Racism, Hatred and Southern Justice are Alive and Well in Jena, Louisiana
"Outsiders need to stay away." That's what Billy Fowler of the school board in Jena, Louisiana, said about those who have raised concerns about the sentencing imposed on six African American boys -- ages 15-17 -- facing 100 years in prison.
Outsiders are always what people in the South have called those who challenge racism. But the story of Jena is not an outsider/insider story. It's a story about the worst tradition of what is known as Southern Justice. And like in the days of Jim Crow, it's a story where any shades of grey matter far less than black and white.
The issue by now has become well known: discussed on CNN and in the pages of USA Today. At Jena High School, a black student received permission from school authorities to sit underneath what was known as "the white tree" (remarkable that he felt he had to ask!) The next day, in retribution, three nooses hung from the branches, threats that they would soon be harvesting "strange fruit."
In protest black students collectively decided to sit under the tree. This a bold and beautiful act in the spirit of the best traditions of the '60s. They refused to comply with racist terror, even when those threats are as drastic as being lynched for simply not staying in your place.
And just like in the old South, the state made clear which side it was on. The town DA, Reid Walters, actually had the audacity to threaten only the black students, telling them that he had the power to ruin their lives with the stroke of his pen if they continued to make trouble.
Tensions escalated over the course of the semester. Two black students were beaten by a white student while another group of black students were threatened with a shotgun by a former classmate. Surprisingly, none of the white students or former students were punished in any way for these incidents.
But the following Monday when a white student was beaten up by six black classmates, they were immediately arrested and charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, charges that would put them in jail for 100 years without parole. The Jena 6 ranges in age from 15-17. The white student spent three hours in a hospital emergency room and required no further medical care.
Mychall Bell was the first student tried. He was represented by a public defender that called no witness, and was quickly convicted by an all-white jury, white judge, and now faces up to 22 years in prison.
Recently, in response to a public outcry about the case, prosecutors have announced that charges against Shaw and Jones had been reduced to lesser felonies. But the need to be heard on this continues. Two other students, Robert Bailey Jr. and Bryant Purvis, still await trial for attempted murder. Bell's conviction has been allowed to stand even though the judge ruled he had been improperly convicted in an adult court when he should have been tried as a juvenile. Shaw and Jones still face years in prison.
As Billy Hunter, the head of the National Basketball Player's association, said:
"The situation in Jena, Louisiana is abominable and rotten to the core. The actions of the District Attorney demonstrate that "racism and bigotry are live and well in Jena ." As a former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California and Assistant Chief in the S.F. District Attorney's Office, it is my opinion that the District Attorney's has severely overcharged the case revealing his bias against the six black Jena youth. His actions should serve as a wake-up call for all Americans who believe in an impartial and fair criminal justice system."
This is a case that should outrage any individual regardless of the color of their skin. When the justice system can be a direct symbol of racism, injustice and terror, the very moral fiber of our society is threatened. This is not a time for neutrality. Insiders and so-called outsiders will be marching in Jena on September 20th. We will also be circulating a statement in the world of sports for those who choose to support the efforts to have the charges against the Jena 6 dismissed. The simple truth is that when it comes to issues of basic justice, there are no such thing as "outsiders."
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"It's going to take quite a bit of concerted, sustained effort to deal with racism there, great work to promote logic and compassion, just as everywhere else."
ZenJu
Yeah, we called that the Civil Rights Movement. It went on for years. Still goes on. Began formally after the lynching of Emmitt Till. Medgar Evers, Goodman, Cheyney, Schwerner, Mrs. V. Liuzzo, four little girls in a Birmingham church. Churches and houses bombed.
In 1968, Memphis sanitation workers being treated like chattel slaves and some fool on this post had the nerve to talk about the Irish.
Please.
I certainly hope, you no longer consider me a fool.:)
Never forget Goodman and Schwerner were jewish white kids. Something for all you anti-semites out there to remember.
Louisiana, West Virginia..
Don't forget the Tennessee case (white couple murdered) or the Ford Heights, Illinois case. Seven blacks douse one white with gasoline and set him on fire laughing about it....No one race has a monopoly on thugs and assholes.
The trash in WVa were not charged with a hate crime because it would have carried a lesser sentence than the crime they were charged with. Read the whole article.
The injustice of this story aside. Your article implies that THE ENTIRE SOUTH is full of racist hatred and carry out this "Southern Justice." NOT TRUE and I resent all the people who ARE NOT FROM THE SOUTH making all these claims about how backwards and racist we are. NOT TRUE!!! Where did I see hate crimes against racially mixed couples? San Jose, California, NOT anywhere near the South. STOP PERPETUATING this stereotype. This is just as bad as stereotypes about lazy black people or limp-wristed gay men or tool-toting lesbians. STOP IT!
Shelby Foote put it more rationally than I'm inclined to - that (we) white Southerners have only ourselves to blame for allowing our culture and heritage to be stolen and perverted by white trash thugs and bullies.
Without even reading the article, just the lead, I have this to say:
"Outsiders are always what *people in the South* have called those who challenge racism."
This is a prejudiced statement.
It should read: "Outsiders are always what *racists in the South* have called those who challenge racism."
There are many, many people in the south who against racism and welcome it being pointed out.
Castigate the racists --not *people in the South*. Racism is alive and well in the northeast, the midwest and the western states.
amen.
Again and again we prove the devolution of our society. This is a major backslide to the antibellum south, and Jim Crow is alive and weel in Louisianna. And where is the federal justice department? Why it's sitting back to permit Dubya's own racist attitudes to play out in this debacle of justice.
Welcome to America!
Having lived in Louisiana, I can attest to the fact that racism is still very much alive there, whether in its "polite" expression in private or its more visible manifestation in public--and not always espoused solely by rednecks and trailer trash. To be fair, I have also seen positive change in the attitudes of some there as well. At the end of the day, what you're seeing in Jena is the classic cycle of ignorance leading to fear leading to anger and hatred, and once that energy is put in motion, it's addictive and blinding and so difficult to break. People talk AT each other, shout over each other, parrotting their own memorised lines and refusing to think. It's going to take quite a bit of concerted, sustained effort to deal with racism there, great work to promote logic and compassion, just as everywhere else. Look at how many anti-Semites come crawling out here at HuffPo whenever Israel is mentioned. I'm not very optimistic but we have to try.
Hmmm, not supporting Israel's endless drumbeat for war with Iran hardly makes someone an anti-semite.
this is an outrageouse miscareage of justice
the lack of equality in pursuing the cases against the white students, the lingering silence over the abuse by the white students all are making the frustration of the black students more than understandable. While violance of any kind is not acceptable - the charges of attempted murder and the long sentence have nothing to do with the reality,
the president was worried about scouter liby - i think maybee he should be worried about this youngster
I totally agree with you. I find it sad and disheartening Dr. King's vision is reverting backwards . Why? Partial blame can be "New Right Christiani
Also, some of the new Civil Rights leaders have to be faulted. Mainly for continuely playing the "race card". Which I see as the "victim card". When someone is reminded over and over and over again that they are being victimized. A message of hopelessness is sent. Seldom is a positive message of hope or what can be done to correct this.
I believe, Dr. King alluded to this, but in recent years not one of the powerful Civil Rights' leaders have encourged their people to look at the Irish immigrants of the 1800's and how they accomplished acceptance.
Naturally, the first argument will be that the Irish are a caucasian race. Therefore, their acceptance is automatic. Not so.
When these Irish Catholics came to America what they found were NINA (No Irish Need Apply) signs upon seeking employement. The Irish who were hired by New Orleans' slave owners, although paid a wage, were given jobs that could easily result in their deaths. The reason behind this was that these slave owners saw these Irish workers as expendable. Whereas the slave owners considered their slaves a commodity (something of use and value).
What did the Irish do? They eventually refused to be "victims" Instead of apologizing for themselves they united and took offense. . Solidarity was their strength, they helped each other survive city life. They prayed and drank together. Yet it was their faith and dogged determination to become Americans that led one newspaper to say, "The Irish have become more Americanized than the Americans.
Large numbers of immigrants led many Americans to consider the Irish an asset; their Americanization was now recognized. Despite subhuman living conditions, they clung to each other. With organization, they were able to gain acceptance.
Why are blacks targeted? Is the possible blacks accept their role as "VICTIM" ??? One is what believe and reflect that belief. REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM
The way this victim mentality is played out in black culture is really incredible, isn't it? I hate to be just another person complaining about the negative stereotypes that rap music infuses rather than defuses, but the whole black youth culture embraces the "outsider" appeal. Therein lies the problem, a conscious effort of anti assimilation. Which is totally acceptable and even commendable, but when it manifests itself in violence, there's the problem.
Before I get jumped on, I'd like to reiterate that in NO WAY do I think what's happening in Jena even resembles justice. It doesn't. Everyone responsible, from the school system to the DA, is completely wrong with their chosen course of action.
"I hate to be just another person complaining about the negative stereotypes that rap music infuses rather than defuses, but the whole black youth culture embraces the "outsider" appeal."
So the "whole black youth culture" embraces rap music and outsider appeal?
Stereotype much?
I guess since whites embrace things like punk rock, goth and industrial music, heavy metal, RAP MUSIC, rave music, jazz, all of "white youth culture" is equally guilty of the same need for "outsider appeal", correct?
Its always interesting to see black people get criticized for doing the same things that many whites do (listening to rap music, for example) and seeing that race is primarily only an issue when a black person is involved.
What do you know of Dr. King's vision? America murdered Dr. King for his vision.
How do you compare the experience of the Irish with that of the descendants of Africa. By the time the Irish arrived here in any numbers, we have already been here as captive slaves, subject to the worse kinds of deprivations.
Who do you think gave up jobs to every wave of European immigrants? (All of this is susceptible to rational proof. Check the numbers.)
We have been victimized for our entire time in this nation. This, despite all that we have given to this nation. The laws of this nation have restricted our access to everything, even simple justice.
The Dred Scott decision and Plessy v. Ferguson
legislated discrimination. "Justice" was often dispensed at the end of a rope, there are ten thousand documented lynchings of Black men, women and children.
Just now, murders of civil rights workers that occurred 40, 50 years ago are finally coming to light. My question is when does white America stand up for once and denounce the violence that generations of Black people have endured? When does white America stop voting against itself to keep niggers in check? Don't worry about our victimization, history has proven you incapable on that matter, check your own.
Why would you think that I have no knowledge of Dr. King's vision? I know this much "I have a dream that one day, a man (person) will be judged by the content of his character and not the color of his skin". I am very aware of Dred Scott and Plessy v Ferguson. I am equally aware of the atrocities that blacks have suffered since being forced to America. I am also aware that the Irish came here voluntarily whereas Africans did not. They were sold by their Chiefs, elders, etc. to the Europeans/Whites.
During the Civil Rights Movement of the 60's many white Americans stood up and marched arm and arm with whom they considered their black brothers and sisters.
Allow me to point out why I chose to use the Irish, (which I should have specified as the Irish Catholics) to parallel the plight of Blacks in America. Even as the boat was docking, these immigrants to America learned that life in America was going to be a battle for survival. Hundreds of runners, usually large greedy men, swarmed aboard the ship grabbing immigrants and their bags trying to force them to their favorite tenement house and then exact an outrageous fee for their services. As the poor immigrant had no means of moving on, they settled in the port of arrival. Almshouses were filled with these Irish immigrants. They begged on every street. One honest immigrant wrote home at the height of the potato famine exodus, "My master is a great tyrant, he treats me as badly as if I was a common Irishman." The writer further added, "Our position in America is one of shame and poverty." No group was considered lower than an Irishman in America during the 1850s. They were forced to live in cellars and shanties, partly because of poverty but also because they were considered bad for the neighborho
I'll continue next post.
I pray that you understand that my point was not to trivialize how much you've suffered and endured. My intent was to give you hope and to let you know that I have empathy for your pain. Historical
Oppression in any form is wrong and totally violates Jesus' message.
Final thought: You are right about the atrocities you've suffered. You have a choice, you can be right and hold onto that anger and let it eat you up like a cancer or you can be loving (Christ like) You're choice
Many Americans felt '"The Negro is black outside; the Irishman is black inside,"' claiming "they were part of a Papist conspiracy to bring down democratic institutio
America did not murder Dr. King. One person (or group) was responsible for that. Please stop painting us all with the same brush.
"My question is when does white America stand up for once and denounce the violence that generations of Black people have endured?"
Why is it that when certain white people are doing the best they can to stand up, you push them back down and tell them they are not standing up fast enough? Everyone who disagrees with you is not a racist.
I see one person after another on this board denouncing what is happening in Jena. I do not presume to know what race each of these posters is, but from the tone taken I would guess that a good number of them are white. Why is it that these people do not count for you?
Perhaps it is because "white America" is not standing up in unison? There is no "white America", we are not all of one mind.
People talk trash about Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson day in and day out...but this is what happens when people like them don't make things like this a national issue.
No media attention equals no justice.
nihilon, nihilon, nihilon, what have I always maintained to you.....Th
I hope you're right...al
Very true.
I'm glad someone finally mentioned this story on HuffPo! It really is an interesting debate, and please allow me to play devil's advocate for a moment but... the "Jena 6" as they are so called aren't totally vindicated just because their punishment didn't fit their crime. There was a pretty bad fight--trust me, when you end up in a hospital after a fight, it's bad. I've been in fights. I've gotten my butt handed to me pretty bad. But I've never gone to the hospital after it. Attempted murder? Overboard. But to regard the Jena 6 heroes for letting these racial tensions fester? I think not. The best thing these boys could have done would be to raise awareness about this case AS SOON AS THE NOOSE INCIDENT HAPPENED. The most misleading part about the details of this case is we hear the entire background story. We hear about the nooses, about the racial tensions..
There's definitely a problem here. A problem with the justice system in Louisiana, with the school system for not IMMEDIATELY EXPELLING those responsible for the noose incident (how is that not a death threat?) but there is also a burden on the black students in Jena to handle this situation correctly; and jumping a white kid, provoked or not, is not the way to go about doing that.
Hanging nooses is no way to go about anything. Is that symbolism lost on you? The burden is always on the Black students, you must have missed that part as well. Ever hear of self defense?
You're kindof missing my argument..
The burden is always on the black students. It's sad that they're held to a higher scrutiny. But that doesn't give them the right to attack another person, regardless of provocation.
I think self defense might be a little bit irrelevant, considering that there were 6 black kids who jumped 1 white kid.
Those nooses represented terroristic threats and the students who hung them should be charged under the appropriate statutes. Not sent home from school--charged with the crime they committed.
Frankly, I think the adults who taught these teens the symbolism behind those nooses and obviously encouraged this act should be charged with conspiracy.
Aren't you even a little curious why the HuffPost waited so long? Hope this is printed (LOL)
Outrageous. Simply outrageous.
Btw, is it just me, or are racial tensions escalating ?
"Btw, is it just me, or are racial tensions escalating ?"
They always do when the economy starts to tank. Plus we've had several decades of the republicans running on a platform of fear and biggotry, it makes it seem like it's OK, kind of mainstream if you will.
They are escalating. See my post directly above. I really don't think that it's my imagination. More and more people are openly racist, compared to just a few years ago.
I think it was Bill Maher who said to the South in one of his New Rules, "We've changed our minds. You can leave now."
(And yes, I know that this kind of thing is not representative of the whole South, but it sure seems to be much more of an endemic thing down there, although some of the police shenanigans in NYC come close.)
Having grown up in the North until the age of 22 (Michigan) and subsequently spending most of my adult life in the South (Texas and Louisiana), I have to agree. The racism that is unfortunately everywhere in America, including the Northern states, is somehow much more deeply ingrained here in the South. Sometimes it's very well disguised, but it is always here. And as I've said in a previous post, it is getting noticeably worse.
I believe that this is the first time that I have been initially out of words. I can't believe that something like this is still going on in this day in time. The school should be ashamed of themselves for allowing a "white tree" anyway. As I recall, it is illegal by federal offense to prevent anyone from enjoying anything that is supported by the government, so I believe that all of the school officials as well as that prosecutor should be brought to justice. This is an outrage! And if none of the white students were arrested and tried for hanging nooses and threatening black students with a shotgun, then these six boys shouldn't be punished either!
The people on Howard Streets and Wofford streets are not part of the Brightest and Best and people with talent and ability because they are black. That is what Doug Smith and Ralph Davenport are infurring by there legislation. Who decides who is brightest and best?
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