The Jena 6

I have to admit that I have not been following the Jena Six story until recently and only found out about it via another blog site. I guess that's what's so great about having so many blogs out there. The case of the Jena 6 is an interesting one and there are a number of stories some of which I have presented here. There are two things that make this case interesting to me and they are: 1) Why was there a "white tree" in the first place? and 2) Why did the district attorney make the statement, "I can end your lives with a stroke of a pen?" Lets take these one at a time.

The fact that there was a "white tree" suggests to me that there was and is something intrinsically wrong with the school's administration. Why would they allow something like this to take place? At least it should have been condemned by the administration and at worse the tree should have been cut down before all of this happened. There is no white area or black area in a school? Yes, the argument could be made that kids create their own areas but they don't claim them as white or colored areas.

The DA, Reed Walters, seems to have a problem with power and probably other issues. How do you make comments like this one to young people? As John McWhorter states in his article here, "And trying to leave five teenagers behind bars for thirty years for beating a guy up." It seems a bit extreme to me and obviously to many especially since the victim was up and out that night attending an awards ceremony. Please, don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating violence in any form but something smells fishy here. Is the DA up for re-election? Is this the case that is going to place his name in nomination for a judgeship? What is it?

The case has caught fire and protesters took to the streets, namely those in Jena, yesterday to protest the treatment of these young people. From all accounts the march was peaceful but for the black panthers advocating otherwise as reported here which brought out the police in droves. That may have worked in the 60's but they were ignored as folks packed to leave. It sounds to me like the march was more of a get together than a throw back to the 60's civil rights movement. Although Jesse Jackson wanted it to be and as much and stole Dr. King's words as seen here. Whatever happens I hope this does not become another reason to hate whitey. This cannot be so especially when it involves young people. Maybe if the DA was replaced or was ordered to respond to specific questions it would help the healing process in the town and in the hearts of the young people involved. I know this sounds polly annish but sometimes it works.