Black homicide rate solution is elusive
The Tennessean | April 13, 2011


Nashville can do better. Nashville must do better. It should be very disturbing to most residents that the city’s black homicide rate has reached a “crisis.’’

In fact, that puts Nashville’s rate above the state’s, and Tennessee ranked fifth- worst in the nation in 2008.

Something needs to be done immediately to get at this crisis.

In fall 1997, when violent crime was increasing in Nashville and guns were easily getting into the hands of violent criminals, then Mayor Phil Bredesen appointed a commission to come up with a plan to more effectively fight crime.

In May 1998, violence was still a pressing problem, and a group of rabbis, priests and ministers came together to plan ways to get at the problem.

Members of the clergy heard from four special guest representatives from Boston, who talked about how that city had come together over the past few years to reduce homicides, especially among juveniles. They were told that Boston had community centers for people to go to from preschoolers to senior citizens. Those centers had played a key role in keeping youth in Boston occupied and reducing crime.  (Read more)