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Trouble with police is a two-way street: Column

Law enforcement has to change, but so does black youth culture. Judge tries to help.

David Person
Circuit Judge Jimmie Edwards at Innovative Concept Academy.

ST. LOUIS — A tall, gangly 16-year-old spotted Circuit Judge Jimmie Edwards from across the hall at Innovative Concept Academy. He approached Edwards, a bright smile on his face, and they greeted each other with an arm bump.

Edwards quickly shifted to a compassionate inquisitor, asking the young man about his progress and reminding him of the expectations the judge has for him. Edwards met the student four years ago, when the judge sentenced him to detention.

"Probably for a stolen car," Edwards said.

But now he's at Innovative Concept, the last stop for some of St. Louis' most troubled students.

"Either they're here or they're in jail," Edwards said.

The judge had grown tired of the steady parade of children coming into his court. In 2009, he opened Innovative Concept in an empty school building given to him by the St. Louis Public Schools.

The academy is about 12 miles southeast of where Michael Brown, 18, was fatally shot by former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. Wilson was cleared by the Department of Justice. The city of Ferguson wasn't. But federal government reports alone won't impact perceptions of Brown, Wilson or Ferguson.

Because of their past police run-ins, any Innovative Concept student could have been — and still could be — another Michael Brown.

"I've had two kids killed by cops," Edwards said. "When they go home, they walk through police tape."

Trouble is a two-way street in the cities where unarmed young black men have been gunned down by police. Yes, the Justice Department's reports about the Ferguson and Cleveland police departments are damning. And yes, the culture of law enforcement in these and other jurisdictions needs to be critiqued and changed.

Even so, black youth culture needs some changing, too. And it's about more than sagging pants and profane rap lyrics. It's about the lies that making good grades is "white," that prison is the new college equivalent, and that crime pays well enough until you get killed at 25.

Pastors know it and often preach about it from their pulpits. Brothers in the barbershops and sisters in the salons know and talk about it, too.

Some youth also know it, and they try to navigate their way through drugs, gangs and guns with their aspirations intact. Innovative Concept is one of those urban lighthouses that help them do that.

Edwards persuaded the local Goodwill, Family Court of St. Louis and the school district to give him funding, personnel and other support. With their help, about 3,000 kids have gone to the academy. Edwards said the graduation rate is 80%.

The judge's method is simple. He tries to give his students — many of whom have at least one parent behind bars — hope and an opportunity to better themselves while earning a diploma. And that might be just enough to keep most of them alive far past 25.

David Person hosts WEUP Talk on WEUP 94.5 FM/1700 AM in Huntsville, Ala. He blogs for Ministry Matters and is a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors.

In addition to its own editorials, USA TODAY publishes diverse opinions from outside writers, including our Board of Contributors. To read more columns like this, go to the Opinion front page.

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