Jeffrey Brown: How we cut youth violence in Boston by 79 percent | TED

[@BrianAnderson-7]

You are a remarkable man Mr. Brown. That was very inspirational. Thank you so much for what you do.

[@justinmendes9]

Amy Cuddy's book Presence brought me here.

[@nickram321]

Same

[@roblescarrillopaloma105]

Me too :)

[@crystal_2020]

Me too 😁

[@SamRiesgo]

Thank you for this!! This one was one of the most inspiring TED talks ever. Really. Thank you!

[@sandman3600]

Much like many others watching this video, I'm not the most religious person. With that being said, I have an enormous amount of respect for this man. He took a stance and did something for himself and those around him not as community service, not for recognition and accolades, but because HE WANTED TO. That's more than I can say for myself.

[@foobman]

Speaking as an atheist, this is the kind of religious person I could get behind. Someone who listens and acts and who skips the preaching.

[@gasdive]

Johan Wuyckens He listens but doesn't really understand. Every city that has cut out leaded petrol has a massive drop in violent crime about 22 years later. Every single one. The USA started phasing out lead in petrol in 1975, he started this effort in 1996... Do the maths. It's got nothing to do with his imaginary friend or his wise council and everything to do with a fall in lead levels in children. Like most of these people he sees a mysterious hand where there's a simple explanation.

[@TheSympathize]

gasdive where's the evidence that there is a causal relationship between lead petrol level s and violent crime rates?

[@gasdive]

TheSympathize www.nber.org/papers/w13097.pdf journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.0050101 www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/01/lead-crime-link-gasoline

[@TheJuliodarian]

I completely agree with you. I feel that he is one of the few religious people with who I would enjoy sitting down and discussing modern day events. In fact, if this man ever came to my city I would actually attend his preaching, simply because he is part of a species in extinction. You don't simply see priests like him around anymore.

[@juliahenriques210]

TheJuliodarian Maybe because they've always been rare...

[@effectsofraponyouth8955]

Jeffrey Brown is a very well spoken man and talks about how within a 8 year period of time was able to reduce the crime in his city by 79%. What makes him so great is that he is cuts out all the media cover and talks about the character of his city and how it really is. He talks about how hip hop was a escape and a positive thing for the people of his city because they can relate the music to what is happening in his city.

[@AJMacDonaldJr]

"I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today: my own government." ~ MLK (1967)

[@fhhfhdfdhhdhhdfhdf138]

governments have a monopoly on violence

[@RichyJ1991]

I went to a talk by Jeffrey tonight. Inspiring stuff, what a man!

[@salmana4239]

This is an incredible story. WOW Bravo

[@TheKibeer]

Translation: Stop throwing $, bureaucrats and cops on the problem, stop relying on the Government. Form local, voluntary body of people who in fact form local government with very limited powers, who are personally invested and motivated. Explanation: These kids need functioning families, wise patriarchs to guide them by example and reason not force and punishment.

[@gasdive]

Kibeer Bueskytter I agree, that's what he's saying, but the fact is that every city has had similar results. Violent crime falls about 22 years after unleaded petrol replaces leaded petrol. Like clockwork. Violent crime falls by about 75% *every time*. He started this 21 years after unleaded petrol was introduced in 1975. journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.0050112

[@executor31]

gasdive Coincidence is not causality . This little phrase is the death of every conspiracy theorist ever .

[@666Tomato666]

gasdive wait, what? you're serious? what next, correlation between number of pirates that say "arrr" and global warming?

[@gasdive]

executor31 One correlation is not causation, but this isn't one correlation. Prospective studies show increase in violence related arrests that match blood lead levels in children.

[@gasdive]

666Tomato666 Yep I'm serious. There's a correlation between pirates and global warming and all sorts of other unrelated things. That's true. However there's a big difference between finding one correlated result and finding dozens of correlated results in independent trials. Looked at country level, state level, city level, neighborhood level and individuals, the same results. Even in animal models, increased lead causes increased aggression. One correlation doesn't mean causation. This guy has had one trial of his miracle cure for violence, gets a correlation and thinks it's causation. Of course there was plenty of religion in the '80s and it didn't do any good. Now it does....? No that's absurd.

[@arunthattadath]

Very enlightening talk... Thanks :)

[@saionaras.7059]

Que lição de vida!!! Que suas atitudes, sua vontade de ajudar ao próximo, se tornem em bençãos em sua vida!!!

[@Kernel_Kertz]

This is true peacemaking, true Christianity.

[@Eleven-dk4be]

What a wonderful speech! I can respect this in how what most churches lack in community presence. I could back this and help out if I knew where to go and who to team up with. Albuquerque is one of the poorest cities in the country with I think the most cop shootings. I could be wrong but we're up there. A movement like this would be great. I see it also as a way for the judicial portion to lose out on revenue from the less than fortunate. Good job pastor! :-)

[@4465Vman]

It was called the "Bosotn Miracle" he was ONE of the leaders..there were a bunch of others. Boston's about 700K so alot less people than many other cities but in 1991 at the height of the crack era there was something like 150 murders. By the mid to late 90s that number had gone way way down ..i think to about 30 or 40...Now Boston is often as low as 25 murders per year , which is 25 too many , but its a lot lot less per capita than many other cities.

[@FiremarshalM1]

Wouldn't mind an update on this.

[@shahriardave2386]

I guess he got involved in a love triangle and a homicide and was sentenced to jail unfortunately.

[@bellabella9181]

@@shahriardave2386 hi, this was a different white pastor in Alabama with the same name

[@RahulGoswamiSG]

Respect.

[@railnjsander762]

I'm Muslim, and this is the first time I see Christianity in a good light, Respect...

[@akresken96]

That's because this guy represents what Christianity should be. Most Christians just don't get it and are hypocrites. We need more like him so that one day I can be proud to call myself a Christian.

[@What_was_wrong_w_jst_our_names]

***** /replies

[@railnjsander762]

***** dear, it's maybe because you can't make a blind man see! Go look around I'm sure there is millions of Muslims who do amazing things but no media covers it to make sure people like you don't ever see Islam in a good light... think why is Islam the fastest growing religion in the world??

[@OneBigPappa]

railn j sander because they have been reproducing at far greater rates then any other group of any kind.

[@railnjsander762]

OneBigPappa no it's more like people are converting from Christianity and becoming Muslims.. now why is that??

[@allenculbertson8170]

Such an amazing man. Very inspiring very brave. What a good way of trying to help. Get involved with gang members and drug dealers. For they too are part of the community. Not all of us are bad for many the struggles are very real. God bless U all

[@imir8ati]

Wonderful... Everyone matters, most of all them that need help to live a full life in as peaceful a life as they can bring. This is a save to favorites at the time's as now that we are losing so many of people trying to just live and get by without conflict but as we see NOW , people helping people always works . God bless this man, Every Human should be given his message of love for his fellow human and understanding of where each person must be given LOVE. A must watch to the enforcement of law...

[@gasdive]

***** I wouldn't say "always works". Religious outreach has been happening all along. It's not new and it has never worked until this one. Why? Unleaded petrol in 1975. Lead poisoning is strongly linked to violence levels. He just happened to doing this in 1996, the exact time when reduced lead actually did the work. www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/Audio/ID/2335393110/

[@eltel104]

Amazing talk ... I'd really recommend people who enjoyed this to watch the wire, it touches on a lot of the same themes

[@AnhTuPhucDerrickHoangCanada]

Wonderful

[@Schindlabua]

As someone who has never heard about the boston miracle, I felt it was kind of a shame that this was mosly, well.. preaching, and less abou how they cut youth violence by 79 percent.

[@gasdive]

Schindlabua They actually did it by starting in 1996, which is 21 years after the introduction of unleaded gasoline. Every city in the world that has introduced unleaded has seen similar reductions in violence 21-23 years later. They're imagining themselves to be effective which is I guess in line with his career as a professional spokesman for imaginary beings. www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/01/lead-crime-link-gasoline

[@Schindlabua]

gasdive So no miracle after all. Thanks for the good read, I had no idea!

[@Syeal7]

gasdive So according to those papers, this man hasn't done much of a difference. It is just a coincidence? But that the actual problem laid in lead-exposure of children, the affect it had on their IQ and their tendency to commit crime in their adult years. An interesting read anyway.

[@gasdive]

Syeal7 Yep, that's exactly the case. Correlation isn't causation. He instituted a religious outreach program and crime went down. Of course religious outreach programs happen all the time and they've never worked before or since. His worked, not because it was better or different, but because of unleaded petrol.

[@dadudeguy2vlog]

I'm on mobile right now o I cannot reply directly to the gasdive. Please do not take that article about lead in petrol seriously. Scientifically, its rubbish. If you would like I'm sure I could compile a list of reasons.

[@ckndreams13]

Very well put. The only thing I disagree with is collaboration with law enforcement. That piece always breaks the peace.

[@216trixie]

The positive evolution of religion. Away from faith and belief, and towards action and aid to humanity.

[@morwani]

wow! this is profound

[@arthurrosa9403]

I love you.

[@donaldsanor2359]

Jeffry Brown TY

[@writerconsidered]

Well that was informative and answered one of my big questions which is how come we don't see the violence committed by cops on it's citizens here in boston like we are seeing in every other city in the country. The answer is boston got smart and went left and all the other cities went dumb down and just started locking people up. We still have a 4th amendment and we don't have stop and frisk program. We don't have private prisons. We have such a huge tax base we don't use cops as tax collectors. In short we went left and got it right.

[@kennethwise9391]

writerconsidered 🤣🤣🤣

[@musFuzZ]

Another great Brown Dong.

[@justinroberts7291]

How's this working out for you now?

[@jenavevesnowolf13]

treating people as human beings, what a novel concept....glad someone finally has common sense and morality beyond that of the law.

[@swervenights]

Amazing... :)

[@Mornys]

"We decided to listen and not preach." Pretty much the difference between liberal and conservative, respectively, and the results speak for themselves.

[@sdhpCH]

What's that 10+ thumbs done there? Weapon dealers? Republicans? Cops? What kind of people can press thumbs down on this talk?! I don't get it...

[@musFuzZ]

sdhpCH Chill your butt, it's KZbin algorythms, and it's done to fool Bots. Get educated Nerd.

[@JustSemantics]

MusFuzZ I've seen plenty of videos with 1000+ likes and 1-5 dislikes, whatchu talkin' bout?

[@musFuzZ]

William Alexander yes, and your point is?

[@JustSemantics]

MusFuzZ how does it fool bots? explain pls

[@PieroVera]

MusFuzZ That doesn't exist for KZbin. There's no such implementation because there is absolutely no need for it.

[@AsifIcarebear3]

I know it's the format, but I'm just not _that_ interested in knowing about his personal history - remarkable or well told it might be - when the headline is "how we cut youth violence...".

[@phillip357]

AsifIcarebear3 Most TED talk speakers state their history, nothing special, but it does give context on the creation of their speech. Religion, schooling, business, family. etc is a big deal depending on the speaker message.

[@DynamicUnreal]

It seems presumptuous to take credit for the decrease in crime rate in the western world, especially in America. My neighborhood 15 years ago was full of kids/youth in the streets, now the kids/youth of today are locked in their houses, on the computer, internet, playing videogames. Just "chilling in the streets" has become less and less common. This is just one piece of the puzzle of course, other things such as abortions (even though I'm personally against them), the reduction of certain potentially mind-altering materials and chemicals (one of them being lead), and increasing advancement in forensic science has also had an impact. Also criminal behavior has changed, I don't remember the last time I saw a drug dealer on a corner selling drugs. I would imagine most use cell phones and pull up at your front door.

[@magda2517]

❤

[@dionisus9405]

Verna Myers must watch this video

[@fobusas]

I usually find such slowing people vapid and annoying. But he's not. What he spoke of was very meaningful. That being said, he didnt answer the question :). Only the first step - with what mentality he approached the problem. Not what he did.

[@OzanYasarOzan]

Out of context and I'm no medical expert but, my spider senses tells me this man needs to get his liver checked. Besides that, it's wonderful to see people who sees and tells about the big picture.

[@LaughingMan0X]

Not to put a damper on this man's personal efforts (they seem praiseworthy), but I'd like to see the actual data on Boston Youth violence. It's a rather extraordinary claim to say that "we cut youth violence in Boston by 79%." Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence (or at least some evidence). What's needed is (A) evidence there was a real decline in youth violence in Boston, and (B) that the outreach efforts of churches caused some or all of the real decline in youth violence. Violent crime is usually measured either in terms of arrests for murder, rape, robbery, and aggregated assault. It can also be measured by crime victimization surveys where people are randomly sampled and asked if they were victims of a violent crime in the last year (and if so, subjects are asked to describe the nature of the crime as well as to provide details about the alleged perpetrator). So, where are the statistics?

[@elizabethenas5640]

LaughingMan0X It wasn't this man's personal efforts per se. The "Boston Miracle" that he's referring to implicitly is a well-documented drop in violence during the span of 8 years through the concerted effort of clergy, community leaders, the city, and law enforcement. Most noticeably, there were two consecutive years with no adolescent murders. Here's the link to a paper on the subject: web.archive.org/web/20120522063733/www.wjh.harvard.edu/soc/faculty/winship/End_of_a_Miracle.pdf

[@gasdive]

Elizabeth Enas No. The decline in violence happened all across the world, 22 years after the phase out of lead in petrol. It happened in every city, in exact lockstep with the phase out of lead, but displaced by 22 years. The variations between cities described in the paper you linked to remain unexplained in the paper, but match lead levels in children in each of those cities. In particular it shows the very slow decline in violence in Detroit, which has a big lead problem from lead paint in older houses and which recorded among the slowest reduction in child lead levels. The paper you linked to ends with the unexplained rise in violence from Cape Verde immigrants. Cape Verde (and most of Africa) was using leaded petrol well into the 21st century.

[@Novel__Notes]

gasdive Lead in petrol made people more violent?

[@gasdive]

LiquidFunkk Yes. Not just people, even animals. Reduced intelligence, damaged impulse control. Lots of problems. cen.acs.org/articles/92/i5/Crimes-Lead.html

[@4465Vman]

@@gasdive um..gas dive, no...Boston has the stats to back this up

[@GalacticAstroparticles]

We all know Hamsterdam is the way to go! :P

[@realmetatron]

Simply get rid of the 2nd amendment.

[@simonkaroly1]

Get rid of the guns. Like cmon, it's so fucking obvious

[@HiAdrian]

***** It wouldn't get rid of violence though, would it? It's not the dying that's the problem, it's people living their lives under bad conditions.

[@simonkaroly1]

Couldn't hurt though, especially with gun related violence which is a huge problem in the states.

[@funjumprvr3588]

***** Simple, your world is.

[@simonkaroly1]

FunJumprVR Nope, however good gun policy is and it works. So I'll just go back to living safely in my Australian neighborhood thank you

[@manuelsalazarserna5320]

Simon In Mexico we have gun control laws which make it almost impossible to own one legally and we are in a situation that is worse than the situation of the United States (Sorry if my grammar has some mistakes, english it’s not my first language)

[@MrC0MPUT3R]

He sounds like Morgan Freeman

[@heewee6608]

Da white man is to blame

[@TheDrunkardHu]

You lost me at "profound theological conversations"...