I've watched the tragedy in Jena, Louisiana, from a comfortable distance here in Iowa. By comfortable, here's what I mean. I've never been asked to openly confront racism. In many ways, I'm an armchair quarterback, safe behind the computer and not out there in the trenches fighting against the injustices that I so readily point out.
Today, while reading Jack and Jill Politics, I realized that my silence has been perceived as abandonment. The white blogosphere has not been up-in-arms about this incident like it has been on numerous other subjects, like Hurricane Katrina.
So, my apologies to the black blogging community for my silence. It was not intentional, but that does not make it right. Thanks for pointing out the disparity. I do have some thoughts that I'd like to share.
- Mychal Bell and the rest of the Jena 6 committed a violent crime. Regardless of the circumstances, I have not heard one black leader point out that what he did was wrong. Bell should not have been sentenced to 22 years in prison, and perhaps not tried as an adult, but he should be punished.
- The white kids at Jena High School responsible for hanging nooses from a tree should be charged with a hate crime in juvenille court and sentenced to the appropriate punishment.
- Please tell me that the black community has better spokespersons than Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. They both bring too much vitriol and baggage with them. In the absence of other strong black leaders, these two are the face of the black community to the world.
- Southern States Have a Reputation of Being Racist. NEWS FLASH! The reasons vary from location to location, but is it any wonder that the average education level of an adult in Louisiana is LESS than a high school education? Ignorance breeds racism. Period.
- Americans support integration and diversity. Americans don't support teenage racists who are allowed to run wild, encouraged by their parents in town who still have KKK chapters. Southern leaders, you have your work cut out for you.
I never understood why Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton were viewed as "the voice" of the Black community. To me and many others they are fools and we are tired of the mainstream media choosing them as our leaders. I also agree with your point that the boys on both sides of the controversy should be punished for their crimes and was wondering myself why no one is willing to admit that the six had done something wrong. When fighting against injustice, the Black community needs to be careful not to champion bad behavior. Like they say in PR, it's a very bad idea to try to put a clean shirt on a dirty body - full disclosure and introspective honesty would be the best way to win this fight.
Posted by: Kimberlee Morrison | September 24, 2007 5:31 PM | Permalink to Comment