Why is everybody making such a big deal about the case in Jena?

Question

Six kids ganged up on one kid and beat him. Why shouldn't they be punished?

Everybody acts like it is so racist that they were punished. If six white kids had ganged up on a black kid, then they would probably all have gotten the death penalty. There is so much reverse discrimination in this country. If society tries to punish a black person for legitimately doing something wrong, then they cry racism.

I know that some white kids hung nooses in a tree, and I agree that what they did was wrong, but they did not physically harm anybody. Imagine how frightening it would be to have six people attacking you. The kid attacked probably thought he was going to be killed. How does that even compare to a stupid, inappropriate demonstration?

Yes, the noose thing was wrong, but just because a few immature white teenagers in a small town decided to hang ropes in a tree doesn't mean racism is still a big problem in America. It was one isolated incident.

Just because I am white doesn't mean I haven't experienced racism. I lived with two black girls in college, and believe me, they constantly made rude discriminatory jokes about me and white people in general. I guess because I am white, then that makes it okay (??). There are plenty of black people out there that are racist towards white people. It is a two-way street.

Answer 1

Cold cocking someone in the head, from behind, and then six others surrounding and kicking the kid in the head when he hits the ground is not a fight, it is a gang attack, and is not acceptable, and should be punished by the law. If this were white kids doing the same thing to a black kid, they should also go to jail. If this were six white kids beating a black kid, black civil rights groups would be screaming for justice.

A fight in high school is when two kids meet in the parking lot, both consenting to the fight. When one is down, he is given the opportunity to give up, he doesn't continue to get beaten. If you can't tell the difference, then you are blind to right and wrong.

The kid who mainly instigated the violence has a history of violence, and convictions. The kid who was beaten up did not hang the nooses, nor is he the kid with the gun incident.

It is not acceptable to beat someone up because they call you a name.

Answer 2

Are you serious? It was not just one isolated incident! Those kids hung the nooses, beat up one of the black kids at a party, another man pulled a shotgun on three of the black kids, they took it and the police charged them for theft! The DA shouldn't have said the things he said to the black kids who were holding a peaceful sit in under the "white tree"! Are you kidding me!!! Those black kids shouldn't have beat up that white kid but, they did. ALL of the kids should have been treated the same! The white kids got away with everything and now they're trying to lock up the black kids for 20+ years! It is a big deal and when people can't see why it is, then it just goes to show you that racism is still alive!

Answer 3

-All parties invovled should be punished (Albeit less for the black students, and more for all that were involved with the fight/fight instigation, so that everyone gets in trouble like they should at a similar level), and that includes the kids that hung the nooses (Which is what many people, like myself, are pissed about).

-The fight was one-sided, but most of those parents had to sell their homes just to get bail, while a display indicating hate such as noose is shown as a "Teen prank." The DA also said that with the stroke of a pin, he can end lives, and he also separated the students at the meeting. Tell me that's perfectly fine with a straight face.

-If the races were swapped: I'd still have the same viewpoint, because everyone should be punished. I'm the one person whose beliefs crush your notion in an instant: Please stop saying unwarranted comments.

-The thing began, just because one student wanted integration.

-This doesn't validate that racism isn't still a big problem, but bigotry and prejudice in general still exist across the land. It's just become more subtle: Whether it's stereotyping a fat/ excessively thin person, or berating a gay person behind their back. People are being more clever in how they hide it: The opinions have made great changes, but it's still prominent.

It's 2007, and frankly: I would ignore this almost completely if everyone was punished the same amount.

Answer 4

It's a big deal because of the population of the area at risk, the economic sector in the risk area, the flooding potential, and the fact that you guys are not accustomed to hurricanes. That being said, those of us who live in the South along the Atlantic and Gulf coast don't get why it's being treated like the apocalypse. Seriously, as someone that has been through Tropical Storm Claudette (79), Hurricane Alicia (80's), Tropical Storm Allison (01), and Hurricane Ike, I do not understand all the hype, except maybe to get people out of evacuation zones because they don't really know what hurricanes can do.

Answer 5

first of all it was not an isolated incident. the young man who got jumped had a shotgun prior to the incident. He(Justin Barker) continue to taunt them will racial slurs. How much can people take. Justin Barker later got expelled from school. How many people do you know that can get caught over and over with a weapon and basically nothing is done. In fact that same night of the so called attempted murder he was seen at a party being his usual self. second of all hanging a noose anywhere in America is not just a prank. It is down right OFFENSIVE

Answer 6

I have a serious point. In almost every racial incident in America White people are viewed as the racists in the incident, even when they're the victims. In the O.J. Simpson case people made O.J. out to be a victim of racist White cops, when he stabbed 2 innocent White people to death. It's the same thing here. People are forgetting about the innocent White teenager who was assaulted by 6 black teenagers. And they're trying to make the 6 accused look like the victims of racism. They should have contacted the police if they felt that their safety was in danger. Instead they had a 6-on-1 fight & they knocked the guy unconsciouss.

Answer 7

Actually what you failed to mention was that also in the Jena case a group of white guys beat up a black guy and one even hit him in the head with a bottle and what kind of punishment did he get? Probation and yet the reverse happened and they are trying to give them attempted murder? It doesn't add up honey...

Answer 8

Hey happiness2, what evidence do you have that Barker, the white kid who was attacked, used a shotgun in an illegal manner? I've read easily over a dozen articles related to this and have never heard such a thing. I have heard of some unnamed person pulling a shotgun in what seems to be self-defense, but it wasn't Barker (1)

And your comments about Barker being "at a party being his usual self" is way off. It was a school ring ceremony, not a party, and he got his ring and left due to the pain (2)

Answer 9

You are not being honest. You know if it was 6 white kids in jenna who did that to a black kid, no one would care. they would just suspend them for 3 days. Why do they need to go to jail for a high school fight. Almost all kids fight in high school, they always get suspended or expelled. Even analysts (white) on CNN admit that there is a double standard in the justice system. Young white men can get away with anything and young black men are going to jail for minor things, for example that young 17-year-old boy in Georgia who is gettin 10 years in jail for having consentual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl. Come on! if he was white he wouldn't go to jail at all. The nooses were more than wrong. If they have purnished the whites when they did that, mabe it wouldn't escalade to what it is now. How would you feel to see your young brother going to jail for up to 20 years because of a high school fight? Some before you talk you need to put yourself in someone's shoes. Their moter went through the same process you mother went through to have you, therefore they are not less than you. Do you realize that these black kids have a future just like you?

Answer 10

you have totally got it right in my opinion. assault occurred & those involved should be punished. because black kids are getting charged with the crime - now, it's all about racism. it would be completely different if the Jena 6 were white like you said. I understand people are upset about the nooses, it was wrong & hanging them was making a very bold statement but I doubt it was a crime.