What do you guys think about the Jena 6?

When I first heard about the Jena 6, I couldn't believe it. I didn't know people my age were so hateful and ignorant. It may be due to my living in a bubble. I go to the most diverse high school in America, in the most diverse city in America. When I go to school I hear people talking in Urdu, Arabic, German, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hmong, Tagalog, Turkish, Japanese, Spanish, Hindi etc. Everybody mixes well together. There is some racism and ignorance--my high school is in no way a perfect place--but no major racial tension. Everybody just does their own thing. I kinda feel like that Sunshine kid in Remember the Titans. I can't imagine other kids acting that way.

In light of the surge in school violence, those students responsible for the "prank" should have been expelled from the district. That's just plain terrorism.

I am inclined to say that the Jena 6 shouldn't have entered into a physical confrontation, that they should have shown some self-control and gone to the proper authorities. Then I think of the teen boys I go to school with... I don't think any of them would be able to holster their rage after being attacked and persecuted. Most boys can't do that even when death threats aren't involved. There was also no one for the Jena 6 and the others feeling persecuted to turn to. The local government was against them. Now the ACLU, NAACP, CNN, and whoever are there, but where were they before the situation took a turn for the worst? There should be somebody looking out for these kids. I know from personal experience that no kid should be afraid of going to their own school.

posted 1 year ago.

I know what you mean, katiemariie. Growing up overseas, we had few, if any, racial problems (and of a different variety when they did occur but it wasn't within the school so I won't go into that). But the people at my school were accepting because we were an International School and people came and went all the time. I similarly lived with different languages around me, and my social circle involved only a few "real" Americans (and by "real" I mean Americans who had ever actually lived in America).

Which is why when I saw this, I had to look at it skeptically. "This can't be the whole story..." I'd think, or "They're making a bigger deal out of this than it is." I couldn't believe people were still THAT racist.

Of course an undercurrent of racism from all angles floods our society, but it's never this severe. I think it's absolutely insane, really, and like I said, race and prejudice really gets under my skin.

posted 1 year ago.