The Jena Six: Racism in the South is Alive and Well
After he left, three nooses were hung from this so called "white's only tree". The high school is a predominately caucasian school. The Jena Six are a group of negro students who have now been charged with attempted murder of a caucasian student who was taunting them after things started getting "out of hand".
Those three nooses were put up under the "white's only tree" by a few boys from the high school. The boys were caught and were suspended for a few days. Soon, fights started breaking out at school, and things exploded from that point on. What is amazing is that the negro boy had actually asked permission from the school to sit under that "white's only tree" !
The boys in the Jena Six group were given sentences, some very severe. They boys' ages range from fifteen to seventeen. One boy received twenty two years as a jail sentence, given to him by an all caucasian jury. Their story did not receive much national attention for one reason or the other.
As a reult of all this, web sites have been set up with petitions saying "Free the Jena Six !". The town librarian says that Jena has no problem with racism. She is reportedly caucasian. She stated that she does not know what the nooses were supposed to mean. Eighty five per cent of the small town of Jena is caucasian.
The high school was nearly burnt down from all this activity. The main academic building was burnt in what remained as an unsolved fire.
Town officials later did the right thing when they cut down the "white's only tree". It was a step in the right direction, if only an external sign that peace is wanted. But the tree of justice needs to grow in the place of that old "white's only tree".
The external cutting down of a tree used as a sign of bigotry will not be enough to tame the evil intentions of some in Jena. The town of Jena has nearly lost a school, but moreso the respect of the rest of the country.
Are the Jena Six criminals or victims ? It is not a matter of " if " that caucasian student was taunting the negro students. It happened. It is not a matter of " if " that same caucasian student was beaten until he had a concussion. It happened. Jena is apparently caught up in a bout of racism, or it never left it from the past.
One way or the other discrimination from small minds is at the heart of the Jena Six affair. Can Jena learn from history, that people of different skin color can get along quite well? Why is it just the Southern States that have this problem ? Going about seven hundred miles northward, things like what happened in Jena do not happen any more. The southern states need to learn from the northern states to put away their hatred, stop the bigotry, and to get along in peace.
Published by Steve B
Seasoned internet cruiser/surfer with professional web design abilities now, and looking to advance into web programming. I am in a wonderful marriage with a wonderful woman. View profile
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18 Comments
Post a CommentRacism in America show's everyone all over the world that America is not as great as it appear to be. We have shed light on all races and nobody is getting anywhere. What do it take when the ball game goes the other way. It do not feel good being treated less than a human being. Unless you been on the othe side; don't treat other bad and be the type of person who think racism will get you somewhere. There is just as many white poor people just as it is just as many black people all living in the same world at the same time and in the same place. Face it; we all are not getting anywhere or being different to others because we think racism is the way. Racism tarnish you life as it has for thousands of years!
This is a sick country and it needs ALL of us to JOIN TOGETHER to cure it! Red and yellow black and white ALL are precious in His sight!
Well, Allison, I used "negro" and "caucasian" in place of African-American and ________ (What would go there in the blank ? ) because calling people by nationality is just that, *their* country. If you are an American citizen, you should be 100 per cent -American-. To place another country in front of the word -American- is to place another flag over the flag of the USA. Its not right.
Only in the South. I'm from Saginaw, Michigan, and a few years ago some off-duty cops kidnapped two Black male teens and held them captive. They said one of the kids had whistled at their wives. This stuff is everywhere. And it is not always so extreme. I did some research for an article, and there are all kinds of facts and figures to prove things are not fair. You take a black teen and a white teen accused of the EXACT SAME CRIME, the black kid is 40 percent more likely to be charged and twice as likely to be charged as an adult. There are a lot of facts at sentencingproject.org, The Sentencing Project. Thank you Steve B
I think them putting the black negro in jail is crucially very wrong. He was just defending himself. You would do the same too.........as far as racism goes there is still some of it going on in the world. There are much more important things in the world to worry about. There are people killin people for stupid stuff like this I think racisim is very wrong indeed. People are building up hate toward one another because of it. We need to stop it because ots tearring the world apart. And yes I am another black negro trying to make this world a better place. Im 14 and if I think that enough is enough then it is so.
Dianne, do some research!!! There are more Caucasions on welfare in America than Blacks. Furthermore, most of us BLACKS are against anyone putting demands on society that does not put forth any viable contribution. We all need to just stop the MADNESS. We are all human beings living in a society. None are better than the other, and none worse. The true situation to erase, eradicate racism would be for all mankind to love others, have compassion for others and treat others as we want to be treated "JUSTLY" and with respect.
This is a response to Dianne a "Teacher". I 'am so relieved that you never had to teach my son anything. It's very hard to get a good job when you're always denied decent employment. Just like it's extremely
difficult to have a safe an decent home when the banks,
realtors and possible neighbors don't want you there.
I wish every racist person could live in the other person's shoes, just for one month. Sadly thats all it would take.
All I've read is about the nooses, what did the six do? was it a beating of 6 on 1 for taunting?? I don't know the circumstances of the incident, but in the RED states I'm not surprised. Shame on the school, the town and the State for allowing the tree to stand, are we living in the 50's or what? However I do not excue the action of the six and their prosecution is probably justified, also rev. jackson and al sharpton are jokes and really need to hang it up. Racism is a sad thing but beatings of 6 on 1 is not the answer. These protesters are going to cause problems and this incident is not going away..."katrina" in a nre form... Good luck RED state, come east and get a clue!!
Well damn it!Finally something occurs where the public get to hear about the still-standing hate that is being displayed by not only the courts and the judges decisions, but by haters all around this world.Obviously this i a case of Racism and and the Supreme Court must feel obligated to to change the verdict, and if not there is something wrong.And yes, there is something wrong and we know that.People need to stop being so damn childish and use the other part of their brain for once.What the hell is RACISM for?Think of that question and do the research.
No matter where you go there will always be racism. No matter what you are. Like at my school. I am Indian and black and they say I shouldn't have pretty hair cause I'm black and I felt that was so wrong. No matter where you go someone is going to hate. Even your own color can go against you. You never know..