Two Black Teenage Boys Shot To Death In Toronto, Yet I Don’t Care.

On August 23rd 2013, two teenage boys O’She Doyles-Whyte 16, and Kwame Duodu, 15 where gunned down and brutally murdered in Jane and Finch. For people who don’t know Jane and Finch is a notorious crime infested neighbourhood in Toronto. Jane and Finch has a history of violence. Whyte and Duodu are black, and I must admit, when I first heard of their deaths I was ambivalent about it. I feel bad for saying this, but I just kind of shrugged my shoulders.

I guess I feel apathetic, if you live in Toronto you will know what I mean. There have been too many times over the years of sad news stories about young black males being shot to death in Jane and Finch. It is like a broken record. I am so exhausted hearing about these tragedies that I just tune out.

Of course, it is very sad that two teenage boys are dead but I feel conflicted about the violence in Jane and Finch. Am I supposed to care just because I am a black Canadian? I don’t live in Jane and Finch and I wouldn’t want anyone I love or care about to live there either. Should I feel sad, that there are too many tragic news stories about young black males being shot to death in Toronto?

Whenever, gun violence takes place in Toronto, the white media have this propensity to insist, that black Canadian people we are all supposed to care. Do white people care, when a white person dies in Toronto? Why should I as an individual, who just happens to be black, care about young black boys dying? Why should the actions of a few represent that of an entire race? It doesn’t make sense to me?

Why? Why should I care about black parents that are irresponsible, they don’t want to improve their lives, they raise their children in violent neighbourhoods?

Why don’t black parents teach their teenage sons to stay away from gang bangers and drug dealers? These two boys probably knew people who were involved in a gang. Why don’t black parents do more? One of the things my parents taught me when I was young is to NOT ASSOCIATE OR BE AROUND BAD PEOPLE! My mother always says, if you weren’t with the crows who have been found you would be ALL SAFE AND SOUND! If you don’t associate, talk to, hang around, gang bangers or drug dealers then you have a better chance of staying SAFE and ALIVE.

Now, people are saying the two teens were not a part of a gang. However, perhaps this is true both boys were not in a gang, but maybe they were associated with one or knew people in it? I just find it bizarre in the city of Toronto, that people would just randomly shoot and kill two teenage boys. Teenage boys need their fathers in their lives, because a father helps a boy to grow up to become a man.

I talked to my sister today about this tragedy, she said one of the reasons she lives in the suburbs with her son is to avoid these kinds of tragedies. My sister was blunt she said she would never raise her son around poor blacks.

Now, some might argue my sister is a hater, or a racist, or an elitist, but I see her cogent argument. In Jane and Finch, there is a cycle of violence, that seems to have no ending. My sister said she worries about her ten year old son, she doesn’t want him growing up in a dangerous environment. A violent place such as Jane and Finch has an aura of poverty and unhappiness.
I have to admit, if I had a child I wouldn’t want him growing up around poor blacks either.

My sister and I next we questioned, why would a black mother raise her son in Jane and Finch? Why? Everyone knows Jane and Finch is a dangerous neighbourhood filled with despair and violence.
I saw the family and friends on the news the other day crying about the two dead boys. Of course, these people are black and poor. Now I understand, due to circumstances, things happen in life. However, I wonder, where were the black fathers in this situation? Where are the fathers of these teenage boys?

The mainstream Canadian media, will report these tragedies of young black boys dying in the streets of Toronto. However, it is time for the black community to have some real talk. Why are black Canadians so afraid in Toronto to have a serious discussion about gun violence? I am serious. Why, are young black boys dying?

I am apathetic, to the deaths of these two teenage boys, I just feel like black parents need to be more accountable. Yes, violence can occur anywhere in Toronto. However, I just feel some black parents are not doing enough to raise their sons. Why would any black mother raise her children in Jane and Finch? It just seems shocking to me I am perplexed about it.