Posted on 10/23/2007 10:58:14 PM PDT by RWR8189
By now, almost everyone in America has heard of Jena, La., because they've all heard the story of the "Jena 6." White students hanging nooses barely punished, a schoolyard fight, excessive punishment for the six black attackers, racist local officials, public outrage and protests – the outside media made sure everyone knew the basics.
There's just one problem: The media got most of the basics wrong. In fact, I have never before witnessed such a disgrace in professional journalism. Myths replaced facts, and journalists abdicated their solemn duty to investigate every claim because they were seduced by a powerfully appealing but false narrative of racial injustice.
I should know. I live in Jena. My wife has taught at Jena High School for many years. And most important, I am probably the only reporter who has covered these events from the very beginning.
The reason the Jena cases have been propelled into the world spotlight is two-fold: First, because local officials did not speak publicly early on about the true events of the past year, the media simply formed their stories based on one-side's statements – the Jena 6. Second, the media were downright lazy in their efforts to find the truth. Often, they simply reported what they'd read on blogs, which expressed only one side of the issue.
The real story of Jena and the Jena 6 is quite different from what the national media presented. It's time to set the record straight.
Myth 1: The Whites-Only Tree. There has never been a "whites-only" tree at Jena High School. Students of all races sat underneath this tree. When a student asked during an assembly at the start of school last year if anyone could sit under the tree, it evoked laughter from everyone present – blacks and whites. As
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
There is no contradiction if you read it as I wrote it.
I am from Texas and I didn’t know anything about this noose=racism thing. Of course here in Texas we used to have public hangings for murderers and horse thieves so maybe we connect it to something different.
Goes to show just how entrenched and how alive PC is even from those on the right. It also shows how well the MSM is willing to perpetuate the bias. What investigative reporting? Just the mere mention of nooses and many were crapping in their pants all over the political spectrum. They were more then willing to believe in the “white tree” and the threat of lynchings. Unfortunately the MSM still has too much influence. Not to mention the complete BS taught in our public schools that help allow for such as this to float to the top in the first place. PC is not a myth…
Actually, I’m having a little problem believing that, myself. I’ve read quite a few recent HS history texts, and I can’t remember a one that didn’t mention lynching, either in the Reconstruction era, or when discussion Jim Crow laws in the early 20th Century.
“It’s a little hard for me to believe that the high schoolers who hung the nooses weren’t at all aware of the symbolism of nooses in the South, though.”"Actually, I’m having a little problem believing that, myself. I’ve read quite a few recent HS history texts, and I can’t remember a one that didn’t mention lynching, either in the Reconstruction era, or when discussion Jim Crow laws in the early 20th Century."
Perhaps they hadn't yet realized that such symbolism precludes any other interpretation...
Then perhaps they are just stupid and deserve their troubles...
Anyone who IS NOT aware of PC is either stupid or incredibly isolated.
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