The killing of Shereka Marsh in a Hackney home this past month prompted Mary to write a blog post that struck a cord with me. So I've decided to come at this from a slightly different angle. And the frustration flows even as I think the words, because it seems all I can do is write. There is a virus tearing through the youth of London, and all I can seem to do about it is type.
I do cringe as I write this line, but it's the truth. Until very recently, I thought that gun and knife crime wasn't an issue any more. This sounds ridiculous, believe me I know, but I seemed to have formulated the idea that this epidemic that had raged through my childhood was over.
See, I remember the summer of 2007 and the murder of a boy barely a month older than me at the time; Rhys Jones. I also remember waking up to cordons blocking off part of my road, as police investigated the scene where my classmate's older brother had died in the early hours of the morning.
One was the murder of an innocent child caught in the crossfire of rival gangs, whose killers were brought to justice. The other is just another unsolved murder case, nearly 4 years later unconfirmed rumours are all the justice his family have, but it's most likely that it was gang related, as his involvement in these things were no secret. As I heard from one kid 'he had it coming'.
It took the murder of a teenage girl in East London to make me realise that this doesn't go away. Figures will show you that there have been significant reductions in this specific type of violent crime. There is no denying this, but it is a problem nonetheless.
While I can't whip out my fairy dust and solve all the socio-economic and behavioural problems which cause crimes like this, there is a particular aspect that irks me. The process of desensitisation that makes me feel like this isn't a problem any more; this is what worries me. I remember it was counted in the national press, '14, 15, 16 youths have been killed in London this year'. The names and faces made a solemn montage every couple of weeks, but now I don't know if I would even be shocked if I saw this tonight.
When it is seen as their problem, rather than our problem then how will we ever tackle the gang culture that propagates this violence. Even though that teenage boy died barely 10 seconds down the road, it's not my problem. That only happens to people who live that lifestyle and hang around with those boys (and girls).
One tabloid newspaper chose to use this picture of Shereka Marsh in it's coverage of her death. I don't deny she took the picture, of course not. But I'll ask you to give your honest reaction, because I'll give mine. You read that this girl was shot in a house in East London and your eyes hone in on the necklace. Even though a majority of you may have used the word before, you think 'bitch' and narrow your eyes. Why would this young girl wear such a thing. You see her stomach on show and forget that crop tops are worn by many different types of girls. You take in her pose and think she's got attitude. She's one of those girls.
Maybe my analysis is a little heavy handed but I hope you get my point. You question what this girl was doing with a boy who had a gun. 'It's sad but...'
But could they have gone with this picture of the young girl? Because now you wearily think, that could be my sister, my daughter, my niece or my cousin. It hits close to home that this was an academically excellent girl, who represented her school to councillors and ambassadors. This could be a girl growing up in the less than stellar London borough of Hackney, but she could just as well hail from the borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The smile betrays a life which will never unfold. It shows a girl with aspirations and dreams that will never be fulfilled.
It's an our problem.
In a roundabout way that's all I have to leave with you. Our reactions only reinforce the issue. When it's our issue then we can tackle it. As with all the issues we do, and will face, there is always strength in unity. As long as a child is able to gain access to a gun, and end another child's life. As long as there is a child feels that pressure to join a group of violent older youths to feel a sense of belonging. We must remember that it could happen to my 17-year-old brother, getting involved with the wrong people; but it could also happen to your son or daughter at the wrong house party, or on the wrong London street at the wrong time.
Only when it becomes our problem, will we find our solution.
~Kate~
