Laura's Corner

 A recent column by John Ridley titled, “Malls, others should work with kids” got me thinking.  He states, “Did you ever wonder why when white youth congregate and engage in rowdy, profane, lewd and drunken behavior, it is called “spring break,” considered tomfoolery and permitted to recur annually?  Yet, when black teenagers congregated at Bayshore Town Center and exhibited boisterous “pushing and shoving” among themselves, it was deemed “threatening,” law enforcement was called and a curfew on teens was promptly instituted?  For black youths, there is zero tolerance for foolish actions in public spaces. 

Let’s do a quick review.  Spring break is annual (one or two weeks per year), located outside of Milwaukee, is out of sight, out of mind.  I have never attended a spring break and have yet to make the decision to send my daughters as well.  I do not agree with what I have witnessed, but, to each his own. 

Bayshore, Mayfair and other malls are located within city limits.   Rowdy teen behavior occurs on a daily basis.  It is in sight and in mind. 

That said let’s move on.   I was recently at a video rental store.  A drunk man decided to visit and stumble around the store.  He was belligerent and offensive.  Immediately, the atmosphere of the store changed.  Patrons felt uncomfortable.  An employee, familiar with the man, walked along side of him. He took a stance on behalf of the visitors.  The employee took action to ensure that he would not harm anyone while in the facility.  Within minutes, the man stumbled out and moved on his way.

As an adult, I venture out.  There have been times where I have felt threatened and uncomfortable. The minute my alarms go off, I tend to leave that establishment.   I refuse to invest my hard earned money into any business which does not believe in the welfare of their clients. 

Business owners rent spaces at the mall.  Thousands of dollars per month means one thing; revenue or bust.  The minute peacekeeping adults or teens feel uncomfortable; they make the conscious decision to avoid a return visit.  Driving an additional 15 minutes to another mall is a safety net they are willing to fall in.  In today’s economy, businesses must do everything within their power to stay afloat. 

Mayfair Mall made the decision to install their curfew within the last couple of years.  This came after repeat occurrences of negative behavior.  As I walked through Mayfair Mall last Saturday evening, I felt comfortable.  A friend and I had decided on an evening stroll and enjoyed a very peaceful shopping experience.  It was his first trip to a mall in years and he stated he would return. The atmosphere was free of disturbance, out of control behavior and yelling. 

Parents, unless you plan on changing your plan of attack, you can be assured of the following; the very business owners who rent spaces at the mall will not hire your “out of control teenager.”  Continue to excuse bad behavior as “ghetto” or label it “being a teen” and you will be guaranteed to have a youth who has very little respect for authority.  Obtaining a higher education, employment or anything along that line will be unattainable due to the fact that there are rules in place to ensure that these environments are free from hostility and violence. 

Civilized behavior begins at home.  Why certain parents expect communities to build and invest in establishments for “at risk” youth is beyond me.  We are not obligated to provide violence free entertainment.  You, mom and dad of said teens, are obligated to raise your child(ren) to be violent free.