One story about gangs and peace ends in LA ... another plays on right here
This week's column.
Many are finding it hard to believe a local gang leader would want to walk away from violence, as Jorge Cornell says he does.
But it has happened before, on the streets of one of the meanest and bloodiest gang breeding grounds on the planet — Los Angeles.
Darren “Bo” Taylor not only said no mas to the infamous LA gang, the Crips, but became a voice for peace and reason throughout that city, and beyond.
It was Taylor who brokered a truce between rival inner-city gangs after the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
It was Taylor who, in 2003, worked with gang leaders to help end a string of violent jail brawls between Latino and African American inmates.
And it was Taylor who founded UNITY One, an organization whose mission was to prevent gang violence and to teach life-management skills to jail inmates.
Taylor died two weeks ago of cancer in San Diego. He was 42.
Cornell, 31, says he had not heard of Taylor but he does understand why Taylor fought so passionately for peace — and why he often succeeded. “The only way is for a person from the streets to fix it,” Cornell says of the gang problem.
Cornell became a Latin King at age 18. Taylor became a Crip at age 14. Unlike so many others who chose similar paths, he also lived to tell.
He went to so many funerals — more than 200 — Taylor once said, “I couldn’t cry no more.”
All the senseless death around him, and his own good fortune to somehow stay alive, made Taylor rethink his life. He went on to become a husband, a father and a grandfather. But he continued to reach back to help others change their lives as he had.
His death seemed to touch a whole community. And so, apparently, did his life. Among his most ardent fans was Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Bacca. “Bo knew how to change lives for the better,” Bacca told The Associated Press.
Cornell, meanwhile, is recovering from a pair of gunshot wounds he received two weeks ago. One bullet ripped into his back and out of his chest, but Cornell is recuperating. No arrests have been made.
As was the case with Taylor, the thrust of Cornell’s peace talks meant an agreement by Latinos and African Americans to come together. Cornell made his plea for peace here at a news conference on June 30, at the Beloved Community Center.
Whatever the reason he was shot a month later, Cornell called from his hospital bed for his gang, the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, to stand down. There would be no reprisals. “I don’t think it’s gang-related,” he says of the shooting, “but if it is, I’m still willing to sit at the table and talk to them. And I don’t want to bring any charges against them.”
Bo Taylor was even more dogged in his attempts to declare peace. On some occasions, he physically placed himself between warring gangs, grabbing the barrels of their guns and pointing them to the ground. Talk about street cred.
As for Cornell, it was hard to know what to think when he appeared from nowhere and started talking about peace. At his June 30 news conference, he seemed cold, almost matter-of-fact. “Actually, I was nervous,” he says now, chuckling. “I’ve never been with the press before like that.”
But he didn’t blink then. And he says he won’t blink now, either. “When you think about it, no one wants to die,” he says of gang members. “I’m not telling them to leave their groups. I’m reminding them why they started — to uplift their community — and all I’m trying to do is to bring that back to them.”
As for the skeptics, Cornell says he realizes many (maybe even most) people still don’t believe him. “The only thing I ask for is a chance to prove myself,” he says. “I’ll die for this.”
But he also will be held accountable in the public for what any members of his gang do, for better or for worse. And whether he condones their actions or not.
That includes the arrests last week of eight people, including three validated members of the Latin Kings, for their alleged involvement in a home invasion and an assault. Cornell says that he knows only sketchy details about the incident. He also says he does not condone home invasions.
One thing is clear: This will make his case in the court of public opinion all the more difficult.
There’s no way to know what’s in Jorge Cornell’s heart, except to follow how this odd, hopeful story plays out. But if he truly means what he says about peace and nonviolence, he has the chance to show it in how he handles this possible breach of his orders.
He has the chance to ask himself: What would Bo Taylor do?
Comments (11)
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"Darren “Bo” Taylor not only said no mas to the infamous LA gang, the Crips" . . .
Well, there's a pretty big difference right there: Taylor wasn't RUNNING the gang when he embarked on his campaign for reform.
Were King Jorge to say no mas to the Latin Kings, that would go some way toward establishing his--er--credibility. As it is, he wants people to accept the Latin Kings as another NAACP.
What would impress me is if he took a job at Home Depot, preferably one with health insurance (I'm guessing that the taxpayer footed the bill for his recent hospital stay). Until he resigns as the leader of a criminal organization, count me as one of the hard-hearted skeptics.
I am heartened to learn, however, that, like Sgt. Schultz on "Hogan's Heroes," he "knew no-zing" about the recent home invasion and, in fact, does not condone home invasions as a matter of principle. Brave stands like that will go a long way toward persuading the public of his benevolence.
Posted on August 25, 2008 2:11 AM
Brian:
That is an important distinction you point out. Jorge Cornell does lead a gang ... which is to say, he may have even more potential to effect peace. Or not, depending how all of this plays out.
And he tells me he does have a job already. He has been employed for a good while.
Posted on August 25, 2008 9:11 AM
Not pressing charges against someone who shot you? That does not make a bit of sense. If you are going to leave the gang life and lead others away from it, you have to start by respecting the laws of the land and those that enforce (police)/interpret (judicial system) them. If not, you would be classified as an anarchist and that seems to be a weird angle for someone denouncing violence.
Maybe the shaman or high lord (what does he call himself?) should hire a PR firm with his gang's "building fund" to help avoid these conundrums.
Even though I was violently attacked by Brian444 this past weekend I will join him in the hard-hearted skeptics category.
Posted on August 25, 2008 12:16 PM
Well, I guess John Giotti was in a good position to reform the mob. And I'm glad to hear Cornell has a day job in addition to his position as King. (On the other hand, it's a bit of a letdown to hear that a King of an Almighty Nation has to grub it out like the rest of us.) Still, I fear that your lack of cynicism isn't helping you evaluate this situation clearly, not least because you're providing a forum for him to argue, with little equivocation, that gangs are good: a solution, not a problem. More pointedly, you are enabling that message, and that message is not a good one.
Posted on August 25, 2008 4:00 PM
Oh, I've been plenty skeptical, but I also have been paying attention.
There have been several meetings and I was impressed that rival gang members attended the news conference after Cornell was shot.
I'm willing to see this play out rather than summarily dismiss it from the start.
Cornell knows if he doesn't deliver, he'll lose credibility.
Posted on August 25, 2008 4:14 PM
But in doing so, you're granting Cornell's premise: that gangs might, potentially, be a "source of uplift" for their communities. On the face of it, that legitimizes gangs, since they might indeed become a source of uplift. You say, let's wait and see whether gangs can turn themselves around and become a solution instead of a problem. We don't know for sure, but let's give the Latin Kings (and the others) a chance instead of summarily dismissing them from the start.
That, IMO, is fundamentally flawed reasoning, since, for example, you could hardly counsel someone at Dudley to stay out of gangs since, after all, gangs might turn out to be good for the community: a force for peace and equality. From what I read in the paper, gangs are dependent on street crime, and I regard such organizations, categorically, as parasites on, not boons to, their communities.
Posted on August 26, 2008 12:32 AM
I'm not sure I totally share Cornell's world view on gangs. But if he is willing to forego violence, I'm willing to see if he really means it. Aren't you?
Posted on August 26, 2008 11:34 AM
Well, I'd certainly prefer a gang that practiced only minor larceny and dope-dealing to one that practiced home invasions and drive-bys. (In the same way I'd prefer smashing my thumb with a hammer to smashing my face.) But my ultimate preference would be for neither.
What I want to see is your reaction if they catch a Latin King tagging an overpass.
Posted on August 26, 2008 12:49 PM
If that happens, the kid gloves come off.
Posted on August 26, 2008 2:32 PM
We need a "comprehensive" approach to reducing, not just "gang violence"; but juvenile delinquency PERIOD! This necessarily needs to START with prevention and developing our children/youth to realize their fullest potential. It is not only good for the individual child--in the long run, it adds to the productivity of our entire community and city. While it is more glamorous to talk about gangs and getting kids out of gangs; it makes more sense (cents) to PREVENT them from joining or even considering it in the first place! Unfortunately our city and its "leadership" is too consumed with "who they like and/or dislike to work with effective programs". It's really sad when kids can't count on adults to be adults.
Thus, our city’s formula for problem solving is to pursue approaches which are more expensive and LESS EFFECTIVE than it has to be. As a right doing and thinking Christian, a mother, a former RELAY student, a tax payer and a citizen I must ask, when GOD sends us some solutions or answers; why do we try so hard to ignore and event try to destroy an answer? It is truly unbelievable, and given the many gang/youth related crimes and problems we face in Greensboro today—it is truly criminal or at best just plain stupid and irresponsible, that our so called leadership has spared no effort, pain or resources over the past two decades to kill a program (certainly NOT support) that its founder, called, “God’s Program”. In 1991, when I was a young 13 year old who was already a veteran of four years at RELAY and in attendance, Ted L. Mangum, in a speech he made while accepting the Nancy Susan Reynolds’ Award for (of all things) “Community Change” in Asheville, told an audience of hundreds (if not a thousand) of people that RELAY was “God’s Program”. He cited, even then, a continuing lack of support—financial and otherwise—and yet, the “program won’t go away”. He mentioned the “impossible” challenges the program had faced since its birth in 1986—yet, “the program won’t go away”. And while he “never” mentioned the obstacle known as “the City of Greensboro”; it was obvious to many of us (RELAY students) even at that young an age that the City of Greensboro, while using and needing RELAY services; was NOT one of our biggest boosters. Ted had called us together shortly before the ceremonies to tell us to be on our best behavior because, among other things, he had invited the entire Greensboro City Council and City Management to see us receive this “Statewide” honor. Yet, the only reason I know ANY member was there, was then Councilman Bill Burckley, mentioned how proud he was of the RELAY program receiving the award during the next Council meeting.
Back then, I was a little disappointed but Ted never mentioned it and we had too much to do to even think about it. But today, as a new mother and tax paying citizen of the city of Greensboro, I am livid, that our city would CONTINUE to ignore the excellent work and 22 year history of unparalleled positive and progressive children/youth development results; I witness my city continuing to waste valuable time, effort and tax payers money to try and “reinvent” the wheel. A wheel that surely will not be as effective; yet the question remains WHY? God blessed us with this program over 22 years ago; before Crips and Bloods, Latin Nations or anybody else invaded our city. Yet, instead of embracing and working to make the program stronger, our city has a 22 plus year history of working to keep the program down. Why Mayor Johnson, why? Is our “leadership” so childish and at the continued expense of our young people, that they “don’t like Ted Mangum” and his outspokenness and is that worth the money and lives that could effectively be touched in Greensboro. When, and as, my son grows up (and my husband and I will RAISE HIM in accordance with Christian values and morals) I don’t want him simply participating in some “adult feel good program” designed to “get him off or keep him off the streets”. As I’ve heard Ted say to our “leaders” over the past 20 years, “You can get them off the streets by locking them up. But the real deal is to develop them into positive progressive citizens”. And that is what the 22 year history of RELAY speaks to. So why is our “leadership” not listening?
After attending a City (and some program called HOPE VI, I think) sponsored meeting downtown recently to discuss the “gang problem” and find that Greensboro was about to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to start “new” gang prevention programs; I saw City staff once again turn the cold shoulders to Ted and the RELAY program. Why? As a citizen of the City of Greensboro I have a right to know WHY? Have you visited RELAY’s website at www.americaschildrelay.com and “witnessed” the glory that God has received from the accomplishments of the hundreds of former RELAY participants and the thousands of children affected by the program? WHY Mayor Johnson? And I want to ask Commissioner Skip Alston, whose son Kelly was one of my fellow RELAY participants, WHY? And I want to ask my (and Ted’s) alumnae, WHY? And I want to ask the many Greensboro area churches, whom Ted has told me he’s talked to over the years, WHY? And Bennett College, WHY? And the parents of former RELAY students, WHY? And the members of the school board, WHY? And former RELAY students who are now grown, successful with children of your own, WHY? This is truly a shame and disgrace before God and a rejection of his vision that he shared with and through Ted some 22 years ago, when he and Ervin Brisbon tried, without success to approach our educational, religious and business leaders and City Officials only to hear how “save” Greensboro was from youth gangs, and thus had no need to develop “Dream Builders” or RELAY.
Ted has nothing to be ashamed of and certainly the "fruits of his love and labor" has benefited Greensboro and Guilford County greatly over the past 20 years. Rather, it is the adults, the "leaders", who have failed the children and taxpayers of Greensboro and Guilford County. I am angry and yet saddened. It makes no sense at all that our City would work so hard to limit the success of a proven year round youth development program.
Ted doesn’t ask WHY. He’s simply moved on to carry the message and goodness of this great program into other communities and states. But as a tax paying citizen of this city who continues to watch our tax dollars wasted and more importantly the lives of our young people DESTROYED or at the very least remaining undeveloped and thereby Greensboro never reaching its fullest potential. As the Mayor and the guardian of MY tax dollars, I insist that you NOT waste my money “reinventing the wheel” when Greensboro gave BIRTH to the wheel some 22 years ago through God. You and our other leaders need to “put the wheel on”, so that we can move forward in a progressive and less destructive manner. Mayor Johnson, we are NOT solving our youth crime problem by simply getting them off the streets and reducing the youth related crime /victim statistics; the wisdom and glory of the RELAY program is that it truly offered us children, an OPPORTUNITY with care, to DEVELOP. I plan to share copies of this letter with ALL former RELAY students, parents and supporters and ask them to phone, e-mail or share their concerns with you and others in positions of leadership.
I am attaching a PDF file of a proposal Ted told me he submitted to you personally the first of March after trying since December of last year. WHY has there been NO response to this proposal?
I will close by submitting a letter/blog I submitted last week to the Greensboro News & Record Educational Blog site “Chalkboard”. It was written in response to an ongoing discussion concerning what the paper called the “The black male dilemma: What to do?”
BLOG TO NEWS & RECORD:
What truly amazes me is that it does not matter which city or community you visit or read their newspaper (the internet allows you to keep up with ANY city you want); they are ALL posing the same questions and I seriously don't think they want an answer to this problem. Most of these blogs are divided into: (1) where do we place the blame; (2) why we need more money; (3) merge the "penal system" with the "educational system" concepts.
As the mother of a new born son; I am indeed sadden by these philsophical, religious, academic, rhetoric engaging discussions! What is REALLY AND TRULY DISGUSTING is that we have some starting points--if not solutions ALL AROUND US! This problem did not just start yesterday--nor does it ONLY involve black boys. WE ARE ALL, (especially black girls and mothers) affected by this situation. And yet, our so-called leadership, the Mayor, the school administrators, our business community, our law enforcement administration, our churches--have turned a "blind eye" and "deaf ears" to people who've been bringing solutions to the table for over 20 years. By this, I mean we have "RESULTS ORIENTED" community based programs that can help put MOST, if not any child on the right track to LEARNING AND ACHIEVING! And even though Greensboro has been the "birthplace" for some of the most successful efforts, the individuals and instituions I meantioned before have done LITTLE OR NOTHING to support these efforts!
As a nine year old girl some 20 years ago, I had failed the 4th grade and "hated to read" period! On my way home one summer day, I met a man who was working with other children--my age and older, at the old Mt.Zion Elementary School building. When I asked him what he was doing; he stopped and shared with me the ideas about a year round after school children/ youth development program called RELA (at the time--now RELAY). I told him how much I hated to read, and he paid me no attention--just gave me three books (new books for myself) and told me to come back after I'd read them and that READING was non-negotiable. I went on to not only graduate from Dudley High, but by the time I was 12 years old, I had internships with High Point's WGHPiedmont ABC TV affiliate and WQMG radio station. He was there to see me receive my degree in Broadcast Journalism from N.C. A&T State University (along with several other of his former RELAY participants who graduated at the TOP of their class in Engineering).
If you visit the RELAY website at www.americaschildrelay.com , you will witness the history of success (over 22 yrs) we RELAY participants have spread across North Carolina (including Durham, Reidsville, Charlotte--even Maryland and Mississippi; according to Ted)
Thus, it is nothing short of a CRIME that our so-called leadership has done ALL THEY COULD NOT to support this outstanding year round program. After all, most kids "get in trouble AFTER SCHOOL in our communities, and it spills over into the schools system. Evin Brisbone also had a great and effective program--but he got the SAME treatment and NON-SUPPORT that RELAY has received.
Unfortunately, despite the facts that RELAY students are now successful, literally "ALL OVER THE WORLD"; and they are engineers, medical doctors, military communications personnel serving in Iraq and overseas; actors/ actresses; engineers (over 15 of them), software engineers, entrepreneurs, TV producers and directors, teachers, lawyers and just "good quality citizens"--IF PASS HISTORY IS ANY INDICATION--the people who read this blog will just continue to come back when another "crisis" presents itself and try and sought out the "BLAME" and ignore what God had given us! I know personally, that over 20 years ago, Ted Mangum and Ervin Bisborne "begged" Greensboro for support (they were out there in the streets and saw it coming--gangs and otherwise. Ted told me that the ONLY response he could get was "Mangum, Greensboro is NOT L.A. OR NEW YORK". WELL, GREENBORO, WELCOME TO NEW YORK and L.A.!
I will make sure my son is exposed to the many virtues of a RELAY enhanced education and overall development. You can continue to meet here to "discuss" the issue(s).
Posted on August 23, 2008 4:07 PM
Posted on August 31, 2008 7:14 PM
I think this is good. If he is indeed keeping something up his sleve then it wouldnt hurt, b/c gang exisitence is hard to get rid of but if he still sincere then he can only try and we can only hope that others will join him.
Posted on September 7, 2008 11:40 AM