The following summary of our meeting was published in The Tennessean on October 9:
TAP meeting assesses the larger issues of Jena 6
by Angela Patterson
On Oct. 8, The Tennessee Alliance for Progress held a discussion group at Eastwood Christian Church in East Nashville. The topic: what does Jena 6 tell us about racism in America? How does racism play out in the criminal justice system? How can whites and all minority groups come together against racism and prejudice?
I was intrigued by the fact the group, which has both white and African American members, saw that there were bigger issues behind the Louisiana case that sparked national attention. This has been an ongoing discussion through minority media outlets since the Sept. 20 march— what does the jailing of six black boys in a small Southern town say about racism in our society?
Well, it says a few things, according to responses from the group:
1) that blatant racism still exists in this country, (which I personally believe was a surprise to many in this country);
2) that there’s an obvious disconnect between white and black communities and the media outlets that serve them, and that’s why many white people were completely unaware of this case and issues it brought forward;
3) that the criminalization of children is a real issue, and that there are disparities within the criminal justice system;
4) and that people, particularly young people, were moved to mobilize on this issue because it resonated with them. Whether they felt it was their chance to participate in a modern-day civil rights push, or because they had friends or family who could’ve easily been one of the Jena 6, they related to this real-life situation.
But I think there’s one more element that wasn’t necessarily voiced: People are tired of it, and they’re not going to simply take it anymore.
People of color are tired of hearing stories like the one of Jena 6 via talk radio, or e-mail forwards, or phone calls with friends, and not knowing what to do—or worse, feeling like they were powerless to do anything. But then here came this one case. This was a chance to stand up, not only for those six boys, but all the men, women and children who’ve been unfairly treated at some point, and tell the nation that there is still a problem here. I think it’s especially true for those who are of my generation (mid 20s and younger), who’ve quietly dealt with these issues, and now we had the chance to not only be heard, but also have our words actually make a difference.
So here’s the million-dollar question: It’s clear there’s a problem with racism, but what do we do about it?
The response of one member was that there should be more unity among minority groups. If Hispanic and Asian leaders had united with black leaders on the Jena 6 issue, perhaps it would’ve been viewed as both the racial and human rights issue that it was.
And I agree with her. But the obstacle to that kind of unity, as another member suggested, is that we don’t take the time to really get to know one another’s communities. We’re still a very segregated society, and it’s going to take years—and lots of forward-thinking people— to change that. As the woman said: “An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere; an injustice to anyone is an injustice to everyone”; I think it’ll take my generation and the ones after mine to fully realize the truth of that statement.
One man said many had suggested to him the problem with racism and most of society’s ills start in the home. But what if the home is part of the problem? What if parents aren’t truly being parents? Or worse, what if the parents are the ones teaching the racism? Then what?
As one woman said, you have to redefine what home is.
And I think this is what it’s all come to: We have to return to the “it takes a village” philosophy. People don’t want to make the sacrifice or bear the responsibility of being responsible for more than their own, but our society’s reached a point where we can no longer be individualistic in thought or action. As one member said: “things are only going to change when there’s an alliance of values and of communities.”
