"Little Baghdad"

What's behind this sign on Broadway south of Manchester?

Four decades of frustration and heartbreak, that's what.

James Mays, a medical doctor with two clinics in the hard-scrabble black neighborhoods of South-Central Los Angeles, had the sign made about 1 1/2 years ago, he said, after one too many of his patients came in on a Monday morning, saying: "Guess whose son just died!"

Mays , the self-made son of an Arkansas railroad worker, is part of America's greatest generation of black Southern migrants. Now 67, he made his way through college, and then to medical school, in an era when a talented tenth of black aspirants were pioneers in the professions. Along the way, he served as a combat doctor in Vietnam.

He landed in California just two months before the '65 Watts riots. "I thought California was the land of oranges. It wasn't," he said.

All through his long career -- first at the now defunct Queen of Angels in Hollywood, then as chief of cardiology at King-Drew, and finally at his clinics -- he watched and lamented the way blacks seemed to be "lashing out against themselves."

"I'd see little boys come in who were hiding behind their mother's skirts. They cried when I gave them shots. They became the same ones shooting later," he said.

Despite a recent stroke that has slowed his walk, Mays continues to work at his jam-packed clinics,  decorated with peeling immunization posters and pictures of Mandela and Malcolm X. On a recent day, patients, some of whom had spilled out on to the steps outside, greeted him like a beloved uncle.  For him, the sign is just part of the work he has always done, doctoring the sick in the community he has devoted his life to. In this case,though, the patient is the city. "You can't heal Los Angeles until you heal South-Central and Watts," he said.

L.A. isn't Baghdad, he concedes. There are no bombs. But the almost daily murders and maimings evoke a war zone and call for a broad-scale national response, he said.

The sign is mounted next to an American flag. Both wars, he said, are patriotic causes. But the homicides "were here before the Iraq war and will be here after," he said.

Comments

[K IN LA]

I FEEL U MY BROTHER. GOD BLESS YOU.YOUR SENTIMENT IS FALLING UPON DEAF EARS. IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD. THE VILLAGE IS AMONG US, BUT IT'S JUST NOT DOING ANY RAISING. UNTIL WE AS A PEOPLE WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND ONE ANOTHER AS IF WE ARE NEW BORN BABIES AND BEGIN TO NURTURE OUR YOUNG, & GET TO KNOW AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER, THE DOWN HILL SPIRAL WILL CONTINUE. INSTEAD OF CALLING LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN YOUNG MEN BEGIN TO GATHER, I CALL UPON NEIGHBORS AND STORE KEEPERS TO APPROACH THESE INDIVIDUALS, GO FOR A WALK WITH THEM, CHALLENGE THEM TO A GAME OF TENNIS OR RACKETBALL OR FOOTBALL. OFFER TO TAKE OR MEET THEM AT A LIBRARY NEAR YOU. SIT DOWN AND SHARE A NEWSPAPER WITH THEM. JUST TAKE 5 MINUTES TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING THRU, IF YOU CAN HELP THEM WITH ANYTHING.STOP, LOOK , LISTEN. IT'S EASY AS THAT. BUT I KNOW IT WILL NOT BE EASY BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN L.A. REMAIN FEARFUL. WHY? YOU STILL LIVE HERE. SO DO SOMETHING TO BETTER WHERE YOU LIVE. THINK ABOUT IT. THIS IS OUR FUTURE. LET'S INVEST IN IT. YOU INVEST IN THAT BEEMER, THAT H3,THAT JAG, THOSE DESIGNER HANDBAGS, THOSE 200.00 JEANS, SO WHY NOT INVEST IN SOMETHING THAT CAN LAST A LIFETIME AND NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL BE OUT OF STYLE IN 2 OR 3 MONTHS. IT'S EASY TO COMPLAIN ,SO LET'S STAND UP FOR OUR KIDS SAKE AND DO SOMETHING FOR THEM..STOP BEING SCARRY AND STOP MAKING EXCUSES....PEACE

[Harry Reid]

When are we pulling out of south central?

[vorlos]

Maybe if you removed the posters of Mandela and Malcolm X, you would improve your chances for convincing your young ones not to be violent.

v

[ICE-T]

Control the guns, and the problem will be solved. It's pretty simple!

[Fisch]

*Mandela and Malcolm X*, fighting for freedom and peace, justice is what we are all looking for.

[K IN L.A.]

HEY WISE GUY VORLOS , REMOVING A POSTER OF MALCOLM X OR MANDELA WOULD DO LITTLE TO REDUCE THE VIOLENCE. HALF OF THESE LOST SOULS DO NOT EVEN NOTICE WHO'S FACE IS ON THEM ANYWAY. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW ,A LOT OF PEOPLE RESPECT THE MESSAGE AND NOT ALWAYS THE PERSON OR FACE ON A POSTER...JUST SO YOU KNOW.DON'T FOCUS ON A POSTER OR A FACE, FOCUS ON THE REAL PROBLEM...FIRST EDUCATE YOURSELF. I KNOW, YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THOSE PERFECT AREAS WHERE NOTHING HAPPENS AND YOUR POLICE FORCE RESPECTS IT'S CITIZENS. BIG DIFFERENCE, PAL.

[Mayo Naze]

Control the guns? If it could be done (which it can't) it would solve the problem of shootings. Unfortunately, however, the problems that cause people to shoot each other would then be translated into problems that cause people to stab each other, or to beat each other to death with baseball bats.

[Steve White]

This is a good man. He has a clinic in an area where many would not work. I commend you for your sign and your work. Keep it up. Those who do not like his sign or his committment to medical care in the black community need to be quiet, because people like him make Black neighborhoods liveable.

[Roger Merlo]

I think more job oppurtunities in our community would help keep the young people off of the streets, a bit.

Gun control would help, even though they can be smuggled in illegally.

[maryanne RACHAL]

poverty breeds crime, Jobs and training programs bring peace. u til we empty our gettos. we shall nevere know peace.

[maryanne RACHAL]

until we provide decent jobs with training. we will know poverty. until we end poverty we will know no peace . when we end poverty . we shall begin to see peace..

[carmen washington]

We as black people always talk about jobs and education as being the solution of the crime in our neighborhood. The only way we can save our self is by stop turning our back on the fallen victims. It can be a room of twenty people who witness a crime and no one knows anything. As long as we let these criminal roam the streets without the threat of anyone telling on them nothing will change.

[Ana]

Education is the key, teach our people that even if they do not live in an upscale neighborhood or wear the designer clothing they still have a chance to be someone. As parents and members of the community we need to encourage our children to stay in school wether you are a parent who dropped out of school,criminal background,drug an alcohol abuse etc. please do not let history repeat itself! there is help, there are jobs out there but not enough people with the education to fill them. I am aware that college can be expensive but there is financial aide,scholarships and non-profit organizations that help blacks and latinos take that step to succeed. No matter how old you are get informed, get educated take that step.
Remember Jessie Jacksons words " I MAY BE ON WELFARE BUT I AM SOMEBODY" I MAY LIVE IN THE GHETTO BUT I AM SOMEBODY"

[Darren]

id have to agree with k - Its not just jobs and education that will change things - its a complete cultural rethink...i have lived in down neighbourhoods and yes the first thing that will light the fuse everytime is a police force with little respect for its constituents..if you compare LA police to the rest of the world ..they almost seem to want to shoot you ...im not saying this in off handed way..they very much have a warrior attitude ..now when thats at the top of the food chain..it can only filter down...and not all cops are bad ..far from it..i respect they have one helluva tough job.
As for a job...the job in the end has to have some meaning ...its ok to say give employment..but it has to be a livable wage and they certainly arent in LA if your on the lower scale. As for an education ..a degree dosent foster community spirit ..nor does it provide the tools that make people decent meaningful citiziens...governments in their social policies from the first step are supposed to provide that - thats why we pay taxes ..for social services and support ..not to start and fund useless wars

[Darren]

Hey K ....your a smart man ..we need more like you ...i agree tottally...take an interest in the young , be there with an ear and a smile and its amazing what you can acheive - a mentor is being a guide ..not a parent

[Anonymous]

"Control the guns, and the problem will be solved. Its that simple!"
WRONG!
Its NEVER that simple.Banning guns will not eliminate gun violence, it only means that criminals will be the only civilians who are armed. WTF is wrong with LA?? Other major cities, like NYC for example have watched violent crime plunge over the the last 10-15 years but not LA. SERIOUSLY.....why is that town so freakin' violent???

[Tray Escovez]

Unlike New York, why does L.A. have to be a hellhole? No wonder it's not a world class city and probably never will, unless a miracle happens, rarely. New York was once a hellhole, but crime has plummeted, I wish L.A. can experience the Guilliani type police tactics to reduce crime, just like New York did.