Put the guns down

Chicago, The home of the Bulls and Black Hawks, the city with the Magnificent Mile, which brings tourist from near and far to shop, eat and enjoy downtown. Chicago has gained the name ChiRaq because of all the violence, shootings, and murders. People don’t understand that the reasons for these senseless acts is more than just gang banging, drugs, money and respect. It is because these less fortunate communities have a lack of jobs, good schools, role models, and recreational activities. When people are unable to get jobs because of their skin color it forces them to look for other means of income to feed themselves and their families. Schools are closings in certain parts of the city which leaves some kids with the risk of going out of their neighborhood to a rival neighborhood to a school. Parents are working long hours or multiple jobs to take care of their families which keeps them away from their families which forces their kids to let their environment raise them. The senseless killings of innocent people and babies and children are a cry out for help from our city politicians and community official for help. Our mayor’s focus is only on revenue and the budget crisis he only cares when issues in Chicago go viral and public.  My city is so beautiful, but this ugly name is what labels it because of fear not just from outsiders but from us Chicagoan's, we are the ones living in it. Killings keep occurring and gang rivals and violence keeps growing. Everyone is pointing the finger and blaming the other person when it’s not just one person or group fault “it takes a village to raise a child”. The steps that the city is taking to solve these issues here in Chicago seem to not be effective so something different needs to be done people are starting to be afraid to do the priceless things that life has to offer such as going to the park, jumping rope, even just sitting on the front yard of their homes. I ask that if you are listening to this that you pray for my city and better days.