*Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. ‘Jack’ Young has offered a controversial and unorthodox solution to resolve the high rates of homicides in New Baltimore. He proposed that gang members should put their guns down, put on a pair of boxing gloves, and step into the ring to box-it-out.

Unorthodox or Not, He Deserves Credit

Naturally, this idea received a lot of mix reviews from the community. Still, Young deserves credit to at least try putting an end to the non-stop shootings in Baltimore. Every Black man here would agree that gang violence has made life very troublesome. So much so that Baltimore had become one of the most violent cities in the world in terms of gun violence.

Baltimore faces 300 homicides in a span of 4 years, and, in 2019 alone, more than 120 people were killed because of rampant violence. As a result, Baltimore loses a whole generation of Black men on a daily basis.

So How Is This Going to Work?

Young’s spokesman let The Baltimore Sun know that Baltimore already has a rich history of boxing. Many people pick up the sport every year. This makes it a solution that is at least worthy of discussion.  What’s more, Marvin McDowell, the Founder and President of UMAR Boxing and Youth Development Center, completely agreed to this unorthodox idea.

McDowell has worked with young Black men every day, and many of these men learn solid boxing techniques and discipline on a daily basis. He did mention that while Black men learn solid boxing techniques and discipline on a daily basis, it isn’t clear whether they will be able to resolve their difference by getting more violent.

Due to this reason, McDowell believes that safety will be the most important factor to consider. For instance, the fighters will have to sign a waiver that would bind fighters to end the dispute no matter who won the fight.

But would hoodlums fight with honor?

A Desperate Man or a Visionary?

Young said that gun violence had been a problem in the city for 10 years, and the rates of murder seem to be on the rise. Young and the citizens of Baltimore aren’t happy with what they see around them – which is why this solution may seem a little unorthodox and desperate.

On the flip side Marilyn Mosby, a Baltimore States Attorney, set the record straight by quoting Frederick Douglass. She said, “It’s easier to build strong children than it is to repair broken men, and so we have to focus on our babies before it’s too late.”

So is this idea going to work?

Only time will tell.

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