Community activists, barbershop owners react to shootings over the last month
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — People usually go to barbershops in need of a haircut. In African American communities, the barbershop is also viewed as a cultural haven where Black Americans can discuss issues and matters about their community.
With the two shootings within the past month, shop owners, barbers and community activists are expressing their concerns after what’s considered a haven is becoming less safe.
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Ernest Williams is a barber at The Fade Shop on Cottage Hill. He’s worked as a barber for 30 years and views his line of work as something that helps his clients feel safe.
“This is supposed to be a safe place for the black clients that come in,” Williams said. “We can communicate about what’s going on in the city, in the community. We can share ideas, share what’s going on.”
On April 29, five people were shot at Da Shop on Pleasant Valley Road after an argument broke out. On Friday, May 17, a man was killed at Baggz on da Fade on Saint Stephens Road.
The alarming trend has Williams worried because the shootings are turning what’s typically a haven into something violent.
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“We have a zero gun policy in the Fade Shop,” Williams explained. “No profanity because we deal with a lot of kids that come here. And of course, we are right across the street from a school. So, we try to keep everything safe.”
Owner of the Fade Shop, Tyler Calhoun, has a strict no-gun and no-profanity policy at his shop, and he said he hasn’t seen any issues from people with it.
He emphasized how heavily enforced it is as he had previously asked someone to leave his shop.
“I’ve never really had to kick anybody out,” Calhoun explained. “Only time I had a serious problem was I asked somebody to put their gun up and then they went outside and acted like they did, but they didn’t. Then, I had to tell them to leave.”
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Sergeants John Young and John Ford with the Mobile Police Department co-founded Men United Against Violence which they run outside of work.
“We all need to be able to have a safe space, right? The barbershop is one of those places,” Ford explained. “The problem is that wherever we go now, there’s always potential for some incident to happen.”
Both explained that a bigger conversation needs to take place as most violence in Black communities comes from Black people harming other Black people.
“Some brute beast, uneducated, uncontrolled, unable to control his emotions, has gone over and starts an argument and began shooting, killing a Black woman, killing another Black man—” Young expressed. “Listen, if we were going to talk about it, let’s talk not just talk about who the shooters are. Let’s talk about who the victims are. Let’s talk about our shooting into occupied vehicles as well. These are black men victimizing other Black people. And if Black people don’t say this is enough, we need to call out this bad behavior, who will?”
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As for The Fade Shop, Williams said he’s not afraid to turn others away if it means keeping him and his clients safe.
“If you got to bring a gun, then we don’t need your business, that’s just how we see it,” Williams said.
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