This video is a really good overview of what happened as a basis for anyone reading this blog to learn some background information about what happened.
The Jena 6 story and case is so troubling and disturbing, I feel as though a lot of people who wouldn’t stand up for the Jena 6 guys especially for Mychal Bell are narrow minded and seem to forget the basics. #1. It was a high school fight, they happen all the time. #2. They hung 3 nooses from the tree. #3. Attempted murder on a guy who was released within 3 hours, then attended a school event afterwards. #4. Justin Barker was saying racial slurs before the fight and #5. All the other racist events leading up to the schoolyard fight. There were so many points that seemed to be insignificant when maybe they should be looked at again.
On September 20, 2007, between 15,000 and 20,000 protesters marched on Jena in what was described as the "largest civil rights demonstration in years". These protesters were bused in from all around the United States, from L.A. to Washington D.C. It’s said that there was so much road traffic a lot of individuals left their vehicles on the roads and continued by foot to support in the march. A lot of important individuals attended and helped fund this protest; this shows just how powerful these groups of protesters were.
Without the supporters of the Jena 6 students, these boys may still be in prison. The supporters of these boys rallied together to bring awareness to the unfairness of this case. None of them should have ever been charged as adults, or charged with attempt of murder. Schoolyard fights happen, I’d say from experience at least once every year. With racial tensions building of course it was bound to be a bad fight. I think the supporters had a right to say it was a racist case; this case was a perfect example of social injustice. 
However unlike most social injustice cases this one seems to have a happy ending of a sort. Bell went on after getting out of prison to continue crime, and also an accused attempt to suicide however no one knows for sure the story. Now he is enrolled in school and trying to get his life back on track, he wishes to get a college football scholarship.
Although Bell may not seem to have made the best choices, at the time he was unfairly tried and that is the fight for social justice. You can’t just say since someone has a past of doing something they are going to do it again because people do change. The reason this case became so big and got so much support was because of its visibility.
I would say this is a video of justice finally served, unless you look at the terrible comments left under the post. I guess it’s sad but true to say some people will never change. This is also an image of injustice, with the majority of the viewers only knowing one side of the story and only caring to know one side of the story.
What are the connections between Jena 6 and Katrina? What lessons are evident in both moments of injustice?
ReplyDeleteThe connection between Jena 6 and Katrina would be how the situations were handled. Racism obviously played a huge part in both cases. For the Jena 6 case if they were white kids, they would have never been charged with attempt of murder. The schoolyard fight would have never made the news if it was white kids who beat up an individual of color. As for Katrina, I feel like the government, both state and federal didn’t do enough. It was almost as if the poor individuals weren’t good enough to waste time and money on saying because they aren’t bettering society or because they are worthy enough. Both of these situations had major social injustices, at least for Jena 6 I feel the most justice that could come from it has. While the Katrina victims are still waiting for an ounce of their humanity back.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it is extremely saddening to know if these were white citizens more than likely nothing would have happened to them, it’s also very comforting to think about how America has changed. As you said, the main reason the Jena 6 aren’t still in prison now is because of all of the protestors, and people standing up for what is right. There are still many people in America that are racist, but the number is substantially less considering what it was one hundred years ago. I don’t think racism will ever completely come to an end, however the amount of racist people seems to be declining each year. That’s always something to be proud of.
ReplyDeleteThere is obviously still racism around. There are mixed messages sent out not just to the victims, but to the community. Suspending the boys was just not good enough. And I’m sure others would agree so, as well. The kid who was beat up by a group of black students was “lifeless.” But he ended up going to a school event that night! And the boys were charged with 2nd degree attempted murder! It was only a fight. If it was the other way around, white students assaulting a black student, it would not be the same situation.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lot of good content here and it really addressing the issues regarding the Jena 6 story. Jena really shows how some places in America have still not changed old attitudes of racism and hate. This could also be looked at in terms of the civil rights movements as more of a modern version of it. Essentially the struggle for civil rights is not going to end anytime soon, but when fights like the fight for the Jena Six boys are executed we can come closer and closer to a society of equality. Good post I enjoyed it!
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