‘100 Black Men’ stand against gun violence

Gun violence continues to soar in Kansas City but the community’s young, Black leaders are saying enough is enough.

The Kansas City chapter of 100 Black Men hosted, in collaboration with the “Let’s Win KC” initiative, the Wear Orange Day for National Gun Violence Awareness Week. The event, held on June 7, brought together community members, leaders, and advocates to address the critical issue of Black-on-Black gun violence.

Gun violence across the nation disproportionately affects the Black community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System finds that gun deaths are the leading cause of death of children 17 and under and it is almost entirely driven by the shooting deaths of Black children by members of their own community.  Per 100,000 population, the rate is 7.78 for Black children and just 0.58 for non-Hispanic White children.

There are also major racial and ethnic differences in the types of gun deaths involving children and teens according to the Pew Research Center. “In 2021, a large majority of gun deaths involving Black children and teens (84%) were homicides, while 9% were suicides. Among White children and teens, by contrast, the majority of gun deaths (66%) were suicides, while a much smaller share (24%) were homicides.”

Those grim statistics point to a crisis within the Black community. While legislators locally and in Washington debate additional gun control measures, statistics show that most gun deaths in the Black community are committed with illegally obtained firearms.

The event featured an informative booth by “Let’s Win KC,” providing attendees with educational resources, tools, and advocacy materials to raise awareness about gun violence prevention and community safety.

The highlight of the event was a thought-provoking gun violence discussion panel, which included distinguished speakers such as Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw, Major Dan Haley of the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD), Director of Public Safety Melesa Johnson, and Major Kari Thompson of KCPD. The panel discussion drew a significant audience of over 50 attendees, who actively engaged in the dialogue and shared their insights on strategies to combat gun violence in our community.

At the conclusion of the event, members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council gathered to take a united stance against gun violence, captured in a powerful photo symbolizing their collective commitment to ending violence and promoting peace within our neighborhoods.

In a press release, the organizations said the Kansas City chapter of the 100 Black Men’s event on Wear Orange Day was a “testament to the community’s dedication and solidarity in addressing gun violence. By fostering dialogue, collaboration, and advocacy, the event underscored the shared resolve to create a safer and more harmonious environment for all residents of Kansas City.”

Ken Lumpkins, President of 100 Black Men Kansas City says, “Through the Wear Orange gun violence prevention initiative in Kansas City this past weekend, we stand united in our commitment to ending the senseless tragedies that continue to plague our communities.”

For more information on the Kansas City chapter of 100 Black Men and their upcoming initiatives, visit 100blackmenkc.com.

–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice