeles (unitedgangs.com/spookhunters). But just how long is someone expected to live in sheer fear? The hopelessness brought on by these underserved acts of brutality provoked these black innocent victims to ask questions amongst themselves since there was nowhere else they could turn for help. “When will the police actually ‘protect and serve’ me? “Will I get beat up by the Spook Hunters while walking home again today like I did yesterday?” Finally, a few black teens decided to take matters into their own hands. Since the police were allies of their white violent perpetrators, they decided to protect themselves by walking home from school together in groups. Their decision was a stroke of genius that changed the game! No longer outnumbered, they quickly became a force to be reckoned with on the streets of L.A. They didn’t pick fights with anyone nor did they take any more butt whippings. They simply banded together to protect themselves and their communities. This same pattern of self-preservation unfolded with Mexican-Americans in East Los Angeles. The very first African-American and Latino gangs grew out of the need for teens to protect themselves and their communities from white violence.
Once the Spook Hunter bullies realized their time was up, “white flight” began as African-Americans started infiltrating various parts of the city they were previously restricted from. The Spook Hunters fled to the suburbs but the residue of their wickedly violent ways remained in the psyche of Los Angeles and its surrounding cities.
Statistics have long shown that areas with the highest amount of violent crimes generally have the highest concentration of poverty. The combination of Jim Crow laws, red lining and a shot of white supremacy provided the poisonous tonic that ghettos and barrios are still reeling from today. After successfully fending for themselves against the Spook Hunters, African-Americans could finally enjoy walking home from school safely. But what started out as a way to protect themselves from white violence ultimately became a way to afflict themselves with black on black crime. .
When addressing black on black crime, I think it’s important for us to not only look at the fruit but also the root from which the fruit sprung from. The root of gang violence in America didn’t begin with black people, it began with white people. Historically, African-Americans and Latinos have been inappropriately categorized and demonized as monsters who CREATED these unstoppable crime machines called gangs. Lie. Lie. Lie. What we see in minority communities are the fruit (result of; something which grows on a tree and which contains seeds) of which white (supremacy) violence is the root (the originating source).
The Book of Mark 11:11-14, 20 chronicles Jesus passing by a fig tree that had no fruit. In response to the lack of fruit, Jesus said to it, “No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever.” The next morning, Jesus and His disciples passed by that very same fig tree and it had suddenly dried up from the roots. Matthew 7:17-20 says, “every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” White violence is the tree that gave birth to the evil fruit of black on black crime. Without the root there’s simply no fruit. And there should be no more discussion about black on black crimes without facing the truth of where and how it all began.
In John 8:32, the Bible says, “…the truth shall make you free.” Freedom is a product of truth. For years, African-Americans and Latinos have been subjects of intense scrutiny built on the wicked foundation of white supremacy (through mainstream media) to produce obese amounts of public fear in order to justify military policing and mass incarceration. In Matthew 3:9-10, John the Baptist addresses the Pharisees and Sadducees (religious leaders who don’t want a better system) at his baptism by telling them their pedigree, ancestry, ethnicity will not exempt them from change. In verse 10, he tells them “…and now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn (chopped) down, and cast into the fire.” To me, the message is brazenly clear. Every tree that doesn’t bring forth good fruit must be chopped down at the root. Jesus made sure the fig tree was dried up from the roots. If black lives matter so much, why is there so much black on black crime? That’s a great question! If the goal is to produce better fruit, we must begin by having mature and honest conversations about the roots and origins of violence in America before we continue to blame and condemn its by-product.
For a more extensive look into the origins of black on black crime and how it could be brought to an end, listen to Pastor Troy L. Campbell’s message in its entirety.
Troy L. Campbell, Senior Pastor, The Secret Place, Pasadena California www.tsp91.org.
