community and how it addresses different trends that are plaguing the community like violence and crime. The traditional police tactic is to arrest but part of what makes me a minister doesn’t always jell with that. Not that I reject it or think it’s wrong it’s just that its often tough to arrest our way out of a problem. I think with the PPP being involved we can repair the people and the community in a holistic way.” Unfortunately, Captain Davis has witnessed the rising crime and violence in the Black community. He says, “In 2017 we had 42 homicides in Greensboro and of the 42 homicides 36 of the victims were African American males. There were 23 suspects and 19 of those suspects were African Americans so you see the disproportionality with race. I’m tired of seeing young African American boys be homicide victims and I’m tired of young African American boys being suspects. I must acknowledge that there are some systemic issues like poverty and socioeconomic issues and there is a great deal of disenfranchisement when it comes to people reentering the community once they have been released from jail or probation. We must be able to come together and find out what’s causing young Black men to pick up a gun and shoot another young Black man. Why are we being plagued by violence like this in the Black community? We must start inquiring of the people who are within these communities who see these issues. When we sit at the table with the PPP the table cannot be full of people who have political interest. We must have the people who live inside of that community because they’re the ones who really knows what it’s going to take to move the needle.” In moving that needle in the vein of positivity, Dr. James (Jay) Wyatt, Director of Moses Cone Health Trauma Department, is doing his best to save the lives of the victims being rushed through the emergency room doors. In his 18-years of service as the Director of the Trauma Unit, he has witnessed the increase in violence and crime. According to Dr. Wyatt, “We’ve seen a mark increase in the amount of violent crime related injuries. The striking part to me is that most of the people that come in are young Black males either teenagers or young adults. It’s not like I’m seeing a lot of the same kids coming repeatedly these are all different people getting shot but it also seems like it’s some of the same areas when you look at the zip codes.” Dr. Wyatt says that he attempts to reach out to them, so he can get a sense of what’s happening. He earnestly desires to discover what the driving force is behind the violence he sees. While caring for his patients he asks, “Don’t you realize that you’re all Black and you’re killing each other?” He recognizes that his question falls on deaf ears because though he is an African American male he is a physician and he doesn’t reside in their community. “You know I’m just the doctor and the only thing I can do for them is repair their wounds if they’re lucky enough to live. That’s the easy part for me and my team to do but this other part of trying to figure out why this is happing is the difficult part because it’s at another level. To me their concern about life and death is not even relevant. If it’s their time to go then it’s their time to go. Where did that mentality come from? What’s the driving force behind that way of thinking? So, I’m looking forward to working with the PPP, so we can do something concrete in changing that mindset. I’m disgusted with seeing our teenagers die.” h
Nathaniel Davis Captain, Greensboro Police Department
“I’m tired of seeing young African American boys be homicide victims and I’m tired of young African American boys being suspects.”
Our community leaders have come together and shared their thoughts on the violence and crime growing in our community. They are all looking forward to the PPP working collaboratively with local citizens across sectors in our community to help reduce violence. What we need from you is your commitment to sit at the table and tell your stories. Share what you believe will enable East Greensboro to once again be the thriving hub of the community as it was many years ago. Remember, Ephesians 4:25 says, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
Dr. James (Jay) Wyatt Director of Moses Cone Health Trauma Department
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