Recent events have made it clear to the African American community that our youth are in immediate danger. However, America hasn’t made it clear why they feel threatened by todays urban youth. We know it can’t be loud rap music, skittles and iced tea causing people to wage war against our children. Right?!?

During Ron Davis’ (father of slain teenager Jordan Davis) visit to Indivizible’s April monthly meeting, he warned members that the motivating factor for the recent inter-racial killings can only attributed to America being “disconnected” with our urban youth.

The audience was all ears, as Davis detailed his fondest memories with his son and shed some light on what he felt were some lessons that every community should take away from his sons untimely demise.

African American Children Are NOT a Threat

During the April Indivizible monthly meeting, Davis was adamant that the “disconnect” between America and our children is rooted in FEAR. People simply don’t understand the todays younger generation. Today’s youth is changing.

Davis encouraged members and the community to accept this change. The youth of today has been plagued with new, never seen before socioeconomic challenges and America must be cognizant, as well as considerate of these realities.

It’s important that parents and communities are not only sensitive to these new found realities, but work diligently to find new ways to effectively engage and empower our youth to lead future generations.

“Stand Your Ground” Does Exist in The State of California

We’re a long ways from Florida, but Davis reminded members that the stand your ground concept does exist in California. California just refers to it as a “justifiable homicide“.

Davis warned that through the “jusifiable homicide” law, stand your ground is closer than most think. He encouraged members to be on guard, know the facts and protect ourselves and our loved ones. The first way our community can protect our youth is by being well informed and having a clear understanding of the laws that govern us.

CAL. PEN. CODE § 197 : California Code – Section 197

Homicide is also justifiable when committed by any person in any of the following cases:

1. When resisting any attempt to murder any person, or to commit a felony, or to do some great bodily injury upon any person; or,

2. When committed in defense of habitation, property, or person, against one who manifestly intends or endeavors, by violence or surprise, to commit a felony, or against one who manifestly intends and endeavors, in a violent, riotous or tumultuous manner, to enter the habitation of another for the purpose of offering violence to any person therein; or,

3. When committed in the lawful defense of such person, or of a wife or husband, parent, child, master, mistress, or servant of such person, when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design to commit a felony or to do some great bodily injury, and imminent danger of such design being accomplished; but such person, or the person in whose behalf the defense was made, if he was the assailant or engaged in mutual combat, must really and in good faith have endeavored to decline any further struggle before the homicide was committed; or,

4. When necessarily committed in attempting, by lawful ways and means, to apprehend any person for any felony committed, or in lawfully suppressing any riot, or in lawfully keeping and preserving the peace.

Continue to Instill Pride In Our Youth

We all desire for our children to know more, experience more and have more opportunities. It was clear Ron Davis had the same desires for his son and he urged Indivizible members to continue teaching our kids their value and worth.

His insightful words captured hearts, as he demanded that we, as a community, instill a sense of pride and ownership in our young ones. Davis also expressed a heartfelt desire for our youth to know and understand the “black experience” as it is now, as well as it’s historical relevance.

For a full length video of Ron Davis’ address to Indivizible members, see below:

Indivizible is indeed grateful to receive such insightful information from Mr. Ron Davis and look forward to his future visits to Sacramento and Indivzible!