Is Society Failing Our Children?

Are We Setting Them Up to Be Sealed Within the Crack In the System?

By: Priscilla Robinson Ndiaye

Saturday past was a very encouraging day for me. I had the opportunity to hear three different individuals issue a challenge. The first challenge was given by Dr. Charles R. Mosley, Pastor of Nazareth First Baptist Church during the funeral service of Mr. George E. “Frank” Hutchison. Mr. Hutchison was noted as being an outstanding community leader whom had dedicated much of his time encouraging and nurturing youth as a basketball, football, and baseball little league coach. Dr. Mosley stressed how important it is for the community to invest time into helping youth and Mr. Hutchison’s time invested was not in vain. Dr. Mosley, then, expressed his concern of what is happening with and to our youth. He challenged the attendees, as well as the community, to come together and “let’s try to save the rest of the children we have left.” The second challenge I heard was given at Pisgah View Apartments during A Celebration of Success Graduation Banquet for a parent support group, sponsored by Sisters of Mercy-ARP Phoenix and Asheville Housing Authority organized and facilitated by Mr. Robert Simmons and Glenda McDowell. The guest speaker, Mr. Gene Bell stated that the success of any society is predicated on how we treat our young and our elderly. Mr. Bell issued a challenge for the attendees to “establish a method to a reiterated question - how are the children.” The expected answer is “the children are well.” Mr. Bell requested the name and addresses of all attendees so that he and his wife could write monthly to ask “how are the children?” The third challenge was issued by Mr. Paul Tax, Executive Director of ARP /Phoenix through a quote of Gandhi, “be the change that you want to see in the world,” These three challenges heard, in one day, made me smile and say thank you Lord. My prayers are finally being answered.

Ten years later… after several articles to the newspaper, a television interview, and a mother’s continuance cry for help to save her minor child from the darkness and wilds of the streets, it is proven that there is a crack in the system. This crack does nothing but allows one to travel deeper into the darkness, to a road of deceitfulness and to the point where that child eventually develops into an adult who is trapped inside the crack and can’t get out. Some never get out because they are sealed into the crack.

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which
it treats its children."

- Nelson Mandela

It is a set-up for a child to fall into the crack when the parents do not seriously carry out the responsibility that comes with parenting a child. It should be our commitment to be a part of that child life’s from the cradle to the grave. We are our child’s first teacher and should be a child’s greatest teacher. It is our duty to provide the basic necessities, such as housing, food, and clothing. It is our duty to nurture and love that child. It is our duty not to abuse and neglect our children nor allow anyone else to. It is our duty to train the child up in the right way he or she should go. It is our duty to prepare them for individual entry into society. It is our duty to know where our child is, what they are doing, and whom they are with. It is our duty to work through rebellious times and never give up on a child. It is our duty to advocate for that child, but hold them and any others accountable for their wrong doings. When, we don’t carry out our parental responsibilities, we will be held accountable. However, reality is some parents need help in developing a child into a most positive and productive adult.

It is a set-up for a child to fall into the crack when the church is not active in a child’s life. It is the duty of the church to teach the children from a spiritual prospective, thy shall not kill, thy shall not steal; and other morals and values; and to help those who can’t help themselves. We are our brothers’ keepers. I grew up on the Southside, in the Walton/Erskine/Livingston Street area. I remember when the preachers, Rev. Ulysses Grant of Worldwide Tabernacle and Rev. Alonzo Smith of New Bethel Baptist Church, at the time, used to visit the homes and check on the families. I don’t believe it happens much now. It’s sad to see, that some churches have taken a step back into self. I’m not saying all have, but more churches can be proactive in children’s lives. It is a duty to try to help the lost. When you don’t, you will be held accountable.

It is a set-up for a child to fall into the crack when our school system is not giving their best services to the student and when they are operating off hidden agendas and are throwing the children out of school, ultimately encouraging the current high drop-out rate. It is the duty of the school officials to teach the children the intellects of life and to assist and prepare them while they are attempting to develop into a working and contributing citizen. It is a duty to work through rebellious times. When you don’t, you will be held accountable.

It is a set-up for a child to fall into the crack when the judicial system is in an authoritative position, but choose not to address the issues when the young child first starts committing crimes. I understand the crimes may not be serious starting out, but as my late grandfather put it, “after the first time, it’s forming into a habit.” Why can’t the system help parents when they cry out in the beginning, when the child is 13 or 14 years of age? Why can’t action be taken that holds the youth accountable at that point and time or the contributing adult? Just maybe this will redirect their path. Why are youth allowed to build up a file of records to, later, be used against them to lock them away, for 10, 30, years and longer?

It is a set-up for a child to fall into the crack when that child chooses to run the streets and not come home at night; run the cars dealing dope; and smoke the marijuana and/or crack. It is a set-up when the child chooses to take money for tennis shoes, cell phones, and etc. from older youth and/or adults. It is a set-up for a child to have sex with other adults. It is a set-up for a child to drink alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, which an adult has purchased. It is a set-up for a youth, with no license, to drive rental cars, which an adult has rented. It is a set-up for a child to be disrespectful to authoritative figures, especially ones’ parents. It is a set-up for that child to fall into the crack. But remember, he or she is still a child or a minor; they think they know what’s ahead. They have been deceived and empowered to think they are grown, because they have been indulging as some adults. They think they have authority. They should be held accountable at this very early age and stage. The contributing adults should be held accountable, as well. I have prayed that the systems will come together, in collaboration with the parents, and others who are concerned, and handle the situation before it becomes a worse problem.

Over ten years later after dealing with my own child who fell through the crack and as I look around at more of our children falling in the cracks, my spirit grieves deeply. As I read the reward posters, “our streets are not safe anymore,” my heart angers. Why aren’t our streets safe any more? Have we, as adults did our best? Why is money being given to set-up another when they have already fallen in the crack? Why can’t the money be used to help those children, those youth, those young men and women to get off the drugs, to get off the streets, to find shelter and food, to be counseled and given a chance of rehabilitation? Why isn’t money being given to supply jobs? It appears there is little concern about these issues and it looks like a pure set-up to seal one further into the crack.

As I socialize with other parents within the community, I can relate to them. I listen to them express how they feel that nobody cares because it is not the other individual’s child. I listen to them, disgustedly, express how they have cried out to the different systems for help. The parents admitted that the child had gotten out of control and they needed help, only to be ignored or told, “It’s nothing we can do.” I was one of those parents. I couldn’t believe it and didn’t believe that a system that has the authority over a child can do nothing. I believe it is more of choosing not to do anything. I now make a challenge - please take the time to talk with, listen to, assist, and positively encourage a parent or a child, whenever you have the opportunity. It just may make a difference in that child not falling in the crack.

If we, individually, and as a society are not helping and encouraging our children in a positive manner, to the best of our ability, then we are setting them up to be confused, judged, and to be lost into the crack. It takes away the chance of that child ever becoming a working, productive, and contributing citizen; and we are failing our children. Remember, one day, we too, will be held accountable. We, too, will be judged.

"Come, let us put our minds together to see what kind of life we can create for our children."

- Chief Sitting Bull-

IT’S TIME!!