Comments on: Racism and Resistance: The Struggle to Free The Jena Six http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:07:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: seeker http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-5020 seeker Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:06:59 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-5020 I am seeking to move to the south. I travel the world, 50 years old and want to live in Lafayette, Louisiana or Lake Charles and work a few years . If this is an example of the human race (Jena Six ) then we should just the terroist of 9-11 have a party here too (?). I am seeking to move to the south. I travel the world, 50 years old and want to live in Lafayette, Louisiana or Lake Charles and work a few years . If this is an example of the human race (Jena Six ) then we should just the terroist of 9-11 have a party here too (?).

]]> By: Selena Waite http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4956 Selena Waite Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:57:30 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4956 I keep reading all of these articles about the Jena Six and it makes me want to cry. This is a tragedy but it happens everyday and no one knows about it or cares enough to do anything! There are an abundance of Black children and men in prison for crimes that do not warrant such harsh punishment. The legal system is set up so that they have an up hill battle in life. If a person commits a crime because they have not had opportunities to see that education works and that there are alternative ways to rise above their meager birth rights (poverty, lack of education, broken homes, etc.) they are imprisoned and are further shut out of the American Dream. Thus creating a cycle of joblessness, crime and incarceration. My question is this after the Jena Six are set free… what next? Are we going to sit back reveling in our pious victory? Claiming that at least we won one! Because they will let us have our victory… if we will shut up and go calmly back into the night. Look at the Imus situation… he’s coming back on the air (now that everything has blown over). And… besides they got M. Vick! No offense to the animal lovers out there but he did not personally kill any of the animals. He made a series of bad decisions and now he is paying for them. But what we are really saying is that a Black man’s life is worth less than a dog’s… come on people, anyone else would have gotten a fine for what he did. People kill dear, bears, rabbits, etc. and gut them and stuff them for entertainment. What’s the difference… I keep reading all of these articles about the Jena Six and it makes me want to cry. This is a tragedy but it happens everyday and no one knows about it or cares enough to do anything! There are an abundance of Black children and men in prison for crimes that do not warrant such harsh punishment. The legal system is set up so that they have an up hill battle in life. If a person commits a crime because they have not had opportunities to see that education works and that there are alternative ways to rise above their meager birth rights (poverty, lack of education, broken homes, etc.) they are imprisoned and are further shut out of the American Dream. Thus creating a cycle of joblessness, crime and incarceration.

My question is this after the Jena Six are set free… what next? Are we going to sit back reveling in our pious victory? Claiming that at least we won one! Because they will let us have our victory… if we will shut up and go calmly back into the night.

Look at the Imus situation… he’s coming back on the air (now that everything has blown over). And… besides they got M. Vick! No offense to the animal lovers out there but he did not personally kill any of the animals. He made a series of bad decisions and now he is paying for them. But what we are really saying is that a Black man’s life is worth less than a dog’s… come on people, anyone else would have gotten a fine for what he did. People kill dear, bears, rabbits, etc. and gut them and stuff them for entertainment. What’s the difference…

]]> By: john http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4719 john Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:36:35 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4719 How can anyone NOT see this as Racism? I worry about the one that just looks at this and says "Well these kids jumped this boy and practically killed him.” No, this doesn't make it right, No they were not justified in doing so. This town has been a racial powder Keg since BEFORE you or I walked this earth and because no one has done a damn thing about it...It finally comes down to this! If these boys are to be tried, even though there are no specific indentification as to who participated in what, then the white kids also need to be tried for the nooses, the one that pointed the shotgun at the chest of the other black students, who mind you were arrested and charged with assault AFTER they wrestled the shotgun away from the white kid. WTF? how about the white kids that jumped and beat the black child for showing up (INVITED MIND YOU) to a party predominantly occupied by whites? Where are they, Oh yeah That's right they are at school getting an education. Not sitting in a jail cell, missing out on the valuable years of their life, you know the ones that are supposed to form our minds and set us up to become fine upstanding adults int his world...yeah that one! Crime is Crime no matter who was hurt, when they were hurt or how they were hurt and for those of you that say the nooses were not a crime then walk into a crowded store, office or movie theater and scream Fire! or make reference to some terrorist attack and see if you'll be arrested for inciting a riot, or even sued if a stampede results and someone gets injured, oh but that's no crime I forgot it was just a joke! How can anyone NOT see this as Racism? I worry about the one that just looks at this and says “Well these kids jumped this boy and practically killed him.” No, this doesn’t make it right, No they were not justified in doing so. This town has been a racial powder Keg since BEFORE you or I walked this earth and because no one has done a damn thing about it…It finally comes down to this! If these boys are to be tried, even though there are no specific indentification as to who participated in what, then the white kids also need to be tried for the nooses, the one that pointed the shotgun at the chest of the other black students, who mind you were arrested and charged with assault AFTER they wrestled the shotgun away from the white kid. WTF? how about the white kids that jumped and beat the black child for showing up (INVITED MIND YOU) to a party predominantly occupied by whites? Where are they, Oh yeah That’s right they are at school getting an education. Not sitting in a jail cell, missing out on the valuable years of their life, you know the ones that are supposed to form our minds and set us up to become fine upstanding adults int his world…yeah that one! Crime is Crime no matter who was hurt, when they were hurt or how they were hurt and for those of you that say the nooses were not a crime then walk into a crowded store, office or movie theater and scream Fire! or make reference to some terrorist attack and see if you’ll be arrested for inciting a riot, or even sued if a stampede results and someone gets injured, oh but that’s no crime I forgot it was just a joke!

]]> By: Doris Lewis http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4174 Doris Lewis Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:40:46 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4174 To deny and ignore that the Jena six issue is not based soley on race is the same as denying that slavery was based on economics rather than race. Racism/white supremecy is a problem today as it has been in the past. All the events that have taken place in this case is directly the result of race. The fact that black children would have to get permission to sit under a tree is racist; the statement made by the DA in reference to making the lives of black students difficult because they had the courage to stand up for their God given rights was racist. To suggest otherwise contributes to destructive action of the system of racism/white supremacy. As black people, if we don't take to the streets, contribute to funds that can legally attack these injustices, pressure our representatives to speak out, and boycott businesses, if necessary, to demand that we are respected, and send a loud message that our children will not be unjustly accused, things will continue without any consequences. To deny and ignore that the Jena six issue is not based soley on race is the same as denying that slavery was based on economics rather than race. Racism/white supremecy is a problem today as it has been in the past. All the events that have taken place in this case is directly the result of race. The fact that black children would have to get permission to sit under a tree is racist; the statement made by the DA in reference to making the lives of black students difficult because they had the courage to stand up for their God given rights was racist. To suggest otherwise contributes to destructive action of the system of racism/white supremacy.

As black people, if we don’t take to the streets, contribute to funds that can legally attack these injustices, pressure our representatives to speak out, and boycott businesses, if necessary, to demand that we are respected, and send a loud message that our children will not be unjustly accused, things will continue without any consequences.

]]> By: Dave On Fire http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4138 Dave On Fire Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:46:41 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4138 To Michael Rappaport: Racism is an issue whether those who would oppose it - strategically as part of a class struggle or simply out of moral revulsion and compassion - choose to discuss it or not. Pretending it doesn't happen won't make it go away, but only allows it to continue, prolonging the injustice - and "playing into the hands of the elite". To Michael Rappaport:
Racism is an issue whether those who would oppose it – strategically as part of a class struggle or simply out of moral revulsion and compassion – choose to discuss it or not. Pretending it doesn’t happen won’t make it go away, but only allows it to continue, prolonging the injustice – and “playing into the hands of the elite”.

]]> By: Hue Longer http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4128 Hue Longer Thu, 16 Aug 2007 07:51:23 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4128 "We make things an issue"? The issue was made before this writer said anything. Guilt's a bitch and all us white folk can always cut our hair and shave if patronizing black folks get's too difficult and we need to capitalize on our privilege that exists with or without us creating that privilege “We make things an issue”? The issue was made before this writer said anything. Guilt’s a bitch and all us white folk can always cut our hair and shave if patronizing black folks get’s too difficult and we need to capitalize on our privilege that exists with or without us creating that privilege

]]> By: Nate Mezmer http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4119 Nate Mezmer Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:46:57 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4119 Mr Rappaport is right. Whites and Blacks must unite if we are going to see real change in this nation. Moreover, Blacks, Whites, Browns and Yellows must embrace a more massive, more youthful and more vocal opposition to the injustice that continues to plague us as a people. The freedom of the Jena 6 is just as omni-important as the ousting of the Bush regime and the withdrawl of troops from Iraq. Mr Rappaport is right.

Whites and Blacks must unite if we are going to see real change in this nation. Moreover, Blacks, Whites, Browns and Yellows must embrace a more massive, more youthful and more vocal opposition to the injustice that continues to plague us as a people.

The freedom of the Jena 6 is just as omni-important as the ousting of the Bush regime and the withdrawl of troops from Iraq.

]]> By: Michael Rappaport http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4109 Michael Rappaport Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:15:07 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/racism-and-resistance-the-struggle-to-free-the-jena-six/#comment-4109 I agree with much of what has been said here, but I really do believe we play right into the hands of the power elite when we make things an issue of black and white. The divide in this country, far more than racial, is economic. Middle-class and poor whites have been conned into believing people of color are their enemies, when we would be a far better country if those who aren't wealthy would work against those who are to change the country. I agree with much of what has been said here, but I really do believe we play right into the hands of the power elite when we make things an issue of black and white.

The divide in this country, far more than racial, is economic. Middle-class and poor whites have been conned into believing people of color are their enemies, when we would be a far better country if those who aren’t wealthy would work against those who are to change the country.

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