The Jena 6 to Benefit From Oprah’s “Midas Touch”

Well, here’s some good news for the Jena 6, if it’s true.

I was listening to the Michael Baisden Show and he mentioned that Oprah’s people were reaching out to the families of the Jena 6 to do a show.

Oh happy day!

While it’s a shame that Oprah would have to be the only conduit to get what’s happening in Jena, Louisiana out to the world, thank God for Oprah.  Maybe now the country’s attention can focus from stupid wealthy quarterback’s who have made it and had the misfortune to risk it all and get caught fighting dogs to Black people still suffering blatant outright racism at the hands of white people.  I know it’s not a popular subject, but nevertheless, it’s still happening, even in 2007.

A little background for those that do not know, the Jena 6 are six Black students who face the possibility of going to prison for many, many years because of a schoolyard fight. Almost a year, in the small town of Jena, Louisiana a group of Black students sat under a “whites-only” tree in the schoolyard.  Apparently, this upset some of the white students who on the next day put up nooses hanging from the tree.

Soon after the nooses were hung, most of the 93 Black students (out of a total student enrollment of 546) at Jena High School stood together under the tree, in a courageous act of protest. After this, a school assembly was called where a white district attorney told the Black students to keep their mouths shut about the nooses. He told them if he heard anything else about it, he “can make their lives go away with the stroke of his pen.”

This eventually led to a fight that sent one white student to the hospital and six Black students to jail and that’s when all hell broke loose.

The Jena 6 are Robert Bailey (17), Theo Shaw (17), Carwin Jones (18), Bryant Purvis (17), Mychal Bell (16) and an unidentified minor.  All were expelled from school, arrested and charged with second-degree attempted murder. Bail was set so high -- between $70,000 and $138,000 -- that the they were left in prison for months as families went deep into debt to release them.

First, it’s not breaking news that racism against Black people is alive and well in America.  It never went anywhere.  The cloaks were just replaced with three-piece suits, uniforms, and black gowns.  Hello!

Now, given the seriousness of what’s going on in Jena, do you really think that we need to be investing our time into saving a fallen quarterback?

These kids are facing hefty prison terms if convicted, not to mention the psychological damage that is being done to them throughout this whole ordeal.  Could you imagine spending the rest of your life in prison for someone else’s racist behavior?

Looking at what’s going on in Jena just reiterates the rampant racism against Blacks that still exists.  Our attention should be focused on Jena and sending resources there, including ourselves to protest.

All these rappers with their bling bling and our civil rights leaders and organizations should be mobilizing around these young men to see that they are acquitted and released immediately.  There’s no reason why this shouldn’t be the focus of every Black civil rights organization from coast to coast.

While there have been a few articles on the Jena and tons of posts online, this story is still relatively under the radar.  Hopefully with Oprah’s “Midas touch” that will all change and this story will become the focus of the nation garnering so much attention and criticism that these young men will be freed immediately.

Until then, we’ll watch and see and march in solidarity.

More information on the Jena 6 and what you can do to help can be found by clicking here.

Comments

[MITTENS]

Nation of shopkeepers - A

[BENTLEY]

Raspberry tart

[BLAINE]

Vice versa

[kadidrah]

MICHAEL BELL is been given his juevenile trial, finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kadidrah]

MICHAEL BELL is been given his juevenile trial, finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[James]

Listen people all you have to do to see the documents and facts in this is go to Evangelical Outpost by Joe carter. Read these witness statements and police reports as if you have never heard of the Jena 6 before. Then make your decision. Dont be surprised when you start to change your mind or at least start to see how inaccurate the media has been. I know for a fact that CNN and several other media outfits read these statements but chose not to report them because it would ruin their story. Makes you wonder how often they do this on everything they report.

[Jacqui]

Bell was on probation...correct me if I'm wrong but when someone has a lengthly record and is currently on probation, shouldn't they be doing everything possible to avoid any situation that would even suggest misbehavior or violation of that probation? Or are they supposed to catapult themselves into the spotlight of a story that has now made national headlines? Obviously Bell is NOT learning from his mistakes, therefore, he is not a functioning contributor to our society; he is a menace. I understand that everyone makes mistakes in their lives especially in their youth, but there is a point where the justice system has to say "enough is enough." What do you propose we do? Let him off the hook because of the race issue until he commits another stupid, mindless crime against someone else? What will your excuse be when he finally DOES manage to kill someone be it premeditated or not? Are we not to send him to jail because he's black? Come on now. The kid has a record! He's not taking responsibility for his actions because he just keeps repeating them. I don't care how slow you may be, when someone says "screw this up again and your ass is in the can" you listen, and if you don't, then you have what's coming to you. I personally do not want someone like that roaming the streets anywhere, no thanks society! Get him out of here! If you want to talk about fair and not fair then let's. It's NOT fair that everyone else has to live in fear of criminals like Bell walking free. It's NOT fair that I am a responsible citizen and use my morals to lead a productive life when people like Bell can break the law multiple times and still enjoy the same freedoms as I do. It's NOT fair that whenever I get mad I can't beat the hell out of somebody and get away with it. If you don't learn from your mistakes the first time (or couple times even) around, then you will eventually pay the price. We as US citizens deserve justice. We deserve protection under the law as well. We deserve to be protected from people like Mychal Bell. If your people want to be treated like human beings then ACT like them, if you don't want to be called "the N-word" then stop acting like one.

[Intellect]

Although the Jena 6 should face justice for what they have done, people, racist or not, who would make stereotypical conclusions about blacks need to learn history and how it affects the present. History is not just something that happened in the past but something that is involved in defining us in the present. You can cite all the statistics you want about jail populations, crime, etc but stats are usually simply quoted for support rather than illumination. That is, they do not say anything about what contributes to certain stats so simply relying on stats means you come up with simple answers. Race, class, sex divisions do play a role in America and simply getting angry when these things are brought up and simply citing stats and coming to irrational conclusions or rants won't do anything about them.

[hakim]

mac, What a joke! An unequal justice system is an opinion, not fact. The flood walls being blown by the "white" "the man" government is an opinion all formed by unforgiving racist minds. The facts are based on statisics - black males overwhelming do not own up to fatherhood leaving angry misguided children that fill our prison systems. I hope that some day the black community stops looking for handouts - freebies and starts looking toward solid family values, getting educated and working hard. We both know that won't happen for the majority of the black community. So you will continue on looking for handouts from the liberal democrats and come up with hair brained opinions - wake up!

[MAC]

To those who are offended by others marching for equal rights, the truth hurts. Stop complaining, face the facts, and join the fight!!!!!!!!!

All of this talk about 6 to 1 is ridiculous. Do you really think that in such a racially charged town that other whites would just sit there and let a white get beat???? The facts are so distorted it’s a shame.

Please realize that the thousands who marched in Jena didn’t do so because Sharpton or Jackson brainwashed them to do. The only truth is that there is an unequal justice system exists in this country and it’s about time that a light shines on this unspoken truth. The world watched during the Hurricane Katrina tragedy and saw how Blacks and Whites are treated differently in this country. A double standard exists and a change needs to take place!!!!

Justin Barker did not deserve to be beaten but please realize that he wasn’t innocent. He taunted the Black students for only God knows how long.

Those who don’t see the connection between the events (nooses, blacks getting beaten and threatened with riffles and the beating of Barker please see http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/07/0... ) or understand why everyone is hurt and upset by the injustice that the Jena 6 faces are simply in denial of the fact that racism is alive in America; sometimes its covert and sometimes it’s overt. It’s time for a reality check.

[G]

Oprah is evil. She truly lives "by any means necessary" even though it was her cohort Farrakhan that killed Malcolm, her idol.

[hakim alishuan]

Well, considering that 80% of our prisons are over flowing with blacks and illegals they should feel right at home costing the American taxpayer 60 grand per year to house their stupid asses.
The Jena 6 were looking for trouble and they found it.
Oprah is a racist bitch - plain and simple. Ever notice how up on the whites she was until she got rich?
Wake up people and realize you will not get anywhere until you forget what happened decades ago and live in the present. We have groups of blacks beating and killing whites everyday across America and it is the noose that gets attention. The simple fact is that blacks in America are looking for a race war. If the blacks win a race war what do you think will happen? All of America will turn into a smoking crack pipe hole that we now know as our major cities.

[Devone]

Everything going on is crazy. Honestly, Septmeber 19th was the first time I ever heard of The Jena six case. I atteded an all white school in Ohio and I couldn't imagine this happening. We starting Fundraisers and hope to help the families...May GOD be with you all..

[Kaizad Mehta]

One of the comments was funny where this guys says 'I'm from an all black school and these fights take place everyday'. What does that say about black kids and their families and backgrounds?
Sorry to say but the majority of blacks are uneducated, violent, have criminal records by the time they are 14.
I work in New York and there are very few black people doing corporate jobs. Very uncivilized people.

[Farzan Lam]

Just release Mychal Bell. With his past record and background he's bund to kill or rape someone by the time he's 20 and he'll be in jail where he belongs.
His type of people never fail to make it to jail.

[Tex]

The Jena 6 committed attempted murder and deserve to be jailed. You people defending these thugs just because they are black are disgusting. Whenever a black is charged with a crime you scream racism be it OJ, Michael Vick, etc. Black communities are falling apart, blacks are dropping out of school at higher rates, there are more blacks in prison than there are in college and all you can do is march in support of thugs? Just like OJ, Michael Vick, DMX and the rest, the Jena 6 deserve punishment!

[regina]

I believe the Jena 6 were over charged but again six on one was a mass attack. I am from the south very close to this small town. Racism does exist, it exist both ways. I would not attempt to go to the area of our local highschool where the "black" students hang. If I did I am fairly sure there would be some repercussions. This protest by the black students can not be compared to civil right protest of the past. This was not about equal rights, they were not wanting to eat at a public lunch counter or use a water fountain. They wanted to sit under a tree that a certain group though of as their place. This was more about a territorial issues and could have as easily happen between rivals of the same race. They sat under that tree to stir up emotions, no other reason. That is where this started. The school should have handled it better and the legal system has overcharged the young men but their intentions and behaviors have not been admirable. They should not be glorified. By all means Protest the unfairness of their charges but do not make the white victim the villian and act as if the Jena 6 are heroic.

[Where is the precedent for this kind of a conviction?]

The question is: Where is the precedent...

For a criminal case being derived from a kid getting jumped @ school (yet being well enough to party later that night)?

First of all they were ALL underage which should have dismissed the case immediately.

Second, let's get some actual facts:

Aggravated second-degree battery includes the use of a dangerous weapon (supposedly a shoe)hummmm.....

So since we all wear shoes everyday, and that is what they are claiming was the "Weapon"....then I guess if we decide to jump someone we could be in serious trouble, well.. that is if you are Black....

Get real!

Where is the mention of a gun being pulled on the Jena 6 KIDS!!! (Hello?!?), and reports of there being SEVERAL!!! black/white fights prior to this event.

Drop the biased bull and get real!

[Will]

I think its ridiculous the crazy things that happen in this world; white and black. It was wrong what the white kids did and they were disciplined...also what they did, however visually scarring, was non-violent. The black kids used physical force, meaning violent harm upon the white kid and should be tried as such. If WE can ALL start teaching our children that we're not white and black, but AMERICANS, not African-American, not Italian American, Just plain ol AMERICAN, maybe we can all live together the way God intended.

[Landon Buckingham]

i am doing a report on this in my business law class so if any one wants to send me info about this or wants to send me there opion to share that i can use the info about the report is listed below

what happened
just the facts

what should be the charge be if any If not y

based on the facts what happened

Support with defiintion (or lack of ) the tort

Critue how the case
was handel by the da
was the da able support charges under the law

FIRST OF ALL STUPID IS HE WHO THINKS HE CAN GROW A TREE. ONLY GOD CAN DO THIS. SATAN IS SO BUSY, WE DONT KNOW JESUS LIKE WE SAY WE DO.

[Naishunn Neal]

There are no words to describe this situation.. Something that happens everday around the world has led to this.. It starts with the adults and trickle down to the children. There is no way there should be a tree labeled "white"..it starts there..
No it shouldn't have had to convert to a beating and the boys should be punished.. but notice i said "the boys" meaning every one involved. This situation could have been handle in the school system and not the juducial! Now its the principal of the matter! White ladies can go around killing there kids and they call it insanity..post partum depression.. Drug dealers go to jail for less time then what they are trying to give these young men! Hell for that matter Murderers go to jail for less or equal time! People who don't see anything wrong with this matter.. you need to check yourself

[latrisha brown]

I feel like the world is coming to a end for a youbg black boy to get that much time is ridiculous.I think that the world need to take a good look at it self.The lord is looking down at us and shaking his head.he is wondering what is we are doing.as a black women i'm tring to survise because virginia is no better. my prayers are going out to all of the family that is envode.

[BlueAngel]

Racism is live and well even on these blogs! It is apparent when people don't how ridiculous is to think that proper punishment for a school fight, which have gone on forever, is 20 + years in jail. In light of the fact that the victim taunted these kids prior to his beatdown as well as the fact that he was released from the hospital immediately and was able to attend a social function that evening. The fact that a white man can pull a gun on these kids and not be arrested while the kids are charged for the theft of his weapon after they disarmed him! Throughout the racial unrest white kids were beating up black kids and not punished for a second! Like I said racism is alive and well everywhere, including this blog!

[Jazrok64]

The good news is they are starting to let up on those young brothers. The state appeals court has tossed the case out on Mychal Bell. He should not have been tried as an adult. IMO if it had not been for Blacks rising up and heading down there who knows what kind of sentence Mychal would have received. Now let's see what the juvenile court will say.

Very Happy

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