“Father killed on porch while waiting for son,” “75-year old woman mugged after returning from supermarket,” and “Teen shot and killed as a form of gang retaliation” are common themes that emblazon headlines on a daily basis. The more we see them, the more society becomes desensitized to them. And the more society becomes desensitized to them, the more unfathomable these heinous actions become.
As a counter to these senseless conflicts, some communities and individuals are beginning to take a stance against mindless killings and the wiping out of providers of families and honest citizens within society.
Chris Wilmore, known as “Scarface,” is a convict turned community activist in Harrisonburg, Virginia, who began the “StreetBeefs” fight club in an attempt to squash feuds between those who are at odds and are on the cusp of taking matters into their own hands for the worst. Take a look at his efforts recently released in a mini-documentary by the New York Times: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJNLpHfZvr4.
From a legal perspective, and according to Virginia law, all participants are not in violation of any criminal laws since participants would be able to exercise the defense of Consent since the alleged victim, by way of this fight club, is agreeing to mutual combat.
Although this club is located in a more rural area, other clubs surely stand a chance of making an impact in urban communities across the United States. Cities such as Detroit, Chicago, Oakland, Memphis, Baltimore, St. Louis, New York, and Philadelphia that have been categorized as some of the “most dangerous cities” in the United States could surely benefit from clubs of this nature. Promoting a “mano-a-mano” clash to get the anger and frustration out is a far better alternative than attending funerals, constantly looking over your shoulder when on someone’s “turf” or worrying about making bail.
Sometimes it may be best to take the advice of Craig’s [a.k.a. Ice Cube] father, Mr. Jones, from the movie Friday in order to restore a more humane order where extreme measures do not have to be taken. When Craig pulled a gun out during his showdown with “Deebo,” Mr. Jones raised his fists and told him, “this is what makes you a man. When I was growing up, this was all the protection we needed. You win some, you lose some. But you live, you live to fight another day!”
What are your thoughts? Like, share, comment, positively act, and most of all think.
