Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Cornell graduate: 'White privilege' let me rebound from heroin arrest, earn degree
The Post-Standard ^ | January 23, 2015 | Ben Axelson

Posted on 01/23/2015 9:08:29 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Keri Lynn Blakinger after 2010 arrest.

Keri Blakinger was arrested in December 2010 in possession of $50,000 worth of heroin.

At age 26, the Cornell class of 2011 senior was suspended from the university and agreed to a plea deal with a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. 21 months later, she was released, quickly hired at the Ithaca Times, and readmitted to Cornell. Last month, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in English, according to The Ithaca Voice.

In a column for the Washington Post, she attributes her incredible rebound to one thing: White privilege.

In an excerpt from her column, she describes the "systemic racism" she witnessed in the penal system, and society as a whole:

"...Instead of a decade behind bars and a life grasping for the puny opportunities America affords some ex-convicts, I got a second chance... What made my quick rebound possible?

"I am white.

"Second chances don't come easily to people of color in the United States. But when you are white, society offers routes to rebuild your life. When found guilty of a drug crime, white people receive shorter sentences than black people. And even after prison, white men fare better in the job market than black men with identical criminal records.

"It was prison that clued me in to just how much I benefit from systemic racism in our society. Until then, I hadn't thought much about white privilege, which is exactly how privilege works—as a white person, I could ignore it. But sitting behind bars, I saw how privilege touches almost everything, especially the penal system."(continued)

(Excerpt) Read more at syracuse.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: blacks; crime; newyork; whites
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-55 next last

1 posted on 01/23/2015 9:08:30 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Apparently, after release, she switched from heroin to crack.


2 posted on 01/23/2015 9:12:47 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Hey, whatever it takes

Down here, all the high schoolers openly say that unless you’re Hispanic ‘Latino non white’ you can forget easy admission and scholarships

They know


3 posted on 01/23/2015 9:14:12 PM PST by stanne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Most people in prison have been arrested many times, some in the dozens. Unless you commit a violent crime odds are you will be out in a couple of years.


4 posted on 01/23/2015 9:14:32 PM PST by LukeL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stanne

Just send your kids to college in Canada or Hard Work University:

https://www.cofo.edu/


5 posted on 01/23/2015 9:15:46 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Oy

Well we do have a plan, being naturally averse to victimhood

A good plan


6 posted on 01/23/2015 9:17:12 PM PST by stanne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I think Ithaca NY exists in some kind of parallel universe where it’s always 1968.


7 posted on 01/23/2015 9:17:58 PM PST by Impy (They pull a knife, you pull a gun. That's the CHICAGO WAY, and that's how you beat the rats!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

All she had to do is slap a guard and she could stay as long as she wanted.


8 posted on 01/23/2015 9:17:58 PM PST by Ramius (Personally, I give us one chance in three. More tea anyone?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Impy

Didn’t Keith Olbermann matriculate there?


9 posted on 01/23/2015 9:18:44 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

She could have petitioned for the judge for a harsh sentence, if she were really down for the struggle.


10 posted on 01/23/2015 9:19:42 PM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

There is a great deal of data that show that whites receive shooter sentences for drug crimes than blacks.

Could be race or just about who can hire a better lawyer.


11 posted on 01/23/2015 9:22:31 PM PST by Oliviaforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

“The university allowed her to finish her remaining two classes, but it was only after dozens of letters of support and reference from friends, family, community leaders and her editors at The Ithaca Times that the university decided to lift her lifetime ban from the campus.”

No, no, no! These endorsements mean NOTHING, it’s just that she’s white.


12 posted on 01/23/2015 9:24:59 PM PST by DBrow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oliviaforever

Or there wasn’t violence involved?


13 posted on 01/23/2015 9:25:24 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Impy; windcliff; stylecouncilor

Peace and Love, Bro. Which way to The Johnny Winter concert?
14 posted on 01/23/2015 9:33:54 PM PST by onedoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
what is her point? white privilege or "...that she wasn't just welcomed back to Cornell, no questions asked. The university allowed her to finish her remaining two classes, but it was only after dozens of letters of support and reference from friends, family, community leaders and her editors at The Ithaca Times that the university decided to lift her lifetime ban from the campus.

Letters I'm sure she put a lot of time and effort into securing. That is, she worked for re-admission - which has jack to do with 'white privilege' and everything to do with motivation and goals. Unfortunately, Cornell couldn't teach her the difference.

15 posted on 01/23/2015 9:35:09 PM PST by blueplum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
When found guilty of a drug crime, white people receive shorter sentences than black people.

If a black woman, also a senior in college, and I assume also with no prior arrests, had her first drug conviction... I would bet she would have only gotten probation.

16 posted on 01/23/2015 10:05:59 PM PST by Cementjungle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Impy
"Keri Blakinger was arrested in December 2010 in possession of $50,000 worth of heroin."

On what planet does someone with 50K in heroin get released?

I guaran-damn-tee you I'd be looking at hard time.

I don't think it's "white privilege"

I think it's "daddy's money privilege"

And my dad ain't rich.

This hole-of-ass should keep her big yapper shut.

Not many "white people" get away with such crimes.

17 posted on 01/23/2015 10:07:14 PM PST by boop (I never use the words democrats and republicans. I use liberals and Americans.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Self loathing POS.


18 posted on 01/23/2015 10:14:34 PM PST by mylife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: boop

I think it’s “daddy’s money privilege”

Exactly.


19 posted on 01/23/2015 10:18:35 PM PST by mylife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Olberman matriculated there?

Gettin’ a little personal there, arn’cha? I really don’t want to know what he did there. (Although he probably masticated there too.)


20 posted on 01/23/2015 10:19:20 PM PST by Bob (Violence in islam? That's not a bug; it's a feature.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-55 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson