They're the pastors of a growing, biracial Jacksonville church. But Mike and Connie Smith are also garnering attention for a provocative study they recently published looking at the high rates of homicide in African-American communities.
It's a long, detailed piece - one the Florida Times-Union initially declined
to publish. "An Air Quality Experiment for Jacksonville" looks at, among other things, violent and misogynistic rap music as one indicator of a culture that continues to accept shockingly high rates of gun violence in black communities.
Says Smith, "We've become blind to the fact that there's a black 'Sandy Hook' every week. And we need to get outraged about it."
What's your take? Read the entire thing at www.michaelandconnie.com.