Black on Black Crime Rises in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville is considered a city on the move, whose "get it done" reputation was nationally enhanced as the city defiantly and proudly rebounded from a devastating 2010 flood, which caused more than $200 million in damages. But, Nashville's glossy story of success hides a secret only keen observers like noted editorial writer and columnist for the Tennessean, Dwight Lewis, are willing to give voice to. Not everyone is cashing in on the benefits of living in "Nash-Vegas."

Nashville prides itself on being a city too busy to hate. But, are they also a city too busy to care about black on black murders?

“We tend to forget about the others...We leave people behind,” said Lewis.

Barrington Moore was witness to a recent murder. “I didn't see the suspect. I did see the guy that got shot. He was shot through that drive through there…
From what I'm gathering this maybe some type of retaliation, unknown why or what for.”

Lewis stated, “Here in Nashville, we're in a crisis state when it comes to black on black homicides.”

In the expansive J.C. Napier public housing development in South Nashville, the anticipation of another long, hot summer of violence appears eminent enough to warrant Nashville Police presence. Just a walk around the neighborhood filled with children, teens and unemployed young adults puts human faces on depressing statistics.

The 2009 census indicated Nashville's African American population is twice as likely to have incomes below the poverty line. The average black family of four with two children in Nashville earned less than $22,000 a year. The equation in places like Napier is simple and familiar: poverty + isolation x hopelessness = murder.

“If I see you with a car and maybe I'm poor, and I don't know that I shouldn't take it. Nobody's taught me the right way and that's happening too often and so as a result our kids end up killing one another,” Lewis observed.

Black on black killings have been on the rise in the Music City. The Washington D.C. based Violence Policy Center noted Nashville had 42 African American murders in 2008, with an even higher rate than Memphis in 2009. Nearly half the murder total can be pinpointed to the large public housing communities such as Napier and Tony Sudekum Homes.

Unlike Memphis where years of concerted effort by the city to pursue federal grants resulting in the abolishment of 5 infamous housing projects, Nashville has been slow in tearing down such violence-breeding enclaves.

Lewis said while churches and various civic organizations have reached out to offer help of various mentoring programs, the need exists for the city's elected officials to aggressively respond to the crisis with the same fervor it did in the aftermath of the flood. Lewis believes it's time for Nashville to dance to a new tune in dealing with its poor.

“As long as we're satisfied, as long as we can live in a place and nobody tries to come in our house or shoot us, to heck with everybody else. Just as long as I'm comfortable, I don't care about your snotty-nosed boy. Get the heck away… That's what's got to change.”