Journalist Scott Travis wrote in the April 9, 2013, Sun Sentinel: “Homicide is far and away the leading cause of death for young black men, more than car accidents, suicide and diseases combined . . .”

     This fact shocked me, despite living near a city that recently celebrated reducing their homicide rate to an average of one a day. I recently wrote a book series titled Second Chance to help youths deal with the problems of adolescence. But it occurs to me that the victims and perpetrators of these homicides probably aren’t sitting around reading the fictional adventures of Jack Bucher in Mexico City. What’s needed here is a cultural change, a change in the way people think. People need to take responsibility for their actions, and act responsibly. And this isn’t some utopian fantasy. Society has changed their way of thinking before. The change in social attitude toward smoking is one example. An intense campaign to make people aware and educate them about the health hazards of smoking has reduced tobacco usage by about 40% since the mid-1960s. And it’s not even illegal. A similar education campaign was launched to make people aware of the dangers of obesity. Now you can’t swing a dead cat without being reminded to eat right and exercise. What made both these efforts successful? Many things, but making people aware of problem and then educating them about solutions was the first step. People must be made acutely aware of this social tragedy before they’ll take action to put a stop to this deadly epidemic. That’s what I’m asking you to do. Do your part in helping change the social conscious. Make your friends aware of this problem. Have them tell their friends. Help us join together in a national outcry to stop this senseless waste of American youth and turn this criminal element into a resource of untapped talent.

     A possible solution:

     1. Persistence and patience. No solution will be immediately successful. There may be many setbacks in the short term. Actions must be constant and persistent toward long-term goals. And don’t waste needed energies by pointing fingers at possible culprits of the problem. Its causes are many, including: Social complicity, cuts in federal funding and local law enforcement, increased gang violence, lack of gun control (85% of these homicides involve gun use), failure of school systems, and lack of parental supervision.

     2. Motivate public. Make the public aware of the problem by using the news media, the social network, and political action groups to rally around the cause. Only a united public front can force legislatures to enact laws and provide funding for law enforcement and social reform.

     3. Educate the public. Turn statistics into a personal realization. How would you feel if you were a victim or the parent of one of these atrocities? Then initiate programs geared toward educating parents and students. Instruct parents how to better teach their children. Provide and show parents alternate methods of supervision like youth clubs and after-school programs for the times they can’t be there. Teach students the pitfalls of violence and how to avoid them. Poor supervision, idleness and boredom lead to trouble. Provide students with constructive methods to feel good about themselves and their prospects for the future.

     4. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Reinvest in our grade-school children, or even younger, while their minds are young and impressionable—when positive interaction and instruction can have a long and lasting impact. Promote school-based programs like anti-bullying campaigns, how to protect against violent crimes, and respect for law enforcement. Prevention now will save lives and enforcement costs later through lower crime, drug and alcohol abuse.

      You and I are only small voices, but pebbles can start a positive avalanche of social awareness and reform. I challenge you to make your voice heard and help end these preventable deaths. Spread the word. Add your own ideas. Who knows? Maybe it will save your life or that of someone you love.

     Send your comments and ideas to davidbooker@bookernovels.com or https://twitter.com/DavidBooker25. See website my at http://bookernovels.com.