Last fall in Jena,
>Louisiana, the day after two Black high school students sat beneath the
>"white tree" on their campus, nooses were hung from the tree. When the
>superintendent dismissed the nooses as a "prank," more Black students sat
>under the tree in protest. The District Attorney then came to the school
>accompanied by the town's police and demanded that the students end their
>protest, telling them, "I can be your best friend or your worst enemy... I
>can take away your lives with a stroke of my pen."1
>
>A series of white-on-black incidents of violence followed, and the DA did
>nothing. But when a white student was beaten up in a schoolyard fight, the
>DA responded by charging six black students with attempted murder and
>conspiracy to commit murder. It's a story that reads like one from the
>Jim Crow era, when judges, lawyers and all-white juries used the justice
>system to keep blacks in "their place"--but it's happening today. The
>families of these young men are fighting back, but the odds are stacked
>against them. Together, we can make sure their story is told, that this
>becomes an issue for the Governor of Louisiana, and that justice is
>provided for the Jena 6. It starts now. Please add your voice:
>http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/?id=2258-172319 The noose-hanging
>incident and the DA's visit to the school set the stage for everything that
>followed. Racial tension escalated over the next couple of months, and on
>November 30, the main academic building of Jena High
> School was burned down in an unsolved fire. Later the same weekend, a
>black student was beaten up by white students at a party. The next day,
>black students at a convenience store were threatened by a young white man
>with a shotgun. They wrestled the gun from him and ran away. While no
>charges were filed against the white man, the students were arrested for
>the theft of the gun.2 That Monday at school, a white student, who had
>been a vocal supporter of the students who hung the nooses, taunted the
>black student who was beaten up at the off-campus party and allegedly
>called several black students "n-word." After lunch, he was knocked down,
>punched and kicked by black students. He was taken to the hospital but was
>released and was well enough to go to a social event that evening.3 Six
>Black Jena High students, Robert Bailey (17), Theo Shaw (17), Carwin Jones
>(18), Bryant Purvis (17), Mychal Bell (16) and an unidentified minor, were
>expelled from school, arrested and
> charged with second-degree attempted murder. Bail was set so high --
>between $70,000 and $138,000 -- that the boys were left in prison for
>months as families went deep into debt to release them.4 The first trial
>ended last month, and Mychal Bell, who has been in prison since December,
>was convicted of aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated
>battery (both felonies) by an all-white jury in a trial where his public
>defender called no witnesses. During his trial, Mychal's parents were
>ordered not to speak to the media and the court prohibited protests from
>taking place near the courtroom or where the judge could see them. Mychal
>is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31st, and could go to jail for 22
>years.5 Theo Shaw's trial is next. He will finally make bail this week.
>The Jena Six are lucky to have parents and loved ones who are fighting
>tooth and nail to free them. They have been threatened but they are
>standing strong. We know that if the families have
> to go it alone, their sons will be a long time coming home. They will
>lose precious years to Jena's outrageous attempt to maintain a racist
>status quo. But if we act now, we can make a difference. Please add your
>voice to the voices of these families in Jena, and help bring Mychal, Theo,
>Robert, Carwin, and Bryant home. By clicking below, you can demand that
>Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco get involved to make sure that justice
>is served for Mychal Bell, and that DA Reed Walters drop the charges
>against the 5 boys who have not yet gone to trial.
>http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/?id=2258-172319 Thank You and Peace,
>-- James, Van, Gabriel, Clarissa, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org
>team
> July 17th, 2007 References: 1. "Injustice in Jena as Nooses Hang
>From the ?White Tree,'" truthout, July 3, 2007
>http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/070307B.shtml 2. "Racial demons rear
>heads," Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2007
>http://tinyurl.com/yvh7t5 3. See reference #1. 4. See reference #1. 5.
>"'Jena Six' defendant convicted," Town Talk, June 29, 2007
>http://tinyurl.com/ysxtgg Other resources: NPR: Searching for Justice in
>Jena 6 Case (streaming audio)
>http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11756302 Democracy
>Now! - The case of the Jena Six ...
>http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/10/1413220 Too Sense:
>Free The Jena Six Now
>http://halfricanrevolution.blogspot.com/2007/07/free-jena-six-now.html
>While Seated: Jena Six
>http://www.whileseated.org/photo/003244.shtml Nooses, attacks and jail for
>black students in Jena Louisiana
>http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/28/144445/384 Justice In Jena, by
>Jordan Flaherty
>http://www.zmag.org/content/print_article.cfm?itemID=12783?ionID=30 The
>Perpetrator becomes the Prosecutor (and other related entries)
>http://friendsofjustice.wordpress.com/blog/ 'Stealth racism' stalks deep
>South
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/this_world/6685441.stm
Replies
70
Beach Fanatic
I was taught by my mother and aunt and grandmother to never tell my business, never discuss religion, or politics. But they totally didn't live to see message boards! 
SoWal Expert
Here is what I learned growing up. If you are going to make fun of people, or taunt them, you better be ready to get your butt kicked hard, because that is how people deal with such things. Were the nooses hanging from the "White Tree" a threat? I think they were a symbolic jesture of hatred. Had a noose been on a particular car or on a particular persons locker, then it would be a threat. Symbolic or not, it is like a dog marking his tree, and he has to expect that there are bigger dogs in the neighborhood who are going to come by and pee higher on the tree. I don't know how severely the white guy was beaten, but I think all of the people involved in hanging the nooses deserved a good street beating.
SoWal Expert
It is unbelievable that in this day and age, some parents are raising their children to think they are better than others because their skin is white. Sadly, the "ignorance cycle" is alive and well, and it will produce nothing but a bunch of backwards young adults. Such mentality only produces losers.
My children have never heard the "N" word in this house, and it would never occur to them that other than outward physical appearances, they are different from other kids. I am glad that Will understands that "bigot" actually means "ignorant coward".
I want "Jena 6" t-shirt. Maybe Punz can do a little shopping research for us.
Oh yeah- the white guy that was beaten? He went to a school function that night. Took a licking and kept on ticking, so I don't see that he got his butt kicked hard enough.
My children have never heard the "N" word in this house, and it would never occur to them that other than outward physical appearances, they are different from other kids. I am glad that Will understands that "bigot" actually means "ignorant coward".
I want "Jena 6" t-shirt. Maybe Punz can do a little shopping research for us.
Oh yeah- the white guy that was beaten? He went to a school function that night. Took a licking and kept on ticking, so I don't see that he got his butt kicked hard enough.
Edited
percy
It is unbelievable that in this day and age, some parents are raising their children to think they are better than others because their skin is white. Sadly, the "ignorance cycle" is alive and well, and it will produce nothing but a bunch of backwards young adults. Such mentality only produces losers.jdarg, we live in a school district where the African-American/Caucasian ratio is very close to 50/50. It's unusual in that our part of the city has some of the most expensive homes in the area but is bordered by one of the most economically depressed cities. A house one street over from me sold recently, and one of the first things the new residents did after moving in was hang Confederate flags in their front windows. The first day I drove by the house, I literally stopped the car in disbelief. My oldest son's best friend lives within sight of that house, and he is African-American. I am absolutely sickened that this boy has to literally see this every day. I never cease to be amazed by how alive and well bigotry is.
Edited
SoWal Expert
jdarg, we live in a school district where the African-American/Caucasian ratio is very close to 50/50. It's unusual in that our part of the city has some of the most expensive homes in the area but is bordered by one of the most economically depressed cities. A house one street over from me sold recently, and one of the first things the new residents did after moving in was hang Confederate flags in their front windows. The first day I drove by the house, I literally stopped the car in disbelief. My oldest son's best friend lives within sight of that house, and he is African-American. I am absolutely sickened that this boy has to literally see this every day. I never cease to be amazed by how alive and well bigotry is.
:shock: Wow. They sound super classy. Maybe you should take them some cookies and welcome them to the neighborhood. (Don't forget to put Ex-Lax in the cookies
)
SoWal Insider
Symbolic or not, it is like a dog marking his tree, and he has to expect that there are bigger dogs in the neighborhood who are going to come by and pee higher on the tree.
Where's Kitty? Can we consider this the Gem of the Day?
Meow
Where's Kitty? Can we consider this the Gem of the Day?
...the Gem of the Day can be picked by anyone with good taste! 
pea...remember the 60 Minutes expose on Belleville?
SoWal Insider
jdarg, we live in a school district where the African-American/Caucasian ratio is very close to 50/50. It's unusual in that our part of the city has some of the most expensive homes in the area but is bordered by one of the most economically depressed cities. A house one street over from me sold recently, and one of the first things the new residents did after moving in was hang Confederate flags in their front windows. The first day I drove by the house, I literally stopped the car in disbelief. My oldest son's best friend lives within sight of that house, and he is African-American. I am absolutely sickened that this boy has to literally see this every day. I never cease to be amazed by how alive and well bigotry is.
Someone in my neighborhood (which seems full of otherwise reasonable and nice people) has a confederate flag out front and a pineapple -- the universal symbol for "welcome" -- embossed on their front gate. :shock: I guess only certain people are welcome.
I listened to a wonderful speech this morning about fatherhood by Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. Even though he addressed racial demographics, his message was so universal I almost forgot he was black. Then during the Q&A session he started talking about what it's like to grow up as a black boy in America, and how when black parents teach their kids to drive, it is smart to give them a lesson in exactly how to act when pulled over by the cops. (It is safe to say most white parents would not think of this.) He described being black as "all the stuff you have to deal with growing up, and then there's this other stuff on top of it." I think for the first time, I really got it. There are enough people out there still prejudiced that being black (and I would say Hispanic too) means automatically "having to deal with other stuff." Things like this Jena 6 incident serve as a reminder of this.
Of course, if you are a young rich white good looking male you are also a potential victim of persecution (think Duke lacrosse players), because as Americans we love to tear people down. Judge judge judge, it's human nature, we all do it, but it stinks.
percy
pea...remember the 60 Minutes expose on Belleville?Yes, absolutely. A lousy way to get the proverbial 15 minutes.
Then during the Q&A session he started talking about what it's like to grow up as a black boy in America, and how when black parents teach their kids to drive, it is smart to give them a lesson in exactly how to act when pulled over by the cops. (It is safe to say most white parents would not think of this.) He described being black as "all the stuff you have to deal with growing up, and then there's this other stuff on top of it." I think for the first time, I really got it.Oh, TFT, that is amazing that you said this. I have a good friend (Caucasian) who adopted an African-American boy. When the movie "Crash" came out, she saw it and then put together a group of friends (all Caucasian women) to go see it and go out afterwards to discuss. She used that very example--she said she couldn't raise her black son the same way she raised her white daughters because different rules would apply to him; for example, she would have to instruct him how to act if ever pulled over by a white cop. It was interesting, almost all the women were aghast at and offended by what she said; their feeling was that lessons like this would continue to perpetuate racism in America. She said, as a mother, she was merely teaching her son lessons that would keep him safe. She has a great sense of humor and said, "The fact of the matter is, a white person in this area could ride down Main St. shooting a rifle out his window and possibly get pulled over. A black man obeying all the traffic laws could drive down the same street and risk getting pulled over. That's reality." I would love to hear Pitts' speech, and I know she would, too.
SoWal Expert
:shock: Wow. They sound super classy. Maybe you should take them some cookies and welcome them to the neighborhood. (Don't forget to put Ex-Lax in the cookiesOr better yet, suit them for lowering your property values.
SoWal Expert
Since the State Flags for FL, AL, MS, and up until recently, GA, all have variations of the Confederate Flag incorporated into them, I guess we cannot say much about some people hanging flags in their own homes. We hang variations of the same flag on our capital building, all while thinking that racism isn't alive and present in the good 'ole US of A. I will add that all of these variations, along with the Confederate Flag, stem from the Cross of Saint Andrew, who was the patron Saint of Scotland. The Cross is supposed to be the represent the freedom from tyranny. I find it interesting reading about how symbols change with time. The KKK quickly sided with Christianity to win people into their organization. Hitler stole the Swastika from the Hindus and totally changed the meaning for anyone knowing about Hitler. The KKK picked it up as well.
It is a crazy world out there.
It is a crazy world out there.
Edited
Beach LoverAuthor
al sharpton referred to jena as the "beginning of the 21st century civil rights movement". thoughts?
you can read about the rally here: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/20/jena.six/index.html
and the color of change campaign here:
http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/main.html
glad to see this thread (?) is still alive and kicking....
you can read about the rally here: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/20/jena.six/index.html
and the color of change campaign here:
http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/main.html
glad to see this thread (?) is still alive and kicking....
Beach Fanatic
al sharpton referred to jena as the "beginning of the 21st century civil rights movement". thoughts?
you can read about the rally here: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/20/jena.six/index.html
and the color of change campaign here:
http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/main.html
glad to see this thread (?) is still alive and kicking....
I did the color of change campaign and will send this to all my friends. Thank you Sarafunn.
SoWal Expert
Sarafunn makes her Mama Kitty proud!!
SoWal Expert
al sharpton referred to jena as the "beginning of the 21st century civil rights movement". thoughts?
Yes, my thoughts are that Al SharpTONGUE and Jesse JackSOME are crooks and enjoy stirring the pudding, though I liked SharpTONGUE's humor during the last Presidential election.
hmmmm......can't remember
al sharpton referred to jena as the "beginning of the 21st century civil rights movement". thoughts?
In theory, the civil rights are in place. We're just in the long, slow process of changing our culture. (Or waiting for the ignorant folk to either quit breeding or Darwin themselves out of society in their "Hey, watch this!" moments.)
Skunky
For those interested, there are about 400 photos of the event at this website. Look down the page at 'Jena pics' and click. Enjoy http://www.thenew995fm.com/main.html
http://www.thenew995fm.com/main.htmlMeow
sarafunn...what are your thoughts of Al Sharpton?
SoWal Expert
In theory, the civil rights are in place. We're just in the long, slow process of changing our culture. (Or waiting for the ignorant folk to either quit breeding or Darwin themselves out of society in their "Hey, watch this!" moments.)
I am constantly amazed at some of the things that come out of people's mouths! I'd love to think it is confined to older folks who predate the civil rights movement or downright ignorant people in the shallow end of the gene pool, but sadly that is not the case.
I just don't understand racism (and many other isms) - the best explanation people have come up with is that because of my age/where I was raised I was never really exposed to it/aware of it/looking for it.
Beach Fanatic
I am constantly amazed at some of the things that come out of people's mouths! I'd love to think it is confined to older folks who predate the civil rights movement or downright ignorant people in the shallow end of the gene pool, but sadly that is not the case.
I just don't understand racism (and many other isms) - the best explanation people have come up with is that because of my age/where I was raised I was never really exposed to it/aware of it/looking for it.
Racism is a lot like judging. We all have judged someone or something. I hope what comes out of this is more understanding.
Beach Fanatic
'Jena 6' teen's case to be heard in juvenile court,
Click here: 'Jena 6' teen's case to be heard in juvenile court, governor says - CNN.com
Click here: 'Jena 6' teen's case to be heard in juvenile court, governor says - CNN.com
Beach LoverAuthor
National Walkout Day. Monday, October 1st. 12:00 pm.
Beach Fanatic
percy
Your post is incorrect. I appreciate the fact that you are not a prejudice person but your fact's are innuendo's and things that were said which have no factual foundation.
The incident did not occur as you have posted, but I understand with all the misinformation about this case how you could of come to that conclusion.
You may want to look over your own post for your own inability to write a sentence in this particular post.factfinder, I am counting at least five attributed sources--including the venerable Chicago Tribune--in the original post. So, I'm a bit confused about what you are labeling "misinformation."
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/11/bell.jail/index.html
The link you provide as support for your point of view has no relevance to the Jena 6 case. One of the people involved in the incident has been jailed for probation violation relating to prior juvenile convictions. And...? Non sequiturs only weaken your arguments.
Skunky
Night of the Living 2BFabian
Checking your forum account
Please wait while we verify your forum account.