The Most Dangerous Place in America
The Most Dangerous Place in America
Yes, the situations in Iran and North Korea continue to give concern to us and our government, but when it comes to our own backyard, where is the most dangerous place in America?
New York City.
Detroit.
Baltimore.
Chicago.
Los Angeles.
Large cities such as these have received a lot of attention as havens of crime, disorder and mayhem. I don’t want to argue that. Sure, violent crimes and societal concerns seem common in our concrete jungles.
But how about cities like these:
Irvine, California
Lake Forest, Illinois
Plano, Texas
Ellicott City, Maryland
Irvine, California was recently given the title, “Safest City in America” (over 100,000 people) by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on June 1, 2009. I would like to submit that suburbs just like this may actually be the most dangerous places in America.
The Burbs
The suburban enclaves with their middle class citizens and well- manicured lawns, gates, and guards protecting our Orwellian lifestyle and toys, Starbucks a few minutes apart from each busy intersection, and boasting some of the best schools in the country may actually be the most dangerous locations to live. Okay, we may not have the high murder counts or robberies, but I wonder if the suburbs have become breeding grounds for the accessible and shallow thrills of drugs and alcohol abuse, extravagant parties and proms, and mere facades of happiness and the American Dream. Just ask your local city drug dealer about his primary consumers. . . suburban teenagers and college students.
Okay, I’m not a researcher, but my gut impression from my travels and intersection with youth in the major cities of the world as well as the suburbs and rural communities is that they are all equally dangerous but just in different ways.
The dangers of the suburbs entail the lack of imagination (where do you find real art museums, innovative music venues and creative opportunities to explore nature. Sure there are exceptions but it’s not the norm); materialism; greed; isolation behind cookie-cutter neighborhoods and homogeneous clubs and churches; boredom: apathy; the fascination with the relevant more than the real; a love affair with popularity more than loving the poor; and a thirst for excitement superficially satisfied in the Friday night party. This takes precedence over a dangerous ride with God on the frontlines of His movement.
Ironically, guess what consistently is the hottest selling music in the suburbs? Hip Hop! Seriously. . . check out this article from Wall Street Journal in June of 2005. http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB111521814339424546.html
Why do you think Hip Hop is so popular among Suburban youth?
Hip hop is a voice to which suburban kids want to relate. Perhaps some wannabe has a type of connection to reality through Hip Hop while others envision radical change and revolution, inspired to be at the forefront of a new generation of leaders who will not remain silent. It’s a type of music that breathes with the vibe of danger and rawness. Although you may not like the themes at times or the language, It’s honest and from the soul.
My concern is that our children are missing out on one of the greatest moments to live in the history of humanity. These are the times of global shifts and crises and once-in-a-life time opportunities. Our generation and the next can be so focused on our own survival and the satisfaction of pleasure that we miss out on one of the wildest adventures. Hip Hop music has become the voice of our youth. It describes a thirst for danger and a rawness that is visceral. It’s filled with angst and pain. These elements are the seeds of revolution found in the cities. My prayer is that the intrinsic frustration and boredom in the suburbs and rural cities of America will find its purpose in a radical revolution of love.
Perhaps instead of a one-week mission trip, the next generation will commit to a lifetime of roaming the earth in the power of the Holy Spirit like has never been seen before. Sure, our cities have been the focus of the church, but let’s not forget the quiet suburbs– the current breeding ground of potential zealots who are looking for something more to awaken them out of their boredom.
In response to what I wrote above my teammate, Dave Brubaker wrote: The verse I love for this (if you want one)—Luke 12:13-21. It really could be about the suburbs, the guy is so rich, he’s afforded the luxury of ISOLATION. He’s so alone in his gated community that when he needs financial council he has no one to confer with but himself (verse 17); he’s so out of touch with the poor and needy, he can’t think of a single person to share with when he’s got extra. The only idea that comes to mind is to make bigger barns (verse 18). Apparently God finds this so detestable, he kills the guy (verse 20), the words “your life will be demanded from you” are actually a financial term re: collecting a loan; in the case the “loan” that God is collecting is “life.”
Easy to judge this guy as a “fool” but the truth is, isn’t he “successful” by suburban standards???
there’s a lot of positive hip hop out there as well
Right on HS! I was actually trying to emphasize that Hip Hop actually gives language in a positive way to this generation, albeit raw, angry, profane and crude at times. And i’m all for Worshhop!
Dave, not only a great insight into a perspective that we don’t commonly consider when we think about dangerous cities, but there is also the danger of being comfortable, complacent and isolated. When everyone around us is living out the American dream, we run the risk of being insulated from the needs of the world around us and continue to grow the margin between the “haves” and the have-nots.” We have less chance to love and more chance to ignore.
I, like you, am believing for a revolution of love to rise up and that their place as a generation of hope. The Millenials (Gen Y) are the largest group to date and are said to be more concerned about their fellow man than us in Gen X. We’re trying to do our part as a small church plant here in Sacramento and are thankful to be following in your footsteps. Thanks for this eye-opening post
Irvine, California was given the Safest City in America! Years ago, I think Mission Viejo was given the Safest City in America too. Currently, thats where I’m working at. In fact, I’m working at YMCA Child Care services where I do hear children enjoying Hip-hop music. I too used to love hip-hop music. My favorites was Michael Jackson, BoyIIMen and music from Long Beach, California. My prayers that God will transform the Hip Hop music industry and sent revivalist to declare His name great to all the earth. God, may your name be famous to all the earth, especially in Irvine, Mission Viejo and Long Beach!
[...] I begin with a blog post by Dave Gibbons [...]
[...] @davegibbons: Where is the most dangerous place in America. . .check it out: http://davegibbons.tv/?p=307 The burbs chk it out [...]
no surprising, a lot of exploitation and trafficking happens in these quiet little suburbs…
I’m a Los Angeles inner-city teacher that breathes the Hip Hop life every day. It’s music, it’s soul, it’s anger, it’s social justice, it’s a cry, a need to be heard, and it’s authentic. So much of this culture is what I love about my career. This is a brand new lifestyle apart from where I USED to grow up, ’safe’ in the suburbs of Walnut, CA. And it’s one of the most challenging, scariest, and refreshing, and privileged stages of life that Jesus has ever brought me through.
I truly wish that suburban people would see past the crime, the mayhem, and the disorder that Dave is talking about: but that they would see the victories which occur in these unique neighborhoods. The generation of students I teach are none like I’ve ever met before. They are strugglers, yet survivors…..judged, yet strong……and so many of them literally fight to succeed in their lives, and they DO.
just some stories where I teach, for instance….
….a young black male that beat the statistic and became one of the only 36% that graduated from his high school.
…..a 13-year old child’s decision to turn away from gangs and seek help, saving his own life.
……an 11-year old daughter’s decision to still go to school after finding her own mother dead in her bedroom one morning.
……the mother who, raising 3 boys on her own, cries tears of joy when one of her sons finally succeeds in school.
……..a 13-year old girl who, after witnessing her own dad shoot/kill someone else for no reason, vows to find more purpose in her life than what he had shown her.
……the teacher who loves her job, even after going to 8 students’ funerals after teaching here for 9 years.
There is a certain strength, unity, a willpower that is understood in these neighborhoods. This generation either wants to better their own communities they grew up in, or move out and prove that they too could flourish in society. I never have a boring/stagnant day.
I thank the Lord that I’m truly living, and that His plan for me is prosperous, purposeful…not harmful or DANGEROUS (jeremiah 29:11), but meaningful and new to the fullest extent.
Margarita, Yes! Thanks for your thoughtful insights.
I just loved this post, although that’s ironic since it causes embarrassment to me. I live in San Diego, but this city is set up as really a series of smaller cities that make up a big one. Even though my address is San Diego, I practically live in a suburb, such is our housing area.
My kids suffer for this. It is a problem that my wife and I want to eliminate. Sure, I love the safety provided in our military housing, but my son and daughter need to know that life isn’t fair, easy, or convenient. I’ll be working on that.
It all starts in the Home! Doesn’t matter where you are at. If Jesus isn’t first then the value of your thought and actions will be in wrong direction.
I find it interesting that some of the comments above immediately go to the issue of Hip Hop. And I don’t think that Dave (or whoever wrote it) was making an issue about that style of music other than to make a point. As someone who was raised in a suburb and is now planting a church in a suburb I am deeply moved and frustrated by this article. I recognize that much of what was said here is very true, but I also am not sure how to get out of that mindset. I find myself extremely convicted…that I am the Rich Fool in the Luke 12 passage. What do I do? Do I sell everything? (Not being sarcastic…) I am truly frustrated and I want to enlist for the front lines in the Revolution of Love. I desire, I think, more than anything for men, women, and children to come and know the Cross of Christ, God’s Love. Pray for me. Pray for the suburbs of America. Pray for the pastors in the suburbs of America.
Hey Dave,
Great post. I am a church planter in inner city Baltimore (thegardenbaltimore.com) and one of our key partners is a church plant in Ellicott City, MD (metanoiachurch.com). Found it interesting you mentioned both city and suburb. I’ll have to forward this post to them which I am sure will create some great dialogue.
As I have lived in both small town, suburban, and now urban context, I resonate with much of this post and have found the city to be no more problematic nor dangerous than any other place I have lived – only different.
Recently, a man who works in Ellicott City and lives in another “nice” suburb (Frederick, MD), concerned and disturbed that I would choose to raise my children in the city of Baltimore, with concern in his voice, asked “Don’t you worry that your children growing up in the city will fall into drugs, addiction, or whatever else they may be confronted with?” I responded, “Sure I do, but don’t you worry that your children growing up in the suburbs will fall into materialism, greed, and complacency? Which is worse?”
Thanks for the post.
I myself live in the suburbs, We live in the older side surounded buy all the new homes they built. Our fenses are covered in spray paint and our play grounds are always being destroyed and houses are getting robbed, but I like it here. My children go to private school and a parent I know go to the same school and live in the same neighborhood just got their house broken into and want to move. They asked why I want to stay. I told her that Jesus loves the least of these and because my children go to a private school I wanted them to experience the world. I find that being kind and dealing with the scary things in our neighborhood helps them to better understand who Jesus is much more than their school. I’m not into rap these days but I hope to be my best to not judge others and listen to what my children are trying to tell me. I know however that my actions in front of them in any situation speak MUCH louder than words.
Great post, for its tension and paradox. I learned from the comments, too. Thanks, Margarita Wang, keep up the good work.
As one who serves an urban missional church in a diverse, poor, outer urban rim … are you kidding? Poor teens have most of the same conditions as the suburban youth: proms (you should see all the condoms we find along the streets), beer bongs, one-hitters (and then you should see the crack pipes) MTV, etc. – plus stark realities: The prostitution is less subversive. It’s right there, walking the streets, in broad daylight. The statistics (and experience) I have seen is that you would much rather be born in the suburbs: All you have to do is physically survive college and the suspended adolescence of your mid twenties (and the mortality rate is pretty high), and then go get a job. Therapy or Jesus will cure you of suburban ills. You’re relatively set. Or would you rather be born in a neighborhood where you have a substantial chance of spending time in jail, getting shot and not even graduating high school? And if you make it out the odds are against you of reverting the cycle and attaining middle or upper class. The exceptions to this rule do not negate the reality and weight of the urban disease. I’m all for awareness that there is a certain suburban malaise that is often unnoticed and not the choice of many youth; but the greater imposition is in the poor urban homes. This is magnified by the fact that the church spends greater resources in the suburbs.
This is just my humble opinion. I am just a speck of dust on the grand scale, a guy spending time with kids and urban people and praying to make a difference in the name of Jesus. I admire your work and that’s why I read. I’m just not in agreement with this post. I think we pamper the suburban youth. Maybe that’s part of your point. They need to be challenged by church leaders into something greater than prom and trips to the beach with the guitar-playing youth pastor. They need to join us down here and show their hearts for Jesus in servanthood. Someone must take care of the urban youth, and I am calling the church into account. We must do a better job. In love, TC
Forgot to mention: I do appreciate Joel’s comments. With a healthy family, the urban environments can be very positive. The risks of which I spoke were regarding the majority who do not have stable homes. Those are the people who need help. And I am not saying the suburban youth do not need help. So I do respect those of you in those environments. My hope is that we can all work together. Love, TC