November 27, 2014 – SOURCE: EEW Magazine – Reginald Daniels

America is hurting right now, particularly those within the African American community that feel like an injustice has been done in the case of Michael Brown.

Among the leaders speaking out at this critical period is award-winning gospel recording artist Kirk Franklin, 44.

The “I Smile” songwriter is addressing the Ferguson community on Twitter and admonishing leaders to mentor urban male youth to help turn things around.

“I was raised with no father, bad neighborhood, high school drop out, food stamps,” he said. “You know what saved me..? MENTORING.”

Franklin continued, “Imagine: In Ferguson, and across the country, if every successful male, embraced a young man from a less fortunate community, 2x a month…showed him what success looks like, smells like, checked on his grades, went to his game, let him ride IN THE FRONT of a police car…”

What would happen in communities like Ferguson?

Well, blacks make up 65% of Ferguson’s population, yet they accounted for 86% of traffic stops, 93% of arrests after stops and 92% of searches after stops in the city last year, according to a racial profiling report by the Missouri attorney general.

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