Several of the white commentators on the corporate-broadcast media outlets last night wondered aloud what I’m sure many whites in America were wondering: why was there such an outcry about the events in Jena?
In his lead-in to the NBC Nightly news report “Why are protestors coming to Jena?” (video available here) Brian Williams says:
“There have been many racially-tinged cases in this country over the years, so why has this one prompted all these people — thousands of them as we said — to make their way to what is, after all, a six stoplight town in the middle of Louisiana?”
The report that follows, filed by Mike Tiabbi, is not completely uncritical, but missteps by ignoring the key, critical point about the underlying issues beneath the Jena-protests: the criminal (in)justice system in America. According to data published in a report by Marc Mauer’s non-profit The Sentencing Project:
“African Americans are incarcerated at nearly six (5.6) times the rate of whites and Hispanics nearly double (1.8) the rate.
Three states – Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania – have a Hispanic-to-white ratio of incarceration more than three times the national average.
Prior research from the Department of Justice has demonstrated that if current trends continue, one in three black males and one in six Hispanic males born today can expect to go to prison. Rates for women are lower overall, but exhibit similar racial and ethnic disparities.”
For the last several years, I’ve worked on a research project focused on the incarceration of adolescents at Rikers Island here in New York City, and I can tell you that the jails here in the city, like those in the Jena, Louisiana, are filled with Black and Latino people, not whites. There are lots of sociological factors at play in these kinds of racial disparities — a political economy built on racial inequality, an on-going lack of job opportunities, especially for those who have been incarcerated, and an inherently unequal educational system — but one of the key factors in is the institutional racism built into every aspect of the criminal (in)justice system, from policing, to the courts, to the massive prison-industrial complex. What most white Americans don’t understand — and the mainstream media certainly doesn’t help clarify — is that the protests in Jena are not a response to an isolated incident but rather, a response to the criminal (in)justice system in America.
Students in all high schools, colleges, and universities should refuse to attend class until all political prisoners are free. These students are clearly victims of racism and are nothing more than political prisoners—I think that the fact that this case was handled in the matter it was/is, is a clear indicator that this nation is not very far from its pre-civil rights era (unconstitutionalities are screaming). The lack of action and revolt among the white communities and predominantly white universities seems to indicate their support in favor of the unjust system, treatments, and decisions of the Jena 6. If the situation was reversed and it was white students in the shoes of the Jena 6—how would the nation respond? Yay for David Bowie!!!
Excellent points, Seattle. The protests in Jena, and the predominantly black crowds and the notable absence of many white faces in those crowds, speaks volumes.
Thank you admin–I wanted to quickly post a thought from a young adult who lives in Texas:
Yeah that Jena 6 thing is messed up. How can people say hanging nooses on a tree is NOT racist! I’m positive they weren’t making tire swings. How dumb do they think we are? Louisianna has been a pretty racist and corrupt place. Lots of pockets got fat over Katrina n it wasn’t many people that needed it. But then they turn around and blame everything on President Bush. There’s always more than the one side of the story the news wants people 2 believe.
Okay, I’m off the darn soap box. Good lord that was long winded, sorry. Oi vey.
(the last part “Okay, I’m off the darn soap box…belongs to the young adult…) I think she needs to stay on her soap box, personally….
Thanks for that comment from ‘young adult’ ~ I agree this thing is messed up! I wonder, though, about laying this on Louisiana as “a pretty racist and corrupt place.” No doubt true, but it’s not as racism is restricted to one geographic region of the country.
The corruption and racism is everywhere for sure and exists many different guises…I think the most dangerous part of socialization that is likely to occur in any region, is that racism is centralized and located in a certain area or geographical vicinities (especially hint hint Pacific Northwest–it’s the “them” and “not us” syndrome, shift the blame, etc.)–but thought she made an interesting point in an interesting way, and certainly provided much more to think about. Dare to challenge our biases and prejudices…. Thank you both for the thoughts .