By: Donald V. Watkins
Copyrighted and Published on November 16, 2022
PopulationU.com published statistical data on the world’s countries and populations. Among this data are statistics that identify the most dangerous cities in the world, based upon violent crime.
The 54 most dangerous cities in the world have the highest homicide rates per 100,000 inhabitants. Mexico tops the list with nine cities in the top 10 most dangerous cities in the world. The other dangerous cities on the list are located in Venezuela, Columbia, South Africa, Honduras, Jamaica, Brazil, Guatemala and United States.
The cities in the United States that made the list of the top 54 most dangerous cities in the world are: Detroit, Michigan (#22); New Orleans, Louisiana (#42); Baltimore, Maryland (#50); Birmingham, Alabama (#51); and St. Louis, Missouri (#52). All five of these cities are governed by predominantly black City Halls. The victims of the violent crimes in these cities are overwhelmingly black.
As of September 2022, Birmingham, Alabama (my former hometown) was leading a surge in the nation’s violent crime. The city’s murder rate increased by 40%, from 73 murders by September 2021 to 102 murders by September 2022. In 2021, 132 people were murdered in Birmingham. This number is expected to be exceeded by the end of 2022.
In 2010, Birmingham’s population was 211,763. As a result of rising crime, poorly performing public schools, ineffective local government, and white-flight, Birmingham’s population decreased to 200,133 residents in 2021. Today, Birmingham’s population is 197,575.
With its rapidly decreasing population and soaring murder rate, Birmingham’s mayor flew to Washington this week to plead with Congress for help. Mayor Randall Woodfin was not seeking additional funds to fight the surging violent crime in his city, which is on its way to becoming the “Murder Capital of the World.” Instead, Woodfin pleaded with Congress to decriminalize the sale and possession of marijuana in Birmingham and the rest of America.
Apparently, Mayor Woodfin believes that his push to help Birmingham residents get “high” from marijuana is the answer to his city’s rising murder rate.
Crime Inside the United States
The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program classifies murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault as violent crimes. Property crime in the U.S. is much more common than violent crime.
In 2019 (the most recent year for full Uniform Crime Reporting Program data), the FBI reported a total of 2,109.9 property crimes per 100,000 people, compared with 379.4 violent crimes per 100,000 people.
The FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System provides information on the time of day, location and types of weapons involved in violent crime. It also captures demographic data, such as the sex, age, race and ethnicity of victims, known offenders and arrestees.
As mentioned previously, Detroit, Baltimore, New Orleans, Birmingham and St. Louis are listed among the most dangerous cities in the world, based on violent crime. Apart from this international list of dangerous cities, crime statistics released by the FBI in July 2022, list Little Rock, Arkansas (#1); Memphis, Tennessee (#2); Tacoma, Washington (#3); Detroit, Michigan (#4); Pueblo, Colorado (#5); Cleveland, Ohio (#6); Springfield, Illinois (#7); Lansing, Michigan (#8); Kansas City, Missouri (#9); and Chattanooga, Tennessee (#10) as the most dangerous cities in the U.S., based on violent and property crimes.
According to the Pew Research Center, only 40.9% of violent crimes and 32.5% of household property crimes are reported to law enforcement authorities. Most violent and property crimes in the U.S. go unreported to police, and most of the crimes that are reported are not solved.
Epilogue
Crime is out of control in many of our urban cities. I have been publishing articles on this subject since 2013. Today, mass murders and other violent crimes are occurring every day, everywhere in America. Our churches, grocery stores, movie theaters, schools, workplaces, transit systems, malls, concerts, and neighborhoods are no longer safe.
Rather than pushing for people to get "high" on marijuana, as Mayor Woodfin is doing, our public officials need to focus on implementing effective measures to fight violent crime. Once we conquer the evil of violent crime, marijuana users can get "high" to celebrate this monumental achievement.
Related Articles: