<p>I think that it’s important that we at least acknowledge that a lot young urban African-American males face unique circumstances. Contrary to popular belief, growing up poor in the ghetto is a world away from growing up poor anywhere else in the country. I will say it outright: they have been dealt the worst hand in America by no fault of their own. They’re generally stuck in crime infested areas from their birth. They attend terribly underfunded and underperforming schools with unenthused and often inexperienced teachers. They are treated in the strictest manner by the law. They do not get second chances.</p>
<p>We may look at the criminality within the African-American urban community and say, “See how they stand upon the corner doing nothing if not selling drugs? They are their own undoing!” But we most all remember that they were once children once who were born into unfortunate circumstances. More importantly, we must remember that there are children still there and that their circumstances are not faults of their own.</p>