I really don’t get why more people aren’t concerned, invested in or outraged about the current happenings in Jena, Louisiana. It’s practically a modern day trial of Tom Robinson, complete with separate and unequal justice systems and an apathetic public. Except that this trial isn’t set in the Jim Crow South and it doesn’t involve fictional characters.

I keep hearing about how much “the South” has changed. How it’s “not as bad as it used to be” and “things are getting better.” But I’ve yet to see any evidence of it. And the case of the Jena 6 really seems to exemplify the preconceived notions and fears that many Blacks in this country have about a certain geographic region of the United States.

Oh yeah, that and the Genarlow Wilson case.

Let’s do a quick rundown of the Southern clichés present in the case;

White people hanging nooses from trees? Check.

White people getting slapped on the wrist as a punishment? Check.

Black pleas falling on deaf ears? Check.

Disproportionate charges for Black defendants? Check.

All white jury? Check.

Claims that outsiders are causing a ruckus? Check.

Yup, that’s pretty much the (Black) American Nightmare.

I mean, this is the year 2007, right? Why isn’t this a bigger story? Why isn’t more attention being paid to what’s happening in Jena? If it were 40 years ago busloads of activists would be headed down to make a difference. If it were 30 years ago celebrities would be bringing this up interviews. But in 2007 it appears to be business as usual.

I really can’t wrap my head around the attempted murder charges, much less sneakers being deadly weapons. But I guess in a place where nooses on a tree are “pranks” and Confederate flags are “heritage” anything goes.

And while convictions have been overturned and charges have been dropped, is anyone really naïve enough to believe that still would have happened if outsiders hadn’t intervened. If the authorities didn’t think they could get away with the charges, they probably wouldn’t have filed them in the first place.

Apparently we’ve come so far that incidents such as this don’t warrant the attention of the media. I guess I should take it as a good sign that we’re so equal that the case of the Jena 6 doesn’t raise any eyebrows. Martin Luther King Jr is surely looking down on that situation and smiling.

Call me cynical, but I don’t see what’s going on down there as a sign of progress. Maybe I’d be more optimistic if there were more white faces protesting the charges these Black kids were facing with than there were white faces jeering Michael Vick for charges he wasn’t facing.

Last 5 posts by mathan erhardt

• Hodgepodgeatorium - The Most Pressing Issue - October 20th, 2008
• Hodgepodgeatorium - Undecided - October 7th, 2008
• Hodgepodgeatorium - Resolutions - February 10th, 2008
• Hodgepodgeatorium - As American as Apple Pie - January 4th, 2008
• Hodgepodgeatorium - Perception - August 27th, 2007