The Threat

Crime and violence have always been apart of our legacy. Our history is not one that has been immune to crime or violence. We have had to overcome the violence associated with slavery, racism, the Klu Klux Klan and others. But there has been a fundamental shift in the black experience in the last 30 years. Crime and violence, once threats from the outside are now great theats from the inside. Black on black crime has escalated to its highest point in our history.

Drug and alcohol abuse are higher now than ever. In the last month 9.7% of African Americans have used illicit drugs. 10% of our kids ages 12-17 have used drugs and 19.3% of kids under the age of 21 admitted to drinking alcohol.

AIDS is the number one killer of African Americans between the ages of 25-44. 42 percent of people living with AIDS are African American, while 37% were white. The rate at which African Americans contract AIDS is almost 10% higher than whites. 71% of AIDS cases among 13-19 year olds are African American or Hispanic, although they only make up 30% of the age group. African Americans also lead the statistics in other sexually transmitted diseases; such as, gonorrhea, syphillis, chlamydia, trichomonis, etc. There are many reasons for these threats, but one important factor is often overlooked. What do you think is the leading cause of death for African Americans ... Heart disease, crime, AIDS, cancer?

The answer is abortion. Abortion devalues life. Some people who have experienced an abortion suffer consequences, including low self-esteem, promiscuity, drug and alcohol abuse, rage, and difficulty bonding with mates and other children. Each of these contribute to the threats we faces as a community. More African Americans died from abortion than twice the amount of the other six leading causes of death. From 1981-2000, over 9.6 million black children have lost their life to abortion. It it estimated that since its legalization over 14,000,000 children have died. The rich legacy our culture has enjoyed is beginning to disappear.