On July 4th, approximately at 11:20pm, a total of five victims were shot, leaving two, Meah Bordenave-Jenkin and Erik Washington pronounced dead during a block party. The three remaining suffered from non-life threatening and high-risk injuries. Located at 700 W Block Laurel St, is where locals crowded around the incident, leaving many in shock.
When Meah Bordenave-Jenkin tragically passed, it was reported that individuals were seen “twerking” and parading around her body in perverseness joy. These disgusting and disturbing acts is an example of the twisted “culture” influences that linger around the New Wilmington Arms Apartment complexes. A 19-year old, extraordinary, success-driven Melanated woman who represented black excellence through pursuing a nursing degree, was then shot, humiliated, and turned into a laughing matter by her own racial group. A young Black woman who had a dream, vision, and huge ambitions for her future, was shot by Antoine Jones, a Black man.
Erik Washington, a community advocate and leader, whose mission was to put an end to gun violence, black-on-black crime, and to elevate and change lives in his community, was killed for attempting to de-escalate an argument between two parties. He was also a man with dreams and a big vision. He was a man who wanted to create peace, equality, and a positive impact on the people in his community through participating in Watts Rising Initiative and Housing AuthorityCLA. A Black man leading the way to fight for young Black and Brown boys. The type of father figure every Black boy needs in his life. A true leader, who taught Black boys and young men how to find their place in the world, express their voice and dreams boldy, and to grow into healthy men. But, again, shot by someone surrounded by the racial group we’re supposed to feel safe around.
When will us Black people wake up to the truth about the downside components of “Black American culture?” When will we open up our eyes and confront the “culture” push in Compton, California and how it affects the way we view each other and healthy success? When will we look within ourselves and accept that some cultural music, belief systems, and trauma bonding responses we normalize in the Black Community and in America as a whole, is the reason behind black-on-black crimes, self-hatred beliefs turned into continued generational trauma, and the story loop of the “Black Struggle” in Black low-income families?
Visionary Action 