In the midst of all the craziness going on in the world right now, I had settled down to write a piece about why the fight against racism in America matters. The draft is pretty good so far but yesterday while reading the inimitable Black Amazon, I was directed to a new piece by Lower Manhattanite entitled:
“Do You Understand Where You Are?”
It has blown me away.
PLEASE CLICK HERE, go there and read it.
I’ve read the entire post several times now. I hope you will, too.
The comments are rich …

Contributor Andrew Padula has been in situations throughout his life where he has felt compelled to address racial issues from his unusual perspective. Andrew is a white, politically conservative, blues musician who has been teaching and touring the U.S. and Europe since 1993. He can be seen with blues legend Bobby Parker on B.E.T. Jazz Central as well as on Carlos Santana’s recent DVD release “Montreux Blues Summit”. His point of view adds plenty to our discussion, so I welcome Andrew and his column The Topsoil to Allaboutrace.com. As Andrew …

Justice is a cornerstone of the American ideal. Justice is the bedrock of our Constitution:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Justice lives in our Pledge of Allegiance:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which …

Here is an excerpt from “Louisiana Town Fells ‘White Tree,’ but Tension Runs Deep”:
We are seeing two systems of justice: one system of justice for white folks and one system of justice for black folks,” said Jordan Flaherty, an editor who is following the Louisiana case for Left Turn magazine, an liberal activist publication based in New York. “If this had been a fight between only black students, there would not have been this penalty,” said Flaherty, who is white. “This is not a group of kids with a history …

Looks like attention and support is starting to grow for the six high school students, unjustly charged in Jena. Here’s an update from Friends of Justice:
Friends:
Three hundred people from across the nation descended on little Jena, Louisiana on July 31st. They came to pledge their support to the Jena 6 defendants and their families. At the end of a two-hour rally, a dozen volunteers hand-delivered over 43,000 petitions demanding that District Attorney Reed Walters back away from the worst prosecutorial decision of his life.
Most of you will have heard that …

Alan Bean of ‘Friends of Justice’ has written a comprehensive update and analysis of the events in Jena, Louisiana. This account fascinates because Bean’s optimism is palpable. Bean believes that a sea change is headed toward Jena. I hope it gets there in time to help the young men on trial.

See Photos of Jena Trial – WhileSeated – Flickr
UPDATE: Mychal Bell has been found guilty of aggravated second degree battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated second degree battery. His lawyer declined to call a single defense witness because “a white jury would question the veracity of a black high school student.”
From the Friends of Justice site:
Mykal Bell has just been found guilty of aggravated second degree battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated second degree battery. This verdict became a foregone conclusion the moment defense attorney Blane Williams wrapped up …

UPDATE – 6/28/07 – UPDATE – PLEASE READ
The latest racial assault in Jena, Louisiana began on the morning of September 1st 2006, when three nooses were found dangling from a tree at the local high school. The day before, at a school assembly, an African American student had asked the vice principal if he could sit under the tree – traditionally, a place where only white kids sat.
What happens next is a flashback to the racial injustice brought out into the light during our country’s most turbulent Civil Rights battles. Read on.
The following …