Cindy Williams has already lived the nightmare of being unable to protect a son who found himself in mortal danger through no fault of his own.
She has fought the battle of escorting her son to school, changing schools, fighting off bullies, and battling a bureaucracy that so often fails to focus on a problem until after tragedy has struck.
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One not inconsequential decision these women can make so that their hearts aren't broken by senseless violence is consider if the man who is the father of their child will be around when he/she grows up. Boys with no father seek other boys who then raise them to a false sense of " manhood." these mothers can focus on young women and support the idea of traditional marriage to them. Anything short of that is, literally whistling past the graveyard.
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Imagine if Lance had had a form of childhood or adolescent cancer, or a difficult to treat heart condition. He would have likely received intensive attention and assistance. But if he is stalked and hounded by human killers, he is left to his own devices. His mother cried out for help and look what she and her son got. They were abandoned. You can file charges of child abuse and neglect against parents: Can you do the same against the City? That's what this was: Child endangerment carried out by the City of Boston.
jimmyn: How callous of you to insinuate that this may not be a societal problem...or, have in fact, you done just That. So simply hit right on the head.
********Her cry from the heart struck home with the ever-growing community of mothers who have lost children to violence. Not a few of them have seen danger lurking for their children, but found themselves unable to protect them.*******In my worst nightmare I can not imagine living in this neighborhood. It sounds like this mother did everything she could to protect her child, to no avail. How do yo protect your children in a neighborhood where life is cheap? I do not know. Honestly, Ms. Kellam, you are a world away from my life experience and you are in my prayers today. ******My thoughts as I write this- there is all kinds of community money out there to help- it did not. There are programs to help keep kids off the streets- they did not help. There are many law enforcement officers in the neighborhood- they did not prevent this tragedy.********The grieving mothers of these children are tired of asking. I am tired of asking. The city, and its leaders, will be measured by how they answer.********** What would you ask of the city leaders? What kinds of programs would work? If you know, Mr. Walker, I would like you to tell the city leaders because I think everyone is out of ideas. WHAT MORE CAN THE CITY DO?
It certainly is a nightmare, but there also needs to be personal and community responsibility as the most important part of solving this grave issue. Until the community truly bands together and rids itself of the small group of criminals the problems will persist.
This poor kid's last few months must have been a living hell. The article is weak but at least it keeps this tragedy in the news. How can you save an innocent person when so many vicious ones are hunting for him? Shame on all of us if this becomes just another story. Keep Lance current. Find and prosecute the evil which perpetrated this disaster. Then honor the dead for having the courage to try and live a good life in such a harsh environment.