2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial
Jena shows racist attitudes are still prevalent in south
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
The small town of Jena, La. has been in the news recently due to the disturbing racial intolerance that has surfaced in its schools.
The incidents started with a group of black students trying to cross the invisible line separating the white kids from the black in this rural school's courtyard. The students were met with three hangman's nooses hung from the tree. The kids responsible for hanging the ropes were suspended for three days.
"Adolescents play pranks," said superintendent Roy Breithaupt. "I don't think it was a threat against anybody."
It might not have been a threat, but it spurred more hate crimes by both white and African American students.
According to the 2000 census, Jena has a population of 2,971. The town is 85.6 percent white and only 12 percent African American.
Mayor Murphy McMillan said after the incidents that "Race is not a major local issue. It's not a factor in the local people's lives." Yet others in the community have said not much has changed in the deep south in regard to race except that segregation isn't legal.
A black student was assaulted when he showed up to an all-white party - the kid who assaulted him was charged with simple assault.
Six African American students jumped a white student as he was coming out of the school gym. Even though the teen wasn't seriously hurt, the six black students were expelled and charged with attempted second-degree murder.
Hey America, let's keep our blinders on. Let's pretend we are all given equal opportunities, that racial lines have been erased and that our kids are learning respect and tolerance.
Let's continue to allow Mayor McMillan, who can see evidence right in front of him countering his claim that "Race is not a major local issue," to take no responsibility for the actions of the constituents of his town.
Where is the check and balances protecting the minority in Jena? Was it the superintendant who let the three white kids off with a three-day suspension, overruling the original expulsion? Or perhaps the DA who increased the six students' charges from aggravated assault to attempted second-degree murder?
Perhaps the saddest part of this story is that the town of Jena is more likely than not not alone, and injustices such as these are happening in small towns and cities across the south and throughout the country.
Hopefully, the media spotlight will force those who have acted poorly to shape up or face the wrath of an outraged nation.
The incidents started with a group of black students trying to cross the invisible line separating the white kids from the black in this rural school's courtyard. The students were met with three hangman's nooses hung from the tree. The kids responsible for hanging the ropes were suspended for three days.
"Adolescents play pranks," said superintendent Roy Breithaupt. "I don't think it was a threat against anybody."
It might not have been a threat, but it spurred more hate crimes by both white and African American students.
According to the 2000 census, Jena has a population of 2,971. The town is 85.6 percent white and only 12 percent African American.
Mayor Murphy McMillan said after the incidents that "Race is not a major local issue. It's not a factor in the local people's lives." Yet others in the community have said not much has changed in the deep south in regard to race except that segregation isn't legal.
A black student was assaulted when he showed up to an all-white party - the kid who assaulted him was charged with simple assault.
Six African American students jumped a white student as he was coming out of the school gym. Even though the teen wasn't seriously hurt, the six black students were expelled and charged with attempted second-degree murder.
Hey America, let's keep our blinders on. Let's pretend we are all given equal opportunities, that racial lines have been erased and that our kids are learning respect and tolerance.
Let's continue to allow Mayor McMillan, who can see evidence right in front of him countering his claim that "Race is not a major local issue," to take no responsibility for the actions of the constituents of his town.
Where is the check and balances protecting the minority in Jena? Was it the superintendant who let the three white kids off with a three-day suspension, overruling the original expulsion? Or perhaps the DA who increased the six students' charges from aggravated assault to attempted second-degree murder?
Perhaps the saddest part of this story is that the town of Jena is more likely than not not alone, and injustices such as these are happening in small towns and cities across the south and throughout the country.
Hopefully, the media spotlight will force those who have acted poorly to shape up or face the wrath of an outraged nation.