I moved to Milwaukee, WI from Ironwood, MI in 2005. I was 15 years old at the time. I moved into the predominantly African American north side of the city which was quite a culture shock after spending about a year in the upper peninsula of MI.
My first experience with black mob violence was confusing as I am mixed black, white, native American descent. I am often teased as “white boy.”
In 2006 I was attacked twice on separate occasions by gangs of four black youths. They were playing the knock out game also known as partying. As in “lets party that white boy.” After acclimating myself to my new environment I became respected and known in the community and ended up on the other side of the knock out game where I witnessed friends attacked white youths.
As an intelligent young man raised by a religious mother I was horrified by the practices of my peers using and selling drugs, binge drinking and partying, using girls for sex with no natural affection or relationships but all of this I had seen in movies and on TV. However I was not prepared for the segregation, racism and mob mentality that lead to violence sparking so quickly not only against each other but with an intense hatred and ferocity towards whites, Asians, and Latinos.
I have even witnessed a girl knocked out by young men I was roaming the streets with at night just for fun. I want to assure you the knock out game is nothing new and has even evolved with the rise of the high quality cell phone camera. I want to thank you for your bravery and honesty reporting what I’ve witnessed in Milwaukee so long.
My own father is misinformed about the seriousness of the problem and the media is doing nothing to cover the social crisis. I am a hip hop artist working on a positive conscious album entitled Black Shepard Of The Family that deals with life under a black president. I am also studying internet marketing and plan to begin an LLC and write non fiction books. You are a big inspiration and I just wanted to share my story and thank you for your courage.
Being the victim of a crime that every one says doesn’t exist took the wind out of my sails. It caused depression and anxiety. I isolated and stayed indoors a lot.
For a while I was scared of every group of African american youth I saw. I’m half black. It felt ridiculous. Now I can share my story without shame because of your book.
Thank you Colin Flaherty. God bless you.
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Well, git er done! NOW!