3.) After reading and hearing the interview and article I was shocked at this extreme display of racism. Although racism still exists, I did not think that it would escalate to that level in this time period. It made me sick to hear that these six boys were punished and convicted for murder becasue of a stupid fight. I was shocked to find out that the school did not expel the white kids for hanging nooses from the tree. I also could not believe that the DA ignored the extreme racism behind the "innocent prank" the white kids pulled. It was sick that he told the black kids to stop making a big deal about it, when it clearly is an issue. I think that this level of racism is isolated to the South more because of the rural south and Jim Crow laws that were set up to segregate the whites and the blacks. I believe that mentality is still there in the South, and this incident happened in Louisiana. Also, the one woman on the interview explained how her neighborhood is only blacks. Where we live, it is not common to find only black neighborhoods and teh whties be separate from the blacks. Although racism still occurs today, I do believe that in specific areas it is more extreme.
4.) After the six kids from Jena were arrested for assault, the trials for each kid were held. All of the boys besides one, were minors. The total amount for all siz of the bails was over 500,000 dollars. Not too long after the kids were arrested, the DA announced that teh charges were raised to attempted second degree murder and conspiracy to second degree murder. Three of the kids made bail, and were released from jail in May 2007. Then, it was determined, that one kid who was 16, would be tried as an adult. As of September of 2007, there is only one kid left in jail, and will stay there until his next hearing. The jury for the trials was an all white jury. It seems that this case has put a spotlight on Jena and is nationally recognized for the Jena 6. I think that today, racism is still an issue, and probably more severe than in other places. I also think that less black people are allowing it, and are standing up for their rights and protesting.
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i have to agree with you about the level of racism that still occurs in the United States. Its still harsh down in the south, like you said, and yet the nation is still not paying much attention to the issue. I like how you mentioned the spotlight on Jena, becuase this os only one small town where incidents like these are happening.
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