Epidemic in the 757: Our Young Gods and Goddess Are Dying — How Do We Reach Them?

In the 757, we are losing far too many young Black men — and women — to the streets. Gunshots have replaced the sounds of laughter in too many neighborhoods. Candles and balloons have become too common, marking lives taken too soon. And the question that keeps echoing in our minds is: Why?

Some point fingers at the music. The beats are fast, aggressive — BPMs hitting 170 and above — and the lyrics glorify lifestyles that lead nowhere but prison or a coffin. Others say the problem is deeper, tied to the new strains of marijuana flooding the streets, much of it coming from dispensaries or possibly altered as genetically modified strains. The concern? These powerful mixes may be amplifying paranoia, impulsivity, and aggression in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

But here’s the heart of it: we can debate causes all day — music, weed, social media, poverty — but the real challenge is connection.

Virginia 757 area Google Maps

They’re Not Listening

We’re trying to reach a generation that doesn’t want to hear lectures, doesn’t trust “advice,” and often sees older voices as out of touch. They think they know it all — and when the world around them reinforces the idea that survival is about pride, image, and quick money, it’s hard to convince them otherwise. The result? Cycles of violence, broken families, and a future stolen before it even has a chance to begin.

How Do We Bridge the Gap?

It’s not about preaching from a distance. It’s about meeting them where they are:

• On their block, not just in a meeting room.

• Through mentorship that looks like brotherhood and sisterhood, not authority figures barking orders.

• By providing real alternatives — opportunities to earn money, express creativity, and find belonging that doesn’t come with a death sentence.

Music as a Lifeline, Not a Weapon

We can’t ignore that music influences mood and mindset. If the airwaves are filled with nothing but violence, we have to offer something else — positive tracks, real lyricism, and stories of survival and success that still feel authentic. Young people won’t trade in their culture for lectures, but they will embrace sounds that inspire and still hit hard.

Community Accountability

Parents, elders, business owners, artists — we all have a part to play. Blaming won’t save lives. Action will. Whether it’s creating safe creative spaces, sponsoring sports and art programs, or simply showing up in these kids’ lives, the bridge is built by presence.

The 757 can’t afford to keep burying its future. We have to speak a language they understand — and sometimes that language is simply showing up, listening first, and loving without judgment.

This isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about extending hands. Because if we don’t bridge this gap now, the streets will keep doing what they do best — and we’ll keep losing our kings and queens before they ever get to rule.