I live in Washington, D.C. part of the time, and as a young Black man in America, I’m not here to sugarcoat the truth. The time for that is long gone.
D.C. is falling apart — and it’s not only because of bad mayors, weak prosecutors, or “woke” policies. A big reason is that too many fathers in the Black community have walked away from their responsibilities. And too many leaders are afraid to say that out loud.
If you want to understand why our nation’s capital has become one of the most dangerous cities in America, you have to look at the home first. The reality is simple: when boys grow up without fathers, the streets raise them — and the streets are doing a terrible job.
This isn’t just an opinion. Studies show that a child without a father is five times more likely to commit crimes and live in poverty, nine times more likely to drop out of school, and 20 times more likely to go to jail.
In many D.C. neighborhoods, gangs have replaced families. Drug dealers have replaced fathers. Violence has replaced real manhood. And yet, we act shocked when crime spins out of control? This didn’t happen by accident — it’s the result of a culture that stopped valuing family and started making excuses for failure.
I’ve seen what fatherlessness does. Young men I grew up with never learned what it means to be responsible. They end up in prison or dead far too young. Little boys who never hear “I’m proud of you” from their dad look for approval from drug dealers on the corner.
Liberal policies have made it worse — welfare programs that punish marriage, schools that ignore discipline, and politicians who encourage victimhood instead of responsibility. And when anyone points this out, the Left shouts “racism” to shut down the conversation.
President Donald Trump’s plan to Make D.C. Safe Again is real leadership. It’s not just about adding more police. It’s about sending a clear message: chaos has consequences. The days of letting criminals rule the capital are over.
But here’s the hard truth: safer streets start with stronger families. That means men stepping up for the children they bring into the world. Manhood is about protecting, providing, and leading — not fighting in the streets or flashing money.
If you’re a father, be present in your child’s life. If you won’t do that, don’t be surprised if your son ends up in jail or worse.
Trump is giving D.C. a chance to take back its streets. But if we don’t fix the culture that creates crime in the first place, nothing will really change. The first step might not be in City Hall — it might be in the living room.
