The unjustified killings in the Black community are not often discussed during political campaigns. One major reason for this is that the Black community as a whole does not consistently and persistently raise these issues to make them a priority for political candidates. Candidates tend to focus on issues that are consistently brought up by their constituents. If the Black community does not come together to demand justice for the systemic injustices it faces, such as police brutality, the presence of illegal guns, and economic and educational disparities, these issues tend to remain on the sidelines.
When The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan was asked about black-on-black crime and how we treat each other during his appearance on the Arsenio Hall Show in the 1990s, he delivered a powerful response that resonated with many. Minister Farrakhan emphasized the root causes of black-on-black violence, pointing to a deeper issue of self-hatred stemming from a history of oppression and systemic racism.
"We are the victims of ignorance and an oppressive system. There are more drugs in the black community today than ever before, and there are more guns in the black community than ever before. It was a time when black folk could not get a gun, but now black folk have guns but not guns to shoot those who have destroyed us but guns to destroy each other. Our work is to teach black people to love themselves, and you can't love what you don't know, so when Black History Month, all black people and all white people should get to know who we are, and when you know yourself, you fall in love with yourself, and when you fall in love with yourself, it will be exceedingly difficult for any of us to do harm to ourselves. If we don't respect ourselves, who then will respect us? And if we don't love one another, who then can we expect to love us? So, the burden is not on white people to change toward us. The burden is on us to change toward ourselves, and when we do that, we will force a change in them toward us." -The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan-
The idea that illegal guns and deaths in the Black community represent a form of "big business" is a troubling reality rooted in systemic exploitation. When Black bodies are killed, not only is a community destroyed, but there are industries that directly or indirectly profit from the tragedy. The funeral industry, organ trafficking, and the broader prison-industrial complex can all be seen as parts of this cycle.
Minister Louis Farrakhan and others have often highlighted how the system benefits from Black death. Guns and drugs, funneled into Black neighborhoods, create violence that leads to mass incarceration and death, and both processes fuel profit-making industries.
The constant loss of life in these communities feeds a multi-layered business: funeral homes thrive on the continual stream of young Black lives lost, while some have raised concerns about the lucrative black market for organs, especially in underprivileged and marginalized communities.
This dynamic exposes the inhumanity of a system that sees Black life as disposable while simultaneously profiting from its destruction. Minister Farrakhan's teachings often emphasize how vital it is for the Black community to unite, heal, and resist these cycles of exploitation. Rebuilding strong family structures, moral foundations, and self-respect will not only counteract the violence but also prevent these predatory industries from thriving off the death of young Black men and women.
The entertainment industry often promotes harmful narratives that glorify violence, especially in Black communities. Television shows, movies, and music frequently showcase images of death, crime, and conflict, which can desensitize audiences to violence and reinforce negative stereotypes. This dehumanization of human life not only affects the perception of Black communities but also contributes to a cycle of violence, as it normalizes destructive behavior.
The focus must shift to protecting life, ensuring justice, and demanding accountability—not just from individuals but from the systems that have commodified Black Death for financial gain. True change requires a conscious effort from within the community to reject the weapons and drugs that fuel the violence and to work together to build a society that values life and dignity over profit.
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