Why are our Children so Angry?

At a reception, Eugenia Venturanza asked me to explore why are our children so angry? I walked away perplexed because anger is usually at the root of violence. But, how do we address that as a community. I posed the question to my Facebook friends who are so profound and enlighten. Why are our children so angry?


A couple weeks later, I just watched an African made movie on #Netflix called BROKEN that reflects the damage that child abuse and abandonment causes. As a social worker, I know this is not the answer for all violent incidents. But, if we are really serious about preventing violence, maybe we should start there. Our children truly have some issues at home and in the community.

Then, Cathy Anderson Kent responded. Her comments demand a wider audience. Please read Cathy's response.

"As a criminal, defense attorney, I don't see where the system hampers discipline in the home at all. I haven't seen those types of cases at all in the criminal courts. REASONABLE corporal punishment in the home is allowed and tolerated by the law, especially during the formative years of a child's life.

 In my opinion, TaJuan Stout Mitchell has hit the nail squarely on the head. The vast majority of offenders and re-offenders (especially those who commit violent crimes) are definitely angry; I see this anger every day at 201 Poplar. In my 22 year career in criminal defense, I've ALWAYS suspected the absence of the father from the home as a stimulus for the majority of this anger I've witnessed in an extreme percentage of criminal defendants.

TaJuan's post caused me to consider my theory further. The mere absence of the father may contribute to lack of discipline, daughters looking for love in all the wrong places and sons who aren't fully trained in the school of manhood; however, it's the abandonment by a parent and sometimes abuse (in 2 parent homes as well as by the stressed custodial parent), even, which would cause the anger and hostility I see. This makes sense to me. For, after all, I'd be angry, too, if I were abandoned or abused.

The system couldn't stop me from rearing my child as I saw fit unless I was committing the crimes of neglect or abuse. Otherwise, parents en masse would force the system to raise a deluge of children, including mine. Reasonable corporal punishment is a parental choice. In my home, my child was spanked when she lied or was disobedient and even though she did not have two parents her entire childhood, as her mother, I made sure that I taught her to respect authority so neither the MPD or Sheriff's Department would have the opportunity (and sometimes pleasure, even) to do it for me.

So parents, discipline your kids yourself and let them no as my parents did, "If you go to jail, don't call me." Then if they go to jail for acting like a fool in public, let them sit there and think about their lack of good judgment. Stop bailing them out and then driving them down to 201 Poplar and holding their hands as they await trial. Let them work it out for themselves so they will think twice about their behavior in the future.

Please pardon my verbosity; but in today's vernacular, "...just sayin'...

 Now, here is why it is important that we have this discussion. These are all valuable points for parents who are too lenient and set no boundaries. This is wake up advice for them.  But the truth is, some of our parents cannot parent because they did not have good models. Some of our parents are reality shows like "HoneyBooBoo" and "BaeBae". Some watch terrible things happen to children and some children see monsters they should never see and parents think they will grow out of it.  Some of the "voices in their minds" would scare us.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention made eliminating violence a health threat. According to them:

 "Violence is a serious public health problem in the United States. From infants to the elderly, it affects people in all stages of life. In 2013, 16,121 people were victims of homicide and 41,149 took their own life. The number of violent deaths tells only part of the story. Many more survive violence and are left with permanent physical and emotional scars. Violence also erodes communities by reducing productivity, decreasing property values, and disrupting social services."

The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention is committed to ending violence from its roots and helping people to live to their fullest potential.

So here is my suggestion. Our Shelby County Health Department, Schools Systems, State Department of Human Services, Mental Health Associations and County Government should consider joining forces with the Center for Disease and Control to research proven strategies or programs.  Our community needs to research what resources we have and what we need in Shelby County to address violence in this community. Linking resources should give us a better opportunity to compete for federal funds. Let's do some well coordinated planning and eliminate the root of the problem violence. I have confidence that these political leaders can make this happen. Senators Lee Harris and Mark Norris, Rep. Lisa Akbari, Governor Haslem, County Mayor Mark Luttrell, Health Department, and Superintendent Hopson you can make this work and not just save our city, county, but our families and children.  

E'Nuf Said!