When Donald Trump spoke recently about crime in Black cities, the headlines were predictable. Some dismissed his remarks as political posturing. Others doubled down on defending their record. But one truth remains undeniable: crime and violence are ripping through too many of our communities, and local elected officials are not doing nearly enough to stop it.

The Reality on the Ground

Walk through too many Black neighborhoods and the signs are everywhere: shootings that barely make the news, businesses closing because of theft and violence, children forced to grow up with the sound of sirens instead of safety. The data backs it up — in many majority-Black cities, homicide rates remain among the highest in the nation. Residents don’t need national politicians to tell them the truth. They live it every day.

The Failure of Local Leadership

Too many mayors, council members, and district attorneys talk reform while their communities sink deeper into chaos. Policies that release repeat offenders without accountability, underfund basic policing, and fail to invest in prevention leave neighborhoods vulnerable. The gap between the lived reality of residents and the political talking points of local leaders grows wider by the day.

Who Pays the Price?

It is not the wealthy or the powerful who pay the price for failed public safety strategies. It is the working-class Black families who cannot move away, the small business owners trying to survive, and the children forced to live with trauma. These communities cannot afford another year of inaction.

What Needs to Change

• Accountability in Leadership: Stop rewarding officials who preside over failure. Voters must demand measurable results in crime reduction.
• Balanced Justice: Protect communities from violent offenders while creating true alternatives for nonviolent, low-level cases.
• Investment in Prevention: Fund after-school programs, mental health services, and job creation alongside policing.
• Community Partnership: Public safety cannot be imposed; it must be built in partnership with residents who live the reality every day.

A Call to Action

The debate is no longer about whether crime is a problem — it is. The question is whether local leaders will act with urgency. Every day of delay costs lives. If Black America is to rise, we must demand more from those who claim to represent us. Safety is not a privilege — it is a right. And until we secure it, nothing else will matter.