White Milwaukee Aldermen Bob Donovan & Joe Dudzik Say Black Youth Flash Mob Result of "Deterioration of African American Culture"

Here is a statement from two white Milwaukee, WI, aldermen -- Bob Donovan & Joe Dudzik -- in response to the black youth mob at the state fair last weekend. They state that the incident was caused by a deterioration of African American culture. So, I guess, what they are saying is that every black person in their city isn't degrading their communities. Or are they saying the opposite?

We're Reaping the Harvest We've Sown

Statement of Alderman Bob Donovan and Alderman Joe Dudzik
August 5, 2011

As elected officials, we are shocked and concerned about the senseless violence displayed by the large mob outside State Fair Park last night. On behalf of our city, we apologize to the victims and good patrons who endured or witnessed such horrific behavior.

Sadly, what transpired near State Fair Park last night is only the most recent mob riot spawned by a culture of violence that has been brewing in Milwaukee for some time. And let’s face it, it also has much to do with a deteriorating African American culture in our city.

Are large groups of Hispanics or Hmong going out in large mobs and viciously attacking whites? No. We are reaping the harvest that we've sown. How so? There are repercussions for the staggering illegitimacy rate in our African American community. There are repercussions for having little to no positive male involvement in the lives of African American children. There are repercussions for single-parent homes where children aren't properly supervised, and where they aren't held responsible for their actions. There are repercussions for a staggering, decades-long near 50% unemployment rate for African American males in our city. There are repercussions for having a failing public school system, and an outdated juvenile justice system. There are repercussions for having one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the U.S., and for having kids raising kids.

The community was shocked when the violent mob of African American youths attacked white people in Kilbourn Reservoir Park on July 3. Then, a few eyebrows were raised at the F-bombs and shocking disregard and disrespect for Milwaukee police officers shown by a large and unruly group of African Americans at N. Richards St. and W. North Ave. last Saturday night. And now this horrific mob violence near State Fair Park.

But for those who live in some city neighborhoods, this violence has been like a steady rain for far too many years now. And the reality is this summer it seems we have five or six shootings each and every weekend! Unfortunately, this behavior is now all too common in some parts of the Milwaukee community. Our hearts go out to the older generation of African Americans in this city who remember when their community had one of the HIGHEST marriage rates in the city. Sadly, many of these same residents are now scared of their own children and grandchildren. Source

Parents, specifically the parents of those young people engaged in terrorizing innocent people, this mess is all your fault and, thanks to your lack of parenting skills, we have these monsters to deal with. We have a serious societal breakdown in many homes in the black community and I am imploring parents to step up and take their roles seriously in their children's lives. The facts laid out by these two aldermen speak truth to power and I am amazed that we didn't hear peep out of the Milwaukee NAACP. Had that been a white youth flash mob, Ben Jealous, Revs. Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton would be calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to step in. Stop the hypocrisy and stop trying to shove the deplorable behavior of these young blacks under a rug. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said it best to those black youths who participate in flash mobs, "You have damaged your race." I would also add, " You have damaged yourselves and have lost your self-respect."