Blaming the issues on parents is always a complete political cop-out.
The recent increase in Philadelphia’s flash mobs has been frequent enough and disturbing enough to draw the ire of politicians in the area. The majority of these attacks have occurred in white business districts and late at night. The nature of these attacks has prompted many to speculate on whom should be the culprit in their random, late-night attacks.
Logically, the parents of the youngsters have been identified as a large source of the problem. However, that issue itself has never been a constructive one. Politicians placing “pressure” on the household has never been a method that gains results, and in the event that it did, politicians would then take credit for it. In other words, the urge for parents to do a “better job” becomes a political position that places much responsibility but very little resources on the parents themselves.
The city has, in many ways, created these flash mobs. These students are too young to operate beyond the social constructs placed in front of them. Their decision to head into Center City and antagonize people is as engendered a decision as their urge to wear the newest sneaker and freshest jeans. There are certain things the student themselves can only react to. The Philly flash mobs are a reaction to various things. They are a reaction to the funny looks, annoyed gestures, and caddy attitudes the students receive when riding downtown on the train to school during the school year. They are a reaction to four friends walking into an Armani Exchange and not being allowed into the store, even when they are ready to purchase something. In many ways, they are reacting the collective public fear we all have for young black people and young black men in particular.
What they have become, in turn, is everything we feared them to be from the beginning. Even before they started doing it, police officers, businesses, and everyday people expected these young people to get on train and attack you. When they walked into your store, you expected them to steal. And when you were walking down the street, you expected them to rob you, all before they even started. The youth felt this a long time ago. They know they don’t have to work hard at all to intimidate us. Unfortunately, there appears to be no one to articulate the needs of these groups adequately which makes these flash mobs directionless, and in many ways scary because it allows our imagination to believe the absolute worst will happen.
Ironically, our biggest fears come true. Now at any time- while on a date, hanging with your grandmother, or just relaxing to have a drink- an anonymous, seemingly-careless group of youngsters can ruin your evening on a moments’ notice, unexpectedly. More ironic, is the fact that this type of fear toward random acts of violence on our person or businesses are exactly what African-Americans had feared for decades at the hands of angry white mobs.
This is not an attempt to justify their behavior. No one should have to be hurt, especially when they themselves have nothing to do with the issue. I am asserting however, the these students are strategically and intentionally instigating a collective fear they know that many white people have for large congregations of black people and using it against them. And there is absolutely nothing anyone can do about it but blame the parents. Figure out what “wrong” with the parents, and you might fix the problem. Until then, your businesses may suffer. The interesting part for you to consider is what would you give for them to stop?
-Derrick Reed
