With the summer fast approaching, that often means a lot of good and bad. The good is that our communities will be full of children, teens and adults spending time outside in the nicer weather.
But every summer, we know the bad. The temperature heats up and emotions run just as high. That can cause people to react on impulse emotions and not logical thinking, and all too often, those reactions can lead to someone getting hurt. As adults, we must set positive examples for the younger generations to follow if we want out future generations to be contributing positive members of our communities.
That’s why I designed an exercise for people have discussions around each scenario to see what the persons first response would be and after a deeper conversation will he/she change their opinion. Why is this so important? The answer is, there are so many avoidable incidents that occur each day with someone being shot for no reason at all. If we teach and learn problem solving, respect one another and set our pride to the side, some of this violence will end.
A lot of us are beyond tired of losing our loved ones behind avoidable scenarios, and many of us may appear to be fine but are hiding behind an invisible mask to cover up the pain of their real emotions. So, please take the time to read these scenarios and have a conversation with your family about avoidable incidents that one can fall a victim too. Instead of acting off of emotions it’s time to use your head and think logically.
Scenario 1
Even a trip to the market can lead to an emotional argument with a stranger. Let’s say someone asks if they can get in front of you because they have less groceries than you. If you say no the person with the less groceries may reply with you are out of pocket for no reason. I have two items and you have a cart full of items. The person with the cart of groceries may reply I’m standing here just waiting my turn. Those two people may go back and forth and one throws a punch and a fight happens.
Does choosing not to argue make one scared of the other person or does it make one a bigger person by walking away?
Scenario 2
You’re at work and one of your co-workers that have been picking with you for over two years by spreading rumors about you, every time you walk pass she/he stares at you and suddenly laughs. You talked to your supervisor about this and the supervisor has had meeting with you and the person.One day you come into work at your co-worker laughs as you walk pass. You immediately begin shouting to the top of your lungs, “I will hurt you, you don’t know who I really am!!!” everyone in the office turns and immediately the supervisor comes out and asks to see you in his/her office.
What could one have done different to prevent any incidents from occurring?
Scenario 3
You see a man hitting a woman on the corner as you walk pass, you run to break it up and the man begins hitting you. You begin fighting the man off of you and now the women and man begin beating you up. In return you reach in your pocket and pull out a gun and the gun goes off hitting the women.
How do you handle the situation when you want to protect others but you also need to protect yourself?
Scenario 4
After school you and your friends decide to go downtown. While on the Subway one of your friends push an elderly person and hits them. After getting off the Sub all 10 of ya’ll are yelling and pushing whoever is in ya’ll way. The one guy your friend hit, hit him back and a fight breaks and your friend is injured.
While out in the community, how can you behave that will make sure nobody ever gets hurt?
You might see these scenarios and think, that’s not me. But does it remind you of anyone in your family, your friends anyone in your neighborhood? The more we talk about our feelings before we blow up, the better chance everyone has for keeping your family safe.
Kimberly Kamara is the author of “Where’s My Daddy,” a children’s book aimed at kids who’ve lost a parent to murder. The book was inspired by her family’s continuing journey of grief after her son, Niam Johnson-Tate, lost his life to gun violence on July 5, 2017. Kimberly has two daughters and lives in Germantown with her husband.
