Trinity Bella Hawkins 6th - Chicago Homicides

Summary: In this article, two CNN reporters talk about the startling amount of homicides in Chicago, IL this year - 500. The article provides a visual guide for explaining the amount, cause, and effect of the deaths in the city itself, which has a moniker, "Chiraq", comparing the dangerous streets of the city to the dangerous war torn streets of Iraq, which many residents detest because it gives the city a bad connotation. 2016 is the deadliest year the city has seen in two decades - and its crime rate tops both Los Angeles and New York. A vast majority of the killings are gun related, which has fueled what has been an ongoing national debate about gun control and how the laws concerning them need to be more strict. 

Analysis: This is an issue that is really close to my heart, because I am originally from there (I was born and partly raised there). I have lived through and seen people die because of gun violence, and I am a firm believer that our laws should be stricter, but I don't think taking away guns is the answer. The people of Chicago deserve better, the city of Chicago deserves better, and I, as a human being, as a young black woman, and as a citizen of the United States deserves better. Gun violence has been a problem in our country since it came from under British rule, and we have still had countless deaths at the hands of people who aren't qualified to handle guns and death by people who are. This something that I think as a nation we should tackle, and I look forward to seeing how future president will handle such an issue.

Synthesis: This could be connected to many events in the past, but the most important one I think is the Boston Massacre of 1770. It was one of the first recorded mass shoot outs, and countless lives were lost, including a black man, Crispus Atttucks.