Party Violence

Written by Jeremy Chaten

Why is it that now a days teenagers can’t get together and have a good time without violence being involved? Something out of the ordinary always seems to happen no matter what the venue. For instance, take one of our own dances (or should I say only dance), homecoming. Trouble was boiling the entire night, and finally spilled over when gunshots rang through the air after everyone was let out. Teachers and adults state that violence among youth takes place when drugs and alcohol are in the mix. Ms. Wiley said, “This behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.” A very understandable perspective on this situation, but are there any other “factors” that feed the violence.           

This generation has been brought up with a completely different outlook. Aggressive music makes selling drugs and fighting the thing to do, and your neighborhood you grew up in. Hip-hop music has changed a lot in recent years, and teenagers are still following with their ears instead of their minds. Sophomore Jesse Hopskin says, “Hip Hop is just a way for us to get away and listen to, we all don’t act on what their saying in the rap songs.”
 Why come to a party if you are not dancing? Hmmm… kind of strange. Some people come to parties to holla at nice girls and have a good night, while others come to beef with anybody who isn’t from the hood, and start trouble.            

Lets think about this for a minute. The ladies attend parties looking fresh for whom? The fellas and vice versa, so why fight when there’s so many girls waiting for you to approach them. What it comes down to is this, who is on their grown man/grown woman. There is a time and a place for everything, but we still haven’t figured that out yet. Grow up and take that drama elsewhere because everyone isn’t about that.           

A lot of people have their views on things band aren’t sure how to handle bad situations.
Sophomore Derrick Look says, “Man if someone steps up to me then it’s going to be all bad, sorry to say but that’s just the way it is.”

If someone confronts you, don’t get it confused handle your business, but you have to understand your surroundings at the same time. Don’t mess up other people’s good time just because you have funk with someone. From the South End, Central District, the Westside, there are numerous hoods. Representing where you’re from is important, but don’t let that be the deciding factor when it comes down to “fisticuffs.” There is a difference between someone disrespecting a piece of land you don’t own, and someone disrespecting you as a person. Once we come to an arrangement with this, then everything will be all right.               

Party violence has reached its peak in the past years. We need to be able to be the ones to make this change and make it happen soon. With this school year coming to an end with only one dance, some may say it’s almost too late. As teenagers we know “IT’S REAL” in the streets, but learn to handle your business accordingly and it’ll be all good.    

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