2008 Woodie Awards
There is no way to defend town's racist attitudes
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Letters to the Editor
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This article was meant to persuade people that this incredibly serious case is being blown out of proportion; ironically, it did just the opposite to me. The description of the case alone is enough to depict this article as worthless. I would first point out that the article claims that the media is portraying the town of Jena as racist when it is not.
It is hard for me to believe that a school hangout would be labeled as a "white tree" if the town, or at least some of it, was not racist. Racially identifying trees is enough proof for me to believe that Jena was stuck in a racist state of mind.
Another topic that persuaded me that racism is still a big issue in Jena involved the theft of a firearm. A white boy had possession of a gun and threatened Bailey, who was black. Bailey tried defending himself by wrestling away the gun. Bailey was then charged with theft of a firearm, second-degree robbery and disturbing the peace.
When a person's life is being threatened, it is their right to take action and defend themselves. In this situation, Bailey was defending himself from a gun that had the ability to take away his life. Do you believe the outcome would have been different if Bailey was white? Not only was this conviction racist, but it was in many ways unethical.
There is no doubt in my mind that the outcome of this case is solely based on race and discrimination against African Americans. School fights happen every day at schools all around the world. It is unreasonable to think that the school fight that took place in this case was attempted murder. Is the fist of a 16-year-old African-American boy capable of taking away someone's life? Is a gun in the arms of a white boy capable of taking away someone's life? Looking at it this way, it is obvious who is being portrayed as the victim. It is unjust to punish Bailey and disregard the danger of a gun or a noose. A hate crime is defined as a crime that is motivated by prejudice or intolerance towards a member of a gender, racial, religious or social group. Hanging nooses in a tree that was intended for only white people after black people sat under it was provoked by prejudice. Although violence did not take place, it left a violent and threatening message for all African Americans at the school. This was an act of hate and in no way a prank.
The six boys of Jena deserve justice and to be treated fairly, especially by the law. The outcome of the case was exclusively based on race, and not on fact. Although the commentary in our newspaper managed to obtain all important facts, I was not convinced that the stated interviews and concerns were reasonable.
Catrina Salama
Freshman, Psychology
It is hard for me to believe that a school hangout would be labeled as a "white tree" if the town, or at least some of it, was not racist. Racially identifying trees is enough proof for me to believe that Jena was stuck in a racist state of mind.
Another topic that persuaded me that racism is still a big issue in Jena involved the theft of a firearm. A white boy had possession of a gun and threatened Bailey, who was black. Bailey tried defending himself by wrestling away the gun. Bailey was then charged with theft of a firearm, second-degree robbery and disturbing the peace.
When a person's life is being threatened, it is their right to take action and defend themselves. In this situation, Bailey was defending himself from a gun that had the ability to take away his life. Do you believe the outcome would have been different if Bailey was white? Not only was this conviction racist, but it was in many ways unethical.
There is no doubt in my mind that the outcome of this case is solely based on race and discrimination against African Americans. School fights happen every day at schools all around the world. It is unreasonable to think that the school fight that took place in this case was attempted murder. Is the fist of a 16-year-old African-American boy capable of taking away someone's life? Is a gun in the arms of a white boy capable of taking away someone's life? Looking at it this way, it is obvious who is being portrayed as the victim. It is unjust to punish Bailey and disregard the danger of a gun or a noose. A hate crime is defined as a crime that is motivated by prejudice or intolerance towards a member of a gender, racial, religious or social group. Hanging nooses in a tree that was intended for only white people after black people sat under it was provoked by prejudice. Although violence did not take place, it left a violent and threatening message for all African Americans at the school. This was an act of hate and in no way a prank.
The six boys of Jena deserve justice and to be treated fairly, especially by the law. The outcome of the case was exclusively based on race, and not on fact. Although the commentary in our newspaper managed to obtain all important facts, I was not convinced that the stated interviews and concerns were reasonable.
Catrina Salama
Freshman, Psychology
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