Jena 6 and the Legacy of Racism
It wasn't until recently that I began to follow the case of the Jena 6. After watching this video, I find myself surprised by my lack of surprise. This case is so reminiscent of the history of racism in small town America. Those who believe racism to be in remission should take a look at this video and get back to me. Conservatives like to argue that some African Americans make too much of the random act of White racism. The problem, however, is when one begins to tally the acts: they find an inconvenient consistency that can't be ignored.
The video makes an interesting comparison between this case and the Duke lacrosse case regarding media coverage. The salacious details of a falsified rape claim garnered continuous worldwide attention, while this case has largely been shutout of the national media. Please contact CNN, MSNBC, FOX, and PBS and ask them to cover the case of the Jena 6. It is no less important or emblematic of where we still need to go as a country.
September 19, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
I attended the March in Jena. We arrived around 5:30am and busses lined the one road into Jena for 4 miles. By 8:00am there were thousands of black folk walking peacefully to the courthouse.
Many who don't live in North Louisiana cannot understand how in 2007, such unfairness and failed justice could occur. I attended Louisiana Tech University in 1981 and was the only black to major in Aviation and the obstacles that were placed in my path both academically, as well as psychologically and sociallys were beyond comprehension. The citizens of Jena live in a world where everything is black or white
and each has its place. There is not room or acceptance for change. Once this matter gets out of Louisiana and to Washington, I know the matter will be handeled properly. The Black U.S. Attorney choose not to prosecute the students who hung the lope from the tree under the "hate crimes" law, yet the D.A. choose to prosecute the black students as adults? He must have been appointed by a Republican. The world is looking down on Louisiana right now and the twin sisters JENA AND KATRINA seem to be magnified by the government failure to act or respond when it had an obligation to do.
Posted by: Don Smith | Sep 24, 2007 1:47:14 PM
While it is and will always be unsettling to here about racial upheavals in this day and age (folks have been saying that since the 80's), I am not surprised. Why? Because until we address the cause of the problem the symptoms will continue to appear and re-appear. In a day and age when there are more interacial couples than ever, it seems odd that young whites would hold on to values that divide our country, so, my question is what are the role models and leaders in these kids' lives teaching them? We are not born with hatred, we are taught hatred!
Posted by: Kiki | Sep 20, 2007 10:10:24 AM
I know, the revolution was not televised. We had to stumble upon the reality that American nationalized bigotry is alive and well. It never died, despite Dr. King's Dream. It didn't even go into remission. At no point in America's history have We the People of this dysfunction nation come to accept that all humanity is but ONE race. We're after liberty and democracy when we need brotherhood and unity. With the state of the world being what it is, America can expect the divisiveness of bigotry and xenophobia to only grow much worse, ever viciously polarizing us ethnically along our social economic lines. Jena is just a beginning.
Posted by: Penny | Sep 18, 2007 6:54:02 PM
I am absolutely appalled to see that this kind of thing can happen in this day and age.
Posted by: Kathy Angel | Sep 15, 2007 5:53:46 PM
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