Racism Deeply Ingrained in the South
I don’t care what anyone says in trying to convince me differently, I know it to be true. There’s only so much that can be done to improve something so deeply ingrained in the societal infrastructure of the Deep South. It’s part of who they are, like it or not.
My sister lived for 10 years in New Orleans, and my father was born and raised in Georgia. Yes, he was a racist. He was also a self-proclaimed Christian. How those two things mesh is beyond me. But I digress. What I learned about Louisiana from having my sister there for so long is that they are, for all intents and purposes, a culture unto themselves. They do things in ways completely unique to them. One common trait they share with much of the South, though, is racism.
You’ve probably guessed by now that I am talking about the unconscionable events in Jena, Louisiana. Yes, I know the U.S. Attorney announced Wednesday that the nooses hung from the tree and the beating are unrelated, to which I resoundingly say ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?! Give me a break!! It’s those damn nooses hung from that damn tree that started ALL of this escalating racial tension at Jena High School! And why did those white students hang those nooses? Because a few black students dared to sit under “their” tree. OH.MY.GOD. Now I ask you, where do you think those high school kids learned to be so racist? No, not just at home, people. I’m telling you, it’s an inherent part of their culture!
So the nooses are hung, and nothing is done. They call it simply a high school prank. Yeah, right, just a prank. NOT! Hanging nooses is just as horrendous as burning a cross in someone’s yard or spray painting a swastika on a Synagogue! It’s a hate crime! (At least the police in Alexandria, Louisiana, 40 miles from Jena, recognize it for what it is! Be sure to pay attention to what the passenger of the pickup said to authorities. Like I said, deeply ingrained!) So, tensions rise and more incidents take place, finally leading to several black students beating up a white boy who, by the way, was treated and released, then went to a school function that night! All of a sudden it’s attempted murder and they’re arrested! WTF?? Eventually the national media got wind of the story, and you know what’s happened since then. Yesterday thousands marched for justice in Jena, and I SO wish I could have been there! For all the good it did. Today the Court announced that Mychal Bell, the sole defendant who remains behind bars from the group of teens known as the “Jena 6,” will not be released. This is unbelievable. This should outrage ALL of us! He was a minor when this incident occurred and he should have been charged as a juvenile! But let’s just put all that aside for a moment and consider THIS: his conviction was overturned!! WHY is he still in jail??? WHY do they refuse to release him or transfer him to a juvenile facility! This is WRONG, people!
Stand up for what is RIGHT! Shout it from the rooftops — or better yet, SHOUT it from your blogs!! We are more powerful than you know!
Jena, Louisiana, Jena 6, Mychal Bell, Racism, Racism in the South
About The Author
Un-freaking-real. That’s all I can say.
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There is a reason the south is more racist than the north. There are more black people here. I noticed that before I came in to contact with black people I was not racist at all, I considered them to be just like everyone else. After going to a public high school (75% black by enrollment, 50% by attendance) I began to think differently.
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Terry, I know. It’s like the 1960s all over again.
Ben — First of all, thank you for taking the time to leave your thoughts.
Regarding your comment, I can see where you’re coming from, but I feel your reasoning is a bit superficial compared to the complexity of the issue, and the true beginnings of racism in this country. And let’s not forget that people’s behavior, to a great extent, tend to reflect the way in which they are treated by others and the environment in which they live. No, that’s not an “excuse”, but it is definitely a factor.
We all know it’s true that it was the South which owned the slaves and considered Black people more as property than people, and I believe that mindset has carried over for generations in the South — especially the Deep South. I’m not going to make a statement as sweeping as to intimate ALL Southerners are racist, but I do believe a majority of them are, whether they’re willing to admit it or not. It’s the way in which they’ve been raised to think for generations. The KKK is still alive and well in the South, believe me! The fact that there are more Black people in the South is a given; the population has continued to grow since the days of slavery.
Anyway, it’s a very loaded and controversial subject, to be sure. I really do appreciate hearing your thoughts. Thank you!
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This is a touchy subject. But as a white male, I’m more than a little resentful at the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, so selectively moralizing.
I myself am a fair person. I believe people should be judged by their conduct, achieve what they will by merit. I appreciate your sense of outrage about the Jena situation.
What I don’t appreciate is the exacerbation, constantly, endlessly. If there were an easy way out of this conundrum, someone would surely have found it.
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Creech — Thanks so much for weighing in on this. I really do appreciate it.
My opinion is that the “exacerbation, constantly, endlessly” absolutely must continue! There actually was an easy way out — in the beginning! They’ve screwed it up so badly that now they are left with only two options: admit when they’re wrong and change it, or pigheadedly continue on the same path. Unfortunately, they opt for the latter. That is why the protest really must continue, Mark. It’s purely an outrage what’s happening, not to mention wholly unjust!
That’s what I think, anyway. ;)
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I live in Louisiana presently and I can honestly say that racism is a way of life down hear. I grew up loving my coumtry, state, and city. But I no longer have those feelings. After witnissing countless acts of racism in my hometown and many surrounding areas like Livingston, St. Tammany, and Washington Parishes. I know many people don’t want to hear about racism in the South because it may affect their bottom lines. But the fact of the mater is schools are more segregated now than they were in the 60’s. And jails are being feeled with African American men and women who have committed non violent crimes. It is not a coincedence that Louisiana ranks number 1 in government corruption.
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