I can remember when we elected our first black mayor of Memphis, I was so proud, I felt a sense of togetherness with other blacks, I was even so naive to think that black on black crime would go down because of this election, I thought “now I will see progress where I live, even though I thought the previous administration didn't care about the black situation or the crime anyway, I never seen it as a ego trip but more of a black I can do spirit. I remember as time went on I started to hear that our white population was leaving the city to move too the outer parts of he city... all though that made me very sad I said to myself in that I can do spirit…. we are strong "we meaning people of color could handle the job of run the city, as time went on the city changed, I must admit the mayor has done amazing job with the city infrastructure, but with the citizens of Memphis...oh well, I was always under the belief that moral structures and a properly run organized infrastructure go hand in hand; one can’t work without thee other, however It's beginning to feel like I am living in a modern city with people who process a third world mentality, I care because I love this city and it’s people, I'm starting to wonder who own the city, the people who work hard and want to live a healthy prosperous life or the thugs who's driving down the streets of the city of Memphis creating chaos in their clown cars, really I don't mean to insult anyone, the situation has become dire, where do we start?.... it is getting so I don't hardly even shop in certain areas of Memphis anymore for fear of bodily harm, I want to keep the income and taxes in Memphis but I am becoming concerned for by safety, I am far from throwing the blames of our present problems on the pass, why? because I just don't see anyone whites causing it, all of the problems are coming from people who look much like myself,  I remember when I was a little boy my uncle use to say to me for different reasons “you know black people can’t do anything right”, when ask to why he made such statement he would reply “ we can’t do anything right because we don’t like ourselves very much, well” because we don’t like ourselves we also don’t like each other which creates fear, he would go on and say “ because we find it hard to like ourselves and each other we can’t respect our surrounding or organize properly to get anything done long term with a consensus and maintain it long term, my uncle and I use to have long argument about it; even until I reached adulthood he remain steadfast in his beliefs, I on the other hand profoundly disagree with him that we could do it and do it right and long term, so my question is, is the city of Detroit, Mich and Memphis, Tenn. Which are two modern cities and both who’s  population is predominantly black doing something that other cities aren’t doing, because I told my uncle to look at the city of Atlanta, ga and how well it is run, what are they doing to lower crime that Detroit and Memphis are not, are these two cities with there ever increasing crime rate making my uncles case for him, are predominantly black run city unable to run a city effectively and reduce it crime rate, who fault is it, is it the city officials fault or the Mayor of Memphis fault to instill in the city a sense of pride and responsibility, is violent crime statistics from the FBI latest 2008 report wrong? I truly would like to know what others think is causing these problems; I would like to hear from others as to what you think, because I am truly concern of our situation.

Top 5 Most Dangerous Cities:

No. 1 Detroit, Mich.

(Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich., metropolitan statistical area)

Population: 1,951,186

Violent Crimes per 100,000: 1,220

No. 2 Memphis, Tenn.

(Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark. metropolitan statistical area)

Population: 1,295,670

Violent Crimes per 100,000: 1,218

I too also can remember when we elected our first black mayor of Memphis, I too was extremely proud and believed with this historical election it was our time to shine and show off our talents, you are right our city infrastructures is in pretty good shape but our citizens are morally bankrupt. I'll be one of the first to reply that I think it's time for our beloved Mayor to retire, although I know he is highly intelligent his attitude is extremely partisan and because of his extremely partisan attitude our city is racially divide, we are also divide within our own black race because you have some who want to change and most who are afraid to, Still scared to leave the plantation, I hate to air out our dirty laundry but someone has to, first our city was voted as one of the most miserable cities to live in and than the 2^nd most dangerous cities, so we must think about the criminal elements that are drawn to such a statement, we have just put all and I mean all our children in harms way; instead of attracting good legitimate businesses and tourism as an ideal city to visit and live in, we are attracting criminals and they will waste no time in coming to give our children jobs,  so A big yes! that the drug dealers have taken over our streets, and the MPD seems to be impotent against these thugs, Our citizens appear to be more passive both politically and socially of these dangerous violent failed moral behaviors, there is no out cried of any sort, not even from our city officials which includes the Mayor, and you are correct! It does remind one of a third world country run by arrogant officials with third world mentalities, dam! where are the progressive thinkers, I too do not mean to insult and also love our city, but our city officials get an grade F for being shiftless in there organizing efforts to generate awareness and help bring some sort of grass root out cried for change, especially in our dire situation , hell we only hear from them during election time and it is at this critical time when our vote is reflective of our true intention, once more the baffling question is, are we voting for our city best interest politically for positive change or voting because the candidate happens to be black and not the best viable candidate, I believe the black citizens of our city are afraid to step out of their comfort zone, remember our intention is a reflection of  the character of our city, so if we had these same problems last year and the year before without any changes, then we have just voted and sent a message to the thug and drug dealers that we are open for business, we have just told the trash we intent on moving on the same path, so no changes this year, soon our city will paid a heavy price for their apathy, one really wonders, are blacks…. But not all!  Are we predisposing to not caring about our conditions? if  we care: than why is there no out cried and demands placed on our city official to change this path and also to keep them accountable, and if there is no change of these condition, then why oh why do we keep putting these ineffective shiftless politicians back in office, the most damaging phase in the language is "It always been done that way" and if some city official is reading this....of which I seriously doubt, I say this " to know what is right and not do it, is the worst cowardice.