Comments on: The Jena Six, Racism, Nothing To Do With Adoption? Think Again! http://open.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/the-jena-six-racism-nothing-to-do-with-a Blog with information on open adoption. Includes advice, tips, concerns, and news articles about open adoption. Birthparent and Adoptive parent blog on open adoption. Articles, information, and news about the open adoption experience. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:10:43 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: matkaantytto http://open.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/the-jena-six-racism-nothing-to-do-with-a/comment-page-1#comment-1438 matkaantytto Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:24:07 +0000 http://open-adoptio.www.adoptionblogs.com/2007/09/23/the-jena-six-racism-nothing-to-do-with-a#comment-1438 Everyone acts as if these Black boys were innocent and did nothing wrong. They beat up the wrong White boy severely. They all had records before.<br /> <br /> If it was my son charged, well it would not be, my son doesn't go around beating up people. Believe me, I have seen racist people from both sides.<br /> <br /> Also, during this time 2 Asian and 4 White police beat to death a 14 yr old Black boy and that got almost NO news coverage. Everyone acts as if these Black boys were innocent and did nothing wrong. They beat up the wrong White boy severely. They all had records before.

If it was my son charged, well it would not be, my son doesn’t go around beating up people. Believe me, I have seen racist people from both sides.

Also, during this time 2 Asian and 4 White police beat to death a 14 yr old Black boy and that got almost NO news coverage.

]]> By: Deb Donatti http://open.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/the-jena-six-racism-nothing-to-do-with-a/comment-page-1#comment-1437 Deb Donatti Sun, 30 Sep 2007 03:02:23 +0000 http://open-adoptio.www.adoptionblogs.com/2007/09/23/the-jena-six-racism-nothing-to-do-with-a#comment-1437 rikyrah,<br /> Thank you for your insight!<br /> People absolutely need to know the reality and truth of what Black Americans still must deal with every day. I am so afraid that my precious child will be part of yet another generation that has to endure this.<br /> I hope and pray that speaking out about the injustice served the Jena Six will open more eyes, and make long over due changes.<br /> rikyrah,
Thank you for your insight!
People absolutely need to know the reality and truth of what Black Americans still must deal with every day. I am so afraid that my precious child will be part of yet another generation that has to endure this.
I hope and pray that speaking out about the injustice served the Jena Six will open more eyes, and make long over due changes.

]]> By: rikyrah http://open.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/the-jena-six-racism-nothing-to-do-with-a/comment-page-1#comment-1436 rikyrah Sat, 29 Sep 2007 03:49:36 +0000 http://open-adoptio.www.adoptionblogs.com/2007/09/23/the-jena-six-racism-nothing-to-do-with-a#comment-1436 This is what I wrote about The Jena Six:<br /> <br /> For some, you might wonder - why this case? With all the INjustice in the Criminal Justice System, why this case? <br /> <br /> Some of it was the obviousness of the symbolism. <br /> <br /> Black folk don't become too educated to understand that TREE+NOOSE=Threatening Your Black Ass. <br /> <br /> <br /> It is not a prank. <br /> <br /> It is not ' freedom of expression'. <br /> <br /> With Black folk, in THESE United States of America, TREE+NOOSE is a very clear THREAT. <br /> <br /> We don't become too ' educated' for that. <br /> <br /> And, Fannie Lou Hamer said it best, ' Sometimes you get sick and tired of being sick and tired.' <br /> <br /> And, I'm sick and tired of it being Open Season on Young Black Men. I have a nephew. The only male in my immediate family. Good kid. Never been in any trouble. I worry about him everyday because he's a Young Black Male in America, and it's Open Season on them. I wonder if we've reinforced to him how he should handle himself if he's involved in an altercation with the police. If he understands the rules of engagement with law enforcement that could mean the difference between my sister coming to get him at the police station OR THE MORGUE. <br /> <br /> THAT is why this is personal. Because there are very few Black folk with a Six Degrees of Separation between them and a bad story with law enforcement. If you can go two degrees, you're fortunate. <br /> <br /> We fight for The Jena Six, so that maybe I won't have to fight for my nephew one day. <br /> <br /> If you don't believe that my thoughts and positions are common, why don't you go ask the Black folk you work with, socialize with, and actually LISTEN to their response. <br /> <br /> FREE THE JENA SIX<br /> <br /> This is what I wrote about The Jena Six:

For some, you might wonder – why this case? With all the INjustice in the Criminal Justice System, why this case?

Some of it was the obviousness of the symbolism.

Black folk don’t become too educated to understand that TREE+NOOSE=Threatening Your Black Ass.

It is not a prank.

It is not ‘ freedom of expression’.

With Black folk, in THESE United States of America, TREE+NOOSE is a very clear THREAT.

We don’t become too ‘ educated’ for that.

And, Fannie Lou Hamer said it best, ‘ Sometimes you get sick and tired of being sick and tired.’

And, I’m sick and tired of it being Open Season on Young Black Men. I have a nephew. The only male in my immediate family. Good kid. Never been in any trouble. I worry about him everyday because he’s a Young Black Male in America, and it’s Open Season on them. I wonder if we’ve reinforced to him how he should handle himself if he’s involved in an altercation with the police. If he understands the rules of engagement with law enforcement that could mean the difference between my sister coming to get him at the police station OR THE MORGUE.

THAT is why this is personal. Because there are very few Black folk with a Six Degrees of Separation between them and a bad story with law enforcement. If you can go two degrees, you’re fortunate.

We fight for The Jena Six, so that maybe I won’t have to fight for my nephew one day.

If you don’t believe that my thoughts and positions are common, why don’t you go ask the Black folk you work with, socialize with, and actually LISTEN to their response.

FREE THE JENA SIX

]]> By: Deb Donatti http://open.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/the-jena-six-racism-nothing-to-do-with-a/comment-page-1#comment-1435 Deb Donatti Mon, 24 Sep 2007 01:12:26 +0000 http://open-adoptio.www.adoptionblogs.com/2007/09/23/the-jena-six-racism-nothing-to-do-with-a#comment-1435 MamaS, I am sorry, both acts were wrong, but the much harsher treatment of the black students is beyond racist. <strong>PLEASE</strong> go read some of the links I provided because...<br /> <strong>#1 </strong>the white students were NOT expelled, they were given a brief (few days) suspension. A veritable slap on the wrist.<br /> <strong>#2</strong> the black students did NOT beat the white student near death (he was treated and released the same day to attend a ring ceremony that night)<br /> <strong>#3</strong> when the "adult" black student was tried and convicted (by an all white jury, before a white judge) he WAS a MINOR(and still is since he is now only 17), yet he was tried as an adult. He remains in jail (without opportunity of bail) which is much worse a sentence in itself than we might give a murderer or even a repeat offender (non of the six black students had any criminal record.)<br /> <strong>What will you tell your son?</strong><br /> Well to begin I would teach him that racism is wrong, and to notice that it is still present all around in our world. It might help to acknowledge that the stigma and unfair treatment of blacks, especially young males is not our imagination, it is a very <strong>REAL</strong> injustice. Help him learn that some things he as a white male can take for granted in our society (perhaps the opportunity to sit under a certain tree?) are still NOT freedoms afforded too many black Americans. Teach him that along with the responsibility he must bear for his own actions, he also bears the responsibility for his inactions, as in knowing and seeing racism, and looking the other way because it has never personally touched <strong>HIM</strong>. <br /> That in itself would go along way to help this issue, if most whites would just acknowledge it.<br /> <br /> Your son will most likely never be pulled over when driving, just because he is black, (and of course a young black male must be up to no good.)<br /> <br /> <strong>Mine will.</strong><br /> <br /> Your son will never be questioned about the content of his character, because of the color of his skin.<br /> <br /> <strong>Mine will.</strong><br /> <br /> Is <strong>YOUR</strong> son any more beautiful, loving, or deserving than <strong>MINE</strong>?<br /> <br /> <strong>NO</strong>. But the world will see your white son as those things more easily, while mine will have to struggle to defend his honor over and over (as I must do with him even now.)<br /> <br /> <br /> You are right, people should be made accountable for their actions, but if you think that the "justice" served to the white students was fair an equal you are mistaken. I think there would be much MORE of an outrage in white America, if those white students had been tried and convicted as adults, before a black jury and judge, receiving the same harsh treatment. The thing is that black Americans have been going through this for decades, and they have had enough, I can not blame them.<br /> MamaS, I am sorry, both acts were wrong, but the much harsher treatment of the black students is beyond racist. PLEASE go read some of the links I provided because…
#1 the white students were NOT expelled, they were given a brief (few days) suspension. A veritable slap on the wrist.
#2 the black students did NOT beat the white student near death (he was treated and released the same day to attend a ring ceremony that night)
#3 when the “adult” black student was tried and convicted (by an all white jury, before a white judge) he WAS a MINOR(and still is since he is now only 17), yet he was tried as an adult. He remains in jail (without opportunity of bail) which is much worse a sentence in itself than we might give a murderer or even a repeat offender (non of the six black students had any criminal record.)
What will you tell your son?
Well to begin I would teach him that racism is wrong, and to notice that it is still present all around in our world. It might help to acknowledge that the stigma and unfair treatment of blacks, especially young males is not our imagination, it is a very REAL injustice. Help him learn that some things he as a white male can take for granted in our society (perhaps the opportunity to sit under a certain tree?) are still NOT freedoms afforded too many black Americans. Teach him that along with the responsibility he must bear for his own actions, he also bears the responsibility for his inactions, as in knowing and seeing racism, and looking the other way because it has never personally touched HIM.
That in itself would go along way to help this issue, if most whites would just acknowledge it.

Your son will most likely never be pulled over when driving, just because he is black, (and of course a young black male must be up to no good.)

Mine will.

Your son will never be questioned about the content of his character, because of the color of his skin.

Mine will.

Is YOUR son any more beautiful, loving, or deserving than MINE?

NO. But the world will see your white son as those things more easily, while mine will have to struggle to defend his honor over and over (as I must do with him even now.)

You are right, people should be made accountable for their actions, but if you think that the “justice” served to the white students was fair an equal you are mistaken. I think there would be much MORE of an outrage in white America, if those white students had been tried and convicted as adults, before a black jury and judge, receiving the same harsh treatment. The thing is that black Americans have been going through this for decades, and they have had enough, I can not blame them.

]]> By: MamaS http://open.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/the-jena-six-racism-nothing-to-do-with-a/comment-page-1#comment-1434 MamaS Sun, 23 Sep 2007 19:33:42 +0000 http://open-adoptio.www.adoptionblogs.com/2007/09/23/the-jena-six-racism-nothing-to-do-with-a#comment-1434 Some white students hang nooses from a tree at their school where black students gather. (This is a racist act. They are identified, expelled, and reported to the police.)<br /> Six black students corner one white student -- who was NOT one of the original perpetrators -- and beat him nearly to death. He is still in intensive care. (This is also a racist act. They are identified, arrested, get lawyers and publicity and plea bargains. Five of them walk away -- only the adult remains in jail.)<br /> We used to say "Two wrongs don't make a right."<br /> If parents of black and mixed children still feel the need to teach their children to be wary of whites, then what do I, the mother of a white son, teach my 4-year-old? <br /> How do I keep him from getting kicked in the head because he is the 'wrong' color? This is going to keep on until people start being accountable for their actions. Wrong is wrong no matter what color. Some white students hang nooses from a tree at their school where black students gather. (This is a racist act. They are identified, expelled, and reported to the police.)
Six black students corner one white student — who was NOT one of the original perpetrators — and beat him nearly to death. He is still in intensive care. (This is also a racist act. They are identified, arrested, get lawyers and publicity and plea bargains. Five of them walk away — only the adult remains in jail.)
We used to say “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
If parents of black and mixed children still feel the need to teach their children to be wary of whites, then what do I, the mother of a white son, teach my 4-year-old?
How do I keep him from getting kicked in the head because he is the ‘wrong’ color? This is going to keep on until people start being accountable for their actions. Wrong is wrong no matter what color.

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