When will it end?

Whenever I read a headline like "Brooklyn teen busted in beating death of girlfriend’s 23-month-old baby," I literally think to myself, oh but when will it end?

When will children be protected by those who should love them most, and care for them the best?

When I was a writer for TheGrio.com, NBC News' African-American oriented news site I literally wrote an article entitled, "How to know it's safe for a boyfriend to watch the kids."

If there was anyone more taken aback by the fact that such an article needed to be written it was probably me. Maybe it's the part of me who loves kids that is instinctively saddened and outraged, maybe it's the fact that I'm a former childcare provider, I'd like to think that it's my human instinct of compassion which makes me care so much.

Then I think to the little Mya Carr who was allegedly beaten to death by her own father for as the media reported "soiling herself."

There are so many children in need of protection, in need of defending, and obviously therefore devoid of the love and care you'd expect would nurture their bodies, minds, and spirits.

As Yolanda Adams once sang, "What about the children?"

I promise not to let you down

Looking at the bio I have for a site I'm the contributing editor of made me think of my third grade teacher Mrs. Chestine Ray.

I remember once hearing her say of me to another teacher, "That boy is going to be somebody one day."

It's people like Mrs. Ray {may she rest in peace} and all my teachers and of course my family that every day I say "I promise not to let you down."

As was said in one of my favorite movies "The Great Debaters", "We do what we have to do in order to do what we want to do."