The Knockout Game: The Truth Behind the Violence

St. Louis, MO– Recently, the knockout game made headlines with a warning to the public to be aware of their surroundings. The knockout game, reported as a dare game to knock out random individuals with one punch, is reportedly spreading across the country. The randomly chosen victims are often alone in isolated areas, and unaware they are in danger. After reading about it, and watching several news reports about the incidents, I noticed all of the victims were white, while the alleged assailants were young, black teens. I began to question if the attacks are racially motivated.

As a St. Louis local, I decided to investigate the matter and I began to ask young people about the game in the local area. As a young, black woman, I felt I would receive forthcoming answers about the knockout game. As I suspected, the youth confirmed my suspicions that the “game” is not actually a game. Young, black youth all over the nation are furious about the outcome of the Trayvon Martin case, and mockery of it, such as the George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin costumes. The continued unanswered acts of violence against black youth resulting in their death or injury across the nation has further heightened the rage of black teens.

Out of this rage the knockout game was born, which does not randomly target victims, but purposely targets white victims in retribution for the unpunished crimes committed against black children. The disenfranchised youth believe that no one cares about them and that whites in general can commit crimes against black children with little to no punishment.

A specific example of the children’s frustration arises from a case, in which a Dallas area man shot an eight-year-old boy in the face. The man was white and the little boy, who had just turned eight days before, was black. Instead of attempted murder charges, the police arrested the man on charges of child abuse. According to the prosecutor, the seemingly lesser charges carry a stiffer penalty than attempted murder. In addition, the judge agreed to reduce the bond from 2.2 million to 1 million so the man could afford bail. He is now out on bail.

The frustration level of black youth in the nation has reached an all-time high. If not presented with a productive way to vent and voice their frustration, my fear is that the knockout game is just the beginning of violent retribution ideas to come.