If all the Jena 6 kids had been white...?

Question

What if all of the kids involved in the Jena 6 situation were white? What if the beatings, nooses, and all that stuff had still happened, but the only difference was their color of skin?

Don't say it wouldn't happen. It could happen. Kids get into fights all the time.

What would Al Sharpton and the rest of the "black community" have to say about the case?

Or how about if all of the kids involved had been black? Don't say it would not happen. You KNOW it could. I've heard many times before of the "black community" trying to stop "black on black crime". It's very real and it does happen.

What would Al Sharpton have to say?

Does the color of one's skin or the motivation behind committing a crime change the fact that a crime was committed? Does the reasons behind one's hatred change the fact of the actions he took?

drawman0... , Thanks. I hadn't even noticed I had posted this in the wrong section.

Answer 1

I agree with you 130% and I'm black. No, the color of one's skin or the motivation behind does not change the fact that a crime was committed and no, the reasons behind one's hatred does not change the fact of the actions he took.

My heart went out to the students involved in the Jena 6 not because the were black but because of the punishment they received, which I believed was unfair. Mychal Bell received 15 or so years of prison for a fight and the only proof of a weapon the prosecutors had was a tennis shoe??? What's that all about?? That ruling was overturned, but had Bell been white and had he gotten into a fight with another white student would he have received the same sentence or would he have been tried at all?? Kids get into fights all the time, how many times are they tried for attempted murder.

The fact of the matter is I'm kind of disappointed that in this day and age race is still in issue, period.

Answer 2

If the Jena 6 kids had been white then this would not have gained media attention, there wouldn't be thousands of visitors marching and Al and Jesse would not make any comments. I site the Christian/Newsome Murders and the Witchita Murders as an example to support my opinion. These crimes were carried out by 3 or more black people against white people. The crimes were grotesque with bleach being poured down the female victims throat to erase DNA and mutilation, etc. But, have you heard about these crimes in the media?? Watched it on Dateline? Larry King? Nancy Grace? 20/20? NO. The media has stayed away from these crimes against white kids by black kids to avoid race riots. To have equality in our society crimes committed by either race need the same exposure and media attention.

Answer 3

I would like to think that the justice system would have treated the case the same no matter what the skin color of the victim or perpetrators. Skin color does not change the fact that a crime has been commited and the justice system should see that. The thing about hatred...I really could not imagine being so enflamed over any issue that I would take part in "jumping on"/stomping a single person.

Answer 4

I think the justice system will be colorblind. I hope the justice system will be colorblind. I really feel that this is just a political move on the part of the SCLC to remove the stigma they received after supporting Michael Vick. I think no matter what the color the kids would be in jail. If you resort to violent illegal measures then those measures will be brought back to you. Is there any real proof that the kid who was beat up put up the nooses? If he did, weren't there other steps the Jena 6 could of taken. I went to high school- granted a long time ago- and had horrible things done..but I did not resort to violence. How can one really defend it.

Answer 5

I see what you're saying and I agree, we should be looking at the crimes at hand rather than the color, socio-economic status, religion or whatever of the perpetrators. That being said, this is America and people are ignorant, hateful and stupid. There is always going to be someone who stands up to stir the pot and there's always going to be someone who reacts when their buttons are pushed instead of just walking away. After that, things fall apart and fingers get pointed and people stand around claiming "you see, that's just how those people are." If I had a nickel for every person who told me what I think, what I feel or what I would do in a given situation predicated on arbitrary and capricious, race based assumptions, I would have Bill Gates money. Justice will never be blind because the eyes of justice are human eyes.

To everyone who keeps maintaining that offending someone doesn't give that person a right to exercise physical violence, you're absolutely right. BUT, if you don't start anything there won't be anything. If you purposely set out to get a reaction from someone, you do so with the understanding that you just might get what you asked for.

Answer 6

Intersting question. I live in a equaly mixed community, were all poor, and we all know just what society expects from us. If the kids were white there would have been no marches, no spokes persons, nada. When white people get into troubole were on our own unless were rich and famous. Dont get all pissed now people, im not racist, my kids mixed and you can tell hes a indian(oklahoma style) but it is true that if we had a al sharpton, he would be immidiately concidered a nazi/kkk guy. In my community our schools are good, they teach from pre school through high school that people all have feelings and you should not judge others or bully them. I dont understand why a school would let a long standing tradition of segragation go unchecked. I think that attempted murder was a waaay to harsh of a charge for the black kids, but maybe assult would be appropiate. The white kids needed to be prosocuted as well for there previoous jumpings and terrorism.. Yeah i said terrorism, those nooses were way out of line and they need to go through some serious dr phil style re training. as to what would Old Al say?? Prolly nothing since if they were white they would have never made the national news.

Answer 7

I feel that the black comunity has every right to feel anger and upset over the hanging of nooses in trees.

I do not feel that the black community has the right to assault others in retribution, and then complain and protest about inequality when they are arrested for commiting a crime.

The first thing the black community needs to do is stop teaching their children that the police cannot be trusted and shouldnt be called when a crime has occured. This is why this has escalated - because the black kids took vengence rather than calling the police/FBI for hate crimes.

Answer 8

You're right, it could happen as you stated. But the real question is what would the punishments be for those actions. The issue here is the unjust punishments the black kids got for their actions. Kids have fights all the time, it's rare that they are charged with attempted murder for their fights though. This is clearly a racial issue, I just think it's sad many are trying to ignore it as such. This whole thing started because the blacks tried to hang out with the whites under a "white" tree.

Answer 9

Well for one, black kids probably wouldn't hang nooses on a tree.
Two, I firmly believe, and I know I'm going to get a lot of haters on here, that racism on the part of blacks against whites or anyone else, is a knee jerk response to the generations upon generations of racism, discrimination, hate crimes, prejudices against they themselves.
Three, I think its very ignorant and selfish on the part of whites to a) assume all blacks subscribe to the ideals of the unofficial black leaders (Sharpton & Jackson). b) To simply ignore the accomplishments and struggles of both Sharpton & Jackson (Remember Jackson marched along side MLK), and to ignore what these two men's philosophies are. c) Ask black people to "get over it". WTF? It would be impossible for blacks to get over something that is still continuing to happen, though less overtly. d) Hanging a noose on a tree WAS AN ACTUAL THREAT to do violence against southern blacks in up until the 1970s. Read your history.
I could go on and on. But I seriously doubt you are actually reading my answer.

Answer 10

You make an excellent point. I think if all of the kids had been of the same race, it would probably never have made news outside of Louisiana. Personalities clash all the time but whenever there are Blacks & Whites involved, outcome the hatemongers & the rabble rousers, who I believe are more about getting their faces in the news than any real concern for those who were actually involved.