http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/school_fight;_ylt=Alngb.oEZc7MbkQi7zLVTQpsaMYA

3 white teens hung nooses from a tree on school grounds, and were suspended.
6 black teenagers beat the crap out of a white classmate, and they are sent to jail.

Thoughts?

Sounds okay to me.

But according to Al Sharpton, that's racism....

The feeling I get from the whole story is that the black community either wants the 3 white kids in jail too, or they don't want the black kids charged with anything.
I've seen people knocked unconscious before.
Unless you know what to look for, they can appear dead.
Attempted murder isn't too strong in this case, I think.

Being suspended from college isn't anything to sneeze about. I don't know what the laws are there but if a law was broken for hanging a noose on a tree then they should have been charged.

However, beating the crap out of someone? That's definitely against the law and regardless of the provoker it's against the law and the offenders should be punished.

I think what Sharpton is doing though is dispecable he is not a good leader for Black Americans he teaches more hate than anything.

Oh feh nevermind I thought this was college not high school.

EDIT....

I don't understand the problem here? What am I missing that makes this about race?

District Attorney Reed Walters stressed on Wednesday that race had nothing to do with the charges in Jena.

Walters said he didn't charge the white students accused of hanging the nooses because he could find no Louisiana law under which they could be charged. In the beating case, he said, four of the defendants were of adult age under Louisiana law and the only juvenile charged as an adult, Mychal Bell, had a prior criminal record.

I was first outraged with the black community and Al Sharpton for this, but now i understand...

The fight was fueled by weeks of racisim towards the black students at the school, including the nooses, spitting and shit talking...

The people that were convicted of attacking the white student are being treated like adults and getting 10-15 years in prison, and the white kids just got suspended for the noose thing, even though it basically poured the fuel on the fire...

From what i now understand, they want a more lenient punishment for the "kids" and a bit harsher for the white kids who started it basically.

If you see it like that, it makes a bit more sense. They still think the black kids should be punished. just not 15 friggin years for a school fight.

I don't understand the problem here? What am I missing that makes this about race?



I know that a white kid pulled out a shotgun and had it pointed at a black kid in one of the school incidents and a black kid grabbed the shotgun away from the white kid and the black kid was charged with theft of the gun...go figure.

I am really glad to see that this case had generated so much national attention. The racism in this area is still rampant, and having some national exposure may not necessarily cure the ills, but will certainly focus some long-needed attention on what the black population has been enduring. The civil rights marches and resulting legislation only opened doors; the underlying problems were not solved, but instead simply sugarcoated over.

The sad thing is, even if the whites down in that area find a way to live happily with the black population, they will more than likely simply switch their animosity to the Mexican immigrants, and then maybe the Asian or middle-eastern. Folks that suppress their own inadequacies and insecurities by finding another group to feel superior to will always make sure to have that focus for their hate available.

What is happening in Jena is a good thing, both for the area and the country as a whole. We have been complacent for too long, thinking we had "fixed" the race problem in this country.

I don't understand the problem here? What am I missing that makes this about race?The history of racial confrontation at the school. The tree that had nooses strung from it? A tree that "traditionally" only white kids sat under. This school, the kids attending it, are living 50 years in the past.

From a faculty member i believe =)


I'm not even sure how to start this post, as I joined
this site particularly to respond to this thread. I
decided that it was time that there was a dose of the
facts.

Once upon a time, a school assembly was held to
discuss dress codes at Jena High School. An assembly
was held for the boys, and one for the girls, as the
dress codes do have some differences. As a joke during
the boys' assembly, a black boy, who is known to
always joke around, asked the principal, "can we sit
under the tree." There are no boundaries as to where
anyone can or cannot sit at the school. That tree was
a twig when I went there. It grows right smack in the
middle of the school square. Kids tend to congregate
in areas with their friends. Some congregate under the
tree, on the benches, around the "casket," and other
areas of the school. Blacks and whites are welcome at
any one of those locales. People tend to congregate
where they feel comfortable. That usually is where the
majority of their friends are. However, there is
nothing saying that they cannot go elsewhere. Same is
the case here.

The square at Jena High School has been known for the
center of school spirit and/or pranks for many years.
I've seen everything from "funerals" of opponent
football teams to the tree and surrounding area
covered with toilet tissue. Jena High School is known
for themed activities surrounding football games. This
particular week, JHS was playing a team in which the
mascot is Cowboys! Hence, the nooses in the
tree..."hang'em high!" Not for one moment did the
thought of racism cross my mind or the majority of the
others. It was football season. We were playing the
cowboys. The kids, girls and boys, wore boots to
school and had a western themed pep rally! Nooses =
cowboys and horse theives in my world. Maybe I've
watched too much Gunsmoke, but racism was not even a
thought. Due to the reaction of ADULTS in the black
community, not the kids at the school, the boys were
suspended. The entire punishment for those boys was
never published because of the confidentiality of the
issue. However, the boys were suspended. They and
their families were required to go to counseling. The
boys had hours of community service. The boys and
their families continue to receive threatening phone
calls, but yet no one has addressed that issue.

In the wee hours of a Thursday morning, arsonists set
fire to Jena High School. The main building burned.
Blacks and whites, alike, wiped tears as their Alma
Mater was for the most part gone! Nothing has been
proven to be related to the noose incident or any
other racially motivated activities.

The weekend after the school burned, a private party
was held in Jena. Invited guests were black and white.
However, some uninvited guests showed up at the party
and wanted to come in. A fight ensued between a white
boy and a black boy. This fueled fights that took
place over the weekend.

A white young man was leaving from a convenience store
that is located on the outskirts of town. As he was
leaving, black boys "jumped" him. He did have a gun in
his truck, as do many of the males that hunt in this
part of the world. When he went to get his gun, the
black boys took the gun from him. Police were called.
Black boys were arrested for stealing the gun and
attacking him. He was not involved at the incident at
the party, nor was he even at the party.

The following Monday, the kids returned to JHS, the
first day after the fire. Emotions were still askew
due to the fire. Everything that was "normal" was not
"normal" any more. There was no intercom system.
Classes were moved all over the remaining part of the
school. It was chaos, but controlled for the most
part.

The students stayed in the gym area during their lunch
break. When the bell rang for them to head back to
class, one of the "Jena six," cornered a freshmen
white boy in the lobby of the gym. He was trying to
get the boy to fight him. The freshmen boy was clad in
blue jeans and red wing boots, hence the typical "red
neck." Another black boy, the very SAME one that asked
about sitting under the tree, pulled one of the "Jena
six" away from the boy and told him that there would
be none of that fighting there.

However, that wasn't enough for same boy. As the
students were returning to class, same "Jena Six" boy,
pulled the hood of his sweatshirt up over his head and
pushed the victim down into a concrete wall. When the
boy hit the concrete, he was knocked unconscious. It
was at this time, that five other boys, joined in and
continued to stomp and kick the boy as he lay
unconscious on the ground. Guess what...the SAME boy
that asked can we sit under the tree, was doing
everything that he could to pull them off of the
victim. The color of his skin is also black! A friend
of the victims managed to lay over the victim until
teachers could get there to break the fight up.
Remember, there was no intercom system, no way to call
for help! The victim was unconscious when he the
ambulance arrived. Hospital records will verify that.
Thank God, he ended up not being hurt any worse than
he was.

On same night of the incidence, the junior class had
their ring ceremony at a local church since the
auditorium of the school was burned. The victim was a
junior and was able to attend the ceremony. His face
was swollen and bruised, but yet he was able to walk
up and get his ring. The audience applauded as his Mom
placed the ring on his finger. One of the Jena six,
was also at this ring ceremony the same night.

So the question that many are asking is was he hurt
badly enough for the "Jena Six" to be charged with
attempted murder? I, for one, am not sure of exactly
what the statutes or guidelines are for determining
charges. However, the extent of one's injuries does
not have a thing to do with that. Think about it, one
could shoot at someone and miss, and never harm a hair
on their head. That's just something to think about.

Oh by the way, since there's already one thing to
think about, here is yet another. Think about the
"black" girl that was consoled by her "white" friends
the day after the fight. She was having to be consoled
because some of the blacks, the color of her own skin,
were threatening her, stating that she was the one
that turned them in. Ask the media to find that girl
and her Mom. There just may be a different twist on
everything.

This is an unfortunate situation for everyone
involved, the kids, their families, the school, and
the community. The community has come together on more
than one occasion with prayer meetings for unity and
harmony in the community. There are consequences for
behaviors. I hope that you will join with us in
praying for consequences to be just.

The moral of this whole story is, do not believe
everything that you here in the media. Remember, there
is more than one side of the story. Unfortunately, the
side that is most news worthy is the one that makes
the news.

JHS was playing a team in which the
mascot is Cowboys! Hence, the nooses in the
tree..."hang'em high!" Not for one moment did the
thought of racism cross my mind or the majority of the
others. It was football season. We were playing the
cowboys. The kids, girls and boys, wore boots to
school and had a western themed pep rally! Nooses =
cowboys and horse theives in my world. I find this utterly bizarre. Nooses hung from trees in the deep south has something to do with cowboys? Strains plausibility.

I know, I live a couple of hours from Jena. That part of the story is weak indeed. But if you live down here you see that this has been blown way out of proportion. It isnt uncommon for different groups of kids to congregate at different areas of the campus down here. There is no set underground rule that blacks don't belong at this area and vice versa. To be honest, generally a black person amongst the group of white kids is a lot more common and far more safe than a lone white kid meandering amongst a large group of black kids.


If the story about the gun is true, I would have grabbed my gun as well! I said "if" because I wasn't there.

Hanging the nooses, racially or not, was indeed horribly inflammatory and wrong, but it is simply still harrassment, whereas a beating is a felony....

Thanks for the truth Ranei! Glad to have someone from the area...its like anything else..media, retards, ect making a huge deal out of nothing. White kids being dipshits and black kids getting pissed, stirred into a brawl fight. Sounds much like a daily happenings in the Milwaukee public school system, only difference usually someone dies here.

I find this utterly bizarre. Nooses hung from trees in the deep south has something to do with cowboys? Strains plausibility.

I believe that cowboys were actually hanging nooses from trees as sort of a "comfort" thing, much like cream of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich thing, the comfort of instant justice.

That is probably what is being referred to in the post. I know when I hang a noose from the tree in my yard it often takes me back in the Mississippi Delta playing jokes on the local black population, we'd tell them it was either becoming gator food or wearing the noose....boy would we have fun, amazing how fast they could run through hip deep water.

Ranei, where did you get that post from, out of curiousity?

Thanks for the truth Ranei! You're very quick to completely accept this unsourced opinion as "truth."

Hell its the internet, its got to be true!

You totally got me there. ;)

JHS was playing a team in which the
mascot is Cowboys! Hence, the nooses in the
tree..."hang'em high!"

Jena Football schedule:
<-----Nooses hung from tree at beginning of school year
Avoyelles Mustangs W 48-3 9/1/06
Buckeye Panthers W 48-0 9/8/06
Block Bears W 63-6 9/15/06
Pine Prairie Panthers W 52-12 9/22/06
Vidalia Mighty Vikings W 40-14 9/29/06
Winnfield Tigers W 38-18 10/6/06
Richwood Rams L 6-27 10/13/06
Wossman Wildcats L 6-36 10/20/06
Caldwell Parish Spartans W 12-9 10/27/06
Rayville Hornets L 48-60 11/3/06

<-----School burns on 11/30/06

Which one of these schools has a Cowboy mascot? Answer, NONE.

Sorry, but this "trusted faculty member's" story is full of holes.

White person pulls a gun on black kids ( even if provoked, which there is doubt )? No charges ( except for the theft charge the black kid got ).
Several white kids jump a black kid at a party? No charges
Several black kids jump a white kid? Second Degree Murder!

This isn't blown out of proportion if you consider 22 years for a school yard scuffle to be the "norm".

Black boys were arrested for stealing the gun and
attacking him. He was not involved at the incident at
the party, nor was he even at the party.

I have seen different accounts, Robert Bailey, the black kid who had words outside the store with the white kid that pulled the gun was the kid that was jumped at the party the night before. Bailey was the one charged with theft among other charges for disarming the white kid. He was most definately involved in both cases. I do not have the "victim" of the theft's name, but I have read multiple reports that he was one of the jumpers from the party.

I believe in punishment for the school fight, but something that actually fits what happened. In my day, school suspesions were in order, not murder charges. At the very least, let's see equal application of the law.

I'm just thankful Al Sharpton is there to help clear this mess up.

Sorry, but this "trusted faculty member's" story is full of holes.


Ya think?

Personally I would have broken the prick's neck who had done the noose thing.
I mean.. racism, that's so '60s.

Personally I would have broken the prick's neck who had done the noose thing.
I mean.. racism, that's so '60s.

So is violence, apparently.....

I honestly had no idea about the back history with this till I read more. I think all parties should be held responsible for actions regardless of race.

Personally I would have broken the prick's neck who had done the noose thing.
I mean.. racism, that's so '60s.


As I was reminded by Leonard Pitts' editorial today, it was 50 years ago this week (1957) that the 101st Airborne were called on to escort nine black children past a crowd of angry, threatening white adults into their school in Little Rock, Ark.

Racism is alive and well, on both sides of the argument. Trying a 17 year old black youth involved in the gang-stomping of a white youth as an adult in front of an all-white jury definitely smacks of the methods used 50 years ago. But that is not to say that he should not have been tried, because he did take part in an assault that left a young man seriously injured; no matter the provocation, the attack on the white victim by a group of black students cannot be justified and must be dealt with and consequences given.

But please, can someone explain to me how Jesse Jackson sticking his face in front of cameras and saying Obama is "acting white" because he is not reacting strongly enough regarding the situation can in any way be considered helpful to anyone's cause, rather than simply racist?

We have been dealing with these issues in one way or another since 1865. Maybe my grandchildren's kids will no longer be noticing skin tones when they make their friends. One can only hope. But seriously, Halo.....to say that is so 60's, is to ignore that there are still problems with race in your country as well.

Well yeah, not racism per se. That was more of a forum-line.

I meant more the whole noose from a tree thing. I mean christ, read a book.

Interesting read....


http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1979/2/79.02.04.x.html

Contrary to present-day popular conception, lynching was not a crime committed exclusively against Black people. During the nineteenth century a significant minority of the lynching victims were white. Between the 1830s and the 1850s the majority of those lynched in the United States were whites.

Must be the "cowboys and horse thieves" from the writer in RaneiBard's post on page 1.

Reminds me of that Pace picante commercial, where when the cowboys learn the picante the cookie served is from New York City.
One of them says "Get a rope!"
I thought of them hanging horse thieves (or other undesirables), not the fact that lynchings happened against blacks.
I guess it just depends on your perspective....

Contrary to present-day popular conception, lynching was not a crime committed exclusively against Black people. During the nineteenth century a significant minority of the lynching victims were white. Between the 1830s and the 1850s the majority of those lynched in the United States were whites.


I think that lynching NOT being a crime commited only against blacks can go without saying. That being said it was how the lynching was applied that kind of made it all not so fun, also lynching blacks held quite a bit of popularity through a majority of the 20th century.

Cowboy cuts fence and steals 200 head of cattle, gets caught and is lynched. 17 year old black kid looks at white woman and whistles, gets caught and gets severely beaten, dragged behind car and lynched....hmmmm....a bit severe for an incident not even considered criminal?

I think that lynching NOT being a crime commited only against blacks can go without saying. That being said it was how the lynching was applied that kind of made it all not so fun, also lynching blacks held quite a bit of popularity through a majority of the 20th century.

Cowboy cuts fence and steals 200 head of cattle, gets caught and is lynched. 17 year old black kid looks at white woman and whistles, gets caught and gets severely beaten, dragged behind car and lynched....hmmmm....a bit severe for an incident not even considered criminal?

Actually, even less of a provocation resulted in lynchings. Homesteading a piece of land and share-cropping, was enough reason. Engaging in behavior that would put one on equal footing with the white populace was just cause to fear a visit in the night. Vastly different from the criminal activities most of the white hanging victims had engaged in, although there were also white victims who died due to nothing more substantial than hate, I am sure.

In addition, I am not sure that the white hanging victims were left to swing as bird food, and as a warning, as was common with the black victims. Of course, they did leave Clint Eastwood hanging, and rode off, so ya never know.

The rest of the paper goes on to explain that the whites thought that most effective means to control the newly freed black population in the south was through fear.
Lynching then took on a whole new meaning from the 1850's on through 1950: that of being applied almost exclusively to the black population. Before that, it seems to have been evenly applied, regardless of race.
Perhaps, as I said, the nooses were a perspective thing: Abhorrent to the African American populace, while innocuous to the Caucasion.

David Duke and white supremacists respond (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-jena25_websep25,0,7139244,full.story?coll=chi_tab0 1_layout) to the Jena 6 issue in their usual thoughtful, restrained, "drag them out of their homes" fashion.

Well, here's a comment from a non-Media source on the whole thing:
http://isteve.blogspot.com/2007/09/jena.html

Peripheral to all this, it's the 50th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine being admitted to Central High School. Vanity Fair has an article here (http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/09/littlerock200709?printable=true&currentPage=all) that focuses on Elisabeth Eckford. It's an excellent write-up, though quite long. I do recommend the pictures, however.

Central High School

Hail to the Old Gold, Hail to the Black!

( yea, yea, really generic fight song )