Black fatherlessness is turning DC into a war zone
Washington, D.C., is spiraling out of control and it's not just because of bad mayors, weak prosecutors or woke policies. It's because too many fathers in the Black community have walked away from their responsibilities, and too many people in power are too cowardly to say it out loud.
If you want to know why our nation's capital has become one of the most dangerous cities in America, start in the home. The reality is simple: when boys grow up without fathers, the streets raise them. And the streets are predictably doing a terrible job.
This isn't conjecture. It's fact. According to the American Experiment, a child without a father is five times more likely to commit crime and be poor, nine times more likely to drop out of school and 20 times more likely to end up in jail.
In neighborhoods across D.C., gangs have replaced families. Drug dealers have replaced fathers. Violence has replaced manhood. And yet, we act surprised when carjackings, shootings and murders spiral out of control? Spare me.
This didn't happen by accident. It's the predictable outcome of a culture that stopped valuing family and started excusing failure.
And if that offends anyone on the Left, good. Because this isn't about making them feel good.
It's about saving lives. I've seen the cost of fatherlessness up close: young men my age that I grew up with who've never been taught how to be men, making choices that lead them to a prison cell or an early grave. Little boys who never hear "I'm proud of you" from their father, so they chase approval from the only male figures they know: dope boys on the street corner.
Decades of liberal policy have made it worse. Welfare systems that punish marriage. Schools that ignore discipline. Politicians who glorify victimhood over responsibility. And every time someone tries to call it out, the left screams "racism" to shut down the conversation. But the truth doesn't need their permission to be spoken.
President Donald Trump's decision to Make D.C. Safe Again is the first real act of leadership this city has seen in years. It's not just about putting more cops on the streets. It's about sending a message: chaos has consequences. The days of letting criminals rule the capital of the free world are over.
But here's the tough truth: if we want safer streets, we need stronger families.
That means men stepping up and taking responsibility for the children they bring into the world. It means telling young boys that manhood isn't about how many fights you win or how much money you flash. It's about protecting, providing and leading your family. It means telling young girls that the standard for a partner is higher than just "he shows up sometimes."
If you're a man who made a child, be a father to that child. If you're not willing to do that, then don't cry foul when your son ends up in handcuffs or worse. Harsh? Maybe. True? Absolutely.
Trump is giving D.C. a fighting chance by taking back the streets from the gangs, the predators and the career criminals. But if we don't fix the culture that produces those criminals in the first place, we'll be right back here in 10 years with another wave of fatherless boys and another pile of bodies.
You want D.C. to change? We may need to start in the living room.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
"You're A Loser": Yet Another Republican Was Booed By A Crowd At Their Town Hall After Following Trump's Agenda
Another Republican lawmaker has faced a cacophony of boos and jeers when coming face-to-face with the general public to defend President Donald Trump's legislative agenda. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) felt the wrath of constituents over the huge tax and spending bill, the trade war, and the crackdown on immigration when speaking during a town hall in Chico, California, on Monday. Related: Tensions ran so high that LaMalfa, who was reportedly holding his first in-person forum in close to eight years, was repeatedly called a 'liar' when doing his utmost to justify the president's policies. LaMalfa joins a growing cast of GOP politicians who have been given a raucous reception when meeting voters. Earlier this month, Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) was heckled relentlessly when confronted over Medicaid cuts, the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, and ICE detentions. LaMalfa, who represents a large rural area of Northern California, held the town hall despite GOP top brass ordering an end to in-person events because of the rise of so-called 'professional protesters.' Related: A major flashpoint in Chico came when a constituent asked LaMalfa, 'Why are you part of this movement toward fascism?' After LaMalfa asked him to 'stop right there,' the constituent continued with his actual question. He went on: 'If you're not here to announce your resignation, why aren't you here to apologize to the farmers of the North State because of your support for the Trump tariffs?' 'Do you actually want to talk about something productive?' LaMalfa replied, before suggesting the inquiry was 'grandstanding.' Related: Against a backdrop of jeering and a distinct cry of 'You're a loser, Doug,' the congressman outlined how farmers in India had undercut growers in the region, so someone needed to be 'bold enough' to take action on tariffs. 'You're a little loose with the word 'fascism' when there's plenty of it going on on the other side of the aisle,' LaMalfa added, without giving details on the Democratic Party., LaMalfa was also drowned out by boos when delivering the standard Republican line about eliminating 'waste and fraud' to justify cutting Medicaid. @MorePerfectUS / Via Twitter: @MorePerfectUS Related: 'We don't want anybody to be harmed by this effort,' he said. 'Indeed, we want the focus to be on those folks that actually do qualify. And that will be a bigger win for them.' 'You liar!' was one audible response among the dissonance. Also at the town hall, an attendee who said their parents were Holocaust survivors compared Japanese internment camps of World War II to ICE raids and deportations under Trump. 'Will the name LaMalfa be mentioned in the same sentence as [Hitler's propaganda chief Joseph] Goebbels, [Nazi physician Josef] Mengele, and Trump?' the constituent asked. 'I predict no,' LaMalfa replied. Local ABC affiliate, KRCR News Channel 7, has broadcast the town hall in full. @KRCR7 This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in In the News: Also in In the News: Also in In the News:
Forbes
17 minutes ago
- Forbes
Trump's Capitol Takeover: National Guard Hits D.C. Streets (Photos)
The National Guard was officially deployed in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday night, joining hundreds of federal law enforcement agents in the Capitol during the second day of President Donald Trump's controversial crime crackdown, which was launched amid a 30-year low in violent crime for the D.C. WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 12: Military vehicles with the Washington, DC National Guard are parked near the Washington Monument. (Photo by) Getty Images The National Guard was deployed in D.C. on Tuesday afternoon, according to the U.S. Army. Around a dozen National Guards members deployed near the Washington Monument, according to The New York Times, which reported the Guardsmen refused to answer questions about their mission or how long they would remain on assignment. Agents made a total of 23 arrests Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, for serious crimes including homicide, possession with intent to distribute narcotics and possession of a high capacity magazine—but also more common crimes, including fare evasion, driving under the influence, and reckless driving. Forbes was unable to confirm these numbers, though local police separately reported a homicide arrest that they made—the Metropolitan Police Department did not immediately return a request for comment. They also made arrests for firearms offenses, Leavitt said, and seized six illegal handguns. The Trump administration will 'reevaluate and reassess' the situation in D.C. after 30 days, the press secretary said—after then, the Home Rule Act of 1973 requires the White House to seek Congressional approval to maintain control over the city's police force. Leavitt said only two homeless encampments remained in D.C. after Trump issued an executive order in March aimed at making the city 'safe and beautiful.' Park Police are scheduled to remove the remaining encampments this week, Leavitt said, and people living there would be required to leave for homeless shelters or face 'fines and jail time.' Democratic leaders denounced the takeover—Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the takeover a 'political ploy and attempted distraction from Trump's other scandals,' while Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat who represents a district bordering the city, called the move in a statement a 'phony, manufactured crisis if I've ever seen one.' Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of similar takeovers in cities like Chicago and New York, but Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker brushed off the idea before connecting it to one of the administration's largest ongoing controversies: 'By the way, where are the Epstein files?' D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, also a Democrat, called the move 'unsettling and unprecedented,' but struck a calmer tone while addressing Washingtonians at a press conference on Monday. Other mayors from the cities identified by Trump joined in their criticism—Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott told CNN it was 'very notable that each and every one of the cities called out by the President has a black mayor, and most of those cities are seeing historic lows in violent crime.' Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee also rejected Trump's characterization, calling it 'wrong and based in fear-mongering in an attempt to score cheap political points' and noting that overall crime was down 28% from last year in the California city. Some protests have already been organized, and about 150 people rallied near the White House at a rally organized by the Free D.C. group, local station FOX 5 reported. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll speaks to soldiers and airmen from the National Guard in D.C. Sgt. 1st Class Christy L. Sherman/U.S. Army National Guard via AP National Guardsmen near the Washington Monument. Photo byNational Guardsmen arrive at the D.C. Armory on August 12. Getty Images Border Patrol agents wait to be deployed on August 12. Getty Images Members of the National Guard walk from the DC Joint Force Headquarters to the DC Armory on August 12. AFP via Getty Images FBI and Border Patrol agents make an arrest along the U Street corridor on August 10. Getty Images Federal agents patrol a near The Wharf on August 11. AFP via Getty Images Federal agents from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol were spotted on the streets of Washington on Monday night. The Trump administration reportedly reassigned about 120 FBI agents to patrol the city. The president also deployed about 800 national guardsmen to the city, and a provision Home Rule Act of 1973 to take over the Metropolitan Police Department, placing it under the control of Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bondi said she had a 'productive meeting' with Bowser on Tuesday, and confirmed the Justice Department would 'work closely with D.C. city government' and police department. Over the weekend, the Trump administration previously deployed about 450 federal agents to the streets of D.C., where they reportedly made arrests for crimes including gun possession without a license and driving without a license, while also seizing three firearms. Has Crime Risen In D.c.? Violent crime in D.C. hit a 30-year low, the Department of Justice said in January. Homicides are down 32%, while robberies fell by 39% during that time period. Trump's focus on crime in D.C. began after a 19-year-old former DOGE employee—Edward Coristine, who goes by the online nickname 'Big Balls' —was assaulted during an attempted carjacking last week. However, even armed carjackings are down 53%, according to prosecutors. The Trump administration disputes this narrative, noting that the police department reported 1,588 violent crimes this year so far. However, the department's own data notes this is a 26% year-over-year decrease from 2024. The Trump administration also pointed to reports that a police commander was placed on leave in May while under investigation for changing crime data—an allegation also made by the DC Police Union. Tangent Administration officials are also evaluating plans to create a 'Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force,' according to documents reported on by The Washington Post on Tuesday. The Department of Defense plan would station 300 National Guard troops in Arizona and 300 more in Alabama, which could deploy in response to protests or civil unrest on either side of the country in as little as one hour. A similar plan was put in place before the 2020 presidential election, the Associated Press reported at the time, after Trump previously deployed the Guard to D.C. in response to that summer's George Floyd protests. It was not immediately clear if Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had reviewed the plan yet, and the earliest it could be implemented was fiscal year 2027, the Post reported. FBI and Border Patrol officers patrol in D.C. on August 10. Getty Images DEA agents patrol near the Washington Monument on August 11. Getty Images
Fox News
17 minutes ago
- Fox News
Trump's DC public safety sweep results in 23 arrests including murder suspect on opening day
On the first day of President Donald Trump's crime crackdown in Washington, D.C., federal and local authorities arrested 23 people, including suspects wanted for murder, gun offenses and other crimes. FBI Director Kash Patel, who endorsed Trump's plans to take over the Metropolitan Police Department and tackle crime in the nation's capital, provided an update on the efforts in a post on X Tuesday evening. "On the first big push of FBI supporting @POTUS @realDonaldTrump initiative to make DC safe again, FBI reported 10 arrests with partners," the director wrote. He said the 10 arrests included one for a search warrant on a prior murder charge. The other arrests involved unlawful possession of firearms, outstanding warrants for driving under the influence, and one arrest for violating a restraining order. "These are just a few examples — we are just getting started. Federal partners joined local police and arrested 23 in total," Patel wrote. "When you let good cops be cops they can clean up our streets and do it fast. More to come. Your nation's Capital WILL be safe again." On Monday, Trump said he would federalize the police department and place it under the authority of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in an effort to address crime. He also said he was activating approximately 800 National Guard troops to "reestablish law, order and public safety" in the capital. Democrats and local officials criticized the Trump administration for taking over law enforcement efforts in DC, saying the move is part of a power grab. Washington D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser called the move "unsettling and unprecedented." The District of Columbia Home Rule Act allows Trump to place the city's police department under federal control for up to 30 days. Bowser noted that granting D.C. statehood, an issue local officials have repeatedly advocated for, could have prevented the takeover. "If people are concerned about the president being able to move the National Guard into our city, the time to do that would have been when the Congress had a bill that it could have given control of the D.C. National Guard to D.C.," she said. "So, there are things that, when a city is not a state, and not fully autonomous, and doesn't have senators, that the federal government can do." Still, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told reporters during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that she wanted to get a sense of what was happening in D.C. and asked for the number of teens who have been shot and killed by gunfire. She shared a poster with several victims who were shot in 2024, all under the age of 20, noting that 29 individuals were shot and killed in the district, some as young as 3-years-old. Pirro also showed a poster of those under the age of 20 who were shot and killed in 2025, which totaled 16 victims. "What this makes clear to me is that there is a whole community that is suffering because of the violent crime in this district, and anyone who wants to tell me that crime is down and that we don't need an emergency focus on crimes of violence, all they need to do is take a look at this and talk to the loved ones and the family members of these individuals who were shot and killed under the age of 20," Pirro said. "I don't know how many of these cases have been solved, but what I can tell you is, again, it's guns on the streets. It's individuals who are not concerned about accountability, who don't have any reason to fear law enforcement," she continued. "I am here today to tell you that on behalf of all of these victims, all of these families, that they're going to be accountable, that we are going to make a difference, and that we are going to make sure that law enforcement is focused on these innocent, now silent victims of crime in the district."
