I just managed to get to some places speaking of this vid today, and if anyone ever doubted racism was still rampant one only has to read all that shit. It is frightening to me, and I’m white.

I saw Mellancamp on an episode of Politically Incorrect, he’s seems to be a really cool dude. Let’s continue to get the message out.

“You can’t fix what you can’t face.”

Peace…

As long as there are drive-by-comments by folks with views like Tim, there will (and should) be drive-by-comments from the white, anti-racist crowd too

Besides, I had a great day of blogging and commenting today

Although in all honesty, I wouldn’t bother if I were you. With a few exceptions, these are drive-by comments–people that have googled “Jena” or gone to Technorati and then leave comments everywhere they can without bothering to read anything else on the site about the issue at hand. They rarely return to see how others respond. They are not interested in conversation or meaningful debate.

It’s really not a double standard. You see, white folks in this country have done a lot of awful things to people of color. Some of what has happened has actually made it into the history books that we read in our social studies classes in junior high. White folks have this thing called privilege and institutional power that means that they (we) can be racist. Racism is all about power and privilege. Black folks can definitely discriminate and be prejudicial, but it is white folks who are the perpetrators of racism.

In the case of the Jena 6, the treatment of white kids vs. black kids has been anything but equal. Black kids get felonies and years of prison whilst white kids get a slap on the wrist.

As a white man, I can empathize that it is tough for a white person to hear/read/see people talking about white folks in such a negative light. It is challenging to be (usually for the first time) made aware that white folks keep the flames of racism lit.

Cheers.

He has been in a lot of trouble through the years….but I guess that’s someone elses fault?

Regarding this so called song, has it ever occured to anyone that Mellencamps career is floundering? Because of Jena he “looks” like a good guy but laughing all the way to the bank.

While your out marching, how about register them to VOTE? Just incase you didn’t know District Attorney is a ELECTED office.

From a proud citizen of the state of Louisiana

by matttbastard
Via The Thin Black Duke: you go, John Mellencamp.

AP reports that poor ol’ Mayor Murphy McMillin is in a breathless tizzy over the video, claiming the media has “portrayed [Jena] as the epicenter of hatred, racism and a pla…

by matttbastard
Via The Thin Black Duke: you go, John Mellencamp.

AP reports that poor ol’ Mayor Murphy McMillin is in a breathless tizzy over the video, claiming the media has “portrayed [Jena] as the epicenter of hatred, racism and a pla…