Quote Originally Posted by Bballjamal
Good stuff. But at the same time, how can you downgrade a couple men and a generation from a time where actual situations like these expressed were down right real situations. Also, I don't feel we can use the fact that they shadowed the facts on their own. Lets give the news its credit for first providing america with its cliche "full report" that only showed one side of the story. I do understand the overgrowing problem in todays youth (more prevelant in brown/black americans than most in my eyes mostly because I concentrate on our problems than pointing fingers at others) and I can totally see where he wrong doing what he did.

If this was a clear cut case of him/them using the money in a wrongful way, I'd have a similar hate/argument as most in here. I however only see this as a typical Black American youth issue as a style of flaunting and showing off in a country where it's merely done with the bigger house, better cars, and who's in the elite country club rather than putting paper money in your mouth and taking pictures for myspace. I feel that if he weren't in the case he was in, he'd merely be another black kid who's flaunting on myspace (as I can post multiple pictures of friends doing the same for facebook/myspace etc). As I said though, for his situation, he should've been more humble on it but what do you expect in a world, or outlook on the world in such, money shows power and in this case, shows who won (in their own mindset).

If I worded that messed up feel free to correct or try and find an explaination.


As a closer for this particular post, I think I just find it funny when people have a huge problem with a person(s) and/or situation and find it as "TeH wIn" to blow something up like this as if it means something. I see it as a degrading way to show appreciation to the people that helped, but as far as them not getting justice served, and getting the truth out, I still feel their struggle.
Actually, that was an excellently worded and elegant post. It makes alot of sense. I will counter as such.

If the powers that be (Jesse and Al, the media and any other person with influence) didn't immediately hop on the Race Train, this wouldn't have blown up into the fiasco that it did. When it was found out that 6 black kids beat up a white kid for hanging a noose in a tree, the whole world stopped to watch. When they did, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton stood front and center and used their charisma and influence to organize a protest, a march and a fund to help those poor unfortunate black youths in their time of crisis.

You may not say that they represent the concerns and are not the face of the Black population but when the entire world is watching (like it was during this whole thing) Yes, they are the face of your race. Because nobody else stood up. Everyone else was content to let them run their mouthes and organize what ever they wanted too without a free slate. So of course, in true Jackson/Sharpton style, they made it as big as they could to bring as much attention as they could to the problem. I think we all can agree on that.

Now after the truth has come out and the hoopla has died down, one of the defendants decides to takes pictures of his lifestyle. Because that what those photos are for. They are to show other kids (myspace) that he is living it up, living the high life, he got his. And to make it even worse, he's doing it with the "Free the Jena 6" shirts on.

You are correct about the Larger house, better car and who is in the elite country club. The difference in this situation is that he did it with other peoples money. Not only other peoples money but money that was sent to him because he was black and in trouble. People didn't send that money to help him out for any other reason than that. He was black and he was in trouble so the powers that be spun a tale about how he was poor and black, was persecuted in a racist small town in the deep south and the supporters, tv crews and money starts pouring in. Then he spits in everyones face that helped him and throws his "Lifestyle" up for all to see.

As for a couple old men from a time when these things did happen, you are absolutely right. They are from a time when these things did happen. They don't happen near as much anymore. They are like old soldiers fighting the war they never won. They just keep trying to fight, over and over. They won't let it go and in the end they do more damage than good because the majority of people are trying to let racism go. But these 2 won't let it die. Thats the problem with them.