As a member of a minority group (be it not an official minority) I can tell you that there is a tremendous amount of xenophobia on all sides of the issue. Perhaps whites felt that the white boys of Duke were singled out for extreme prosecution because they were white and their alleged victim was black. Perhaps other groups look at juries and find that there are none who are sympathetic to their specific type. Or perhaps, other times the victim looks at a jury and sees that they have more in common with the felon than the victim.
Yet, for the most part, xenophobia seems to be mitigating. We can look forward to a time, perhaps in our grandchildren's life in which it would not be a factor of prosecution nor taken into concern by juries.
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Other reader comments on this article
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Yes, racism is rampant in the United States with the Blacks receiving the short-end of justice. Be that as it... [MORE]
julia
Oct 17, 2007 12:07
This is not a case about black prisoners or black outh culture. This about a double standard and a DA... [MORE]
Mindy
Sep 23, 2007 21:39
I agree with most of your assertions, aside from your claim that six white boys would not have been punished... [MORE]
Tom
Sep 21, 2007 12:24
The idea that America remains racist is simply an excuse for minorities to claim victimhood. Institutionalized racism is a thing... [MORE]
Dan from Atlanta
Sep 21, 2007 12:13
In any society, the large majority of violent crimes will be committed by 1) men, 2) the poor, and 3)... [MORE]
D.J. Leslie
Sep 21, 2007 09:02
From the article:
"The Jena story, it must be said, does not show the school's black teens in their best light.... [MORE]
David
Sep 21, 2007 04:26
The day after the nooses appeared, the principal of the school, the mayor, and the police chief should have gathered... [MORE]
Clifford Billions
Sep 20, 2007 23:41
One kid on the ground while several kids try kicks to his head is a serious assault which could be... [MORE]
guthriej
Sep 20, 2007 22:59
I agree with most of what you said, but I disagree about the noose incident just being a prank. I... [MORE]
John
Sep 20, 2007 16:46
I don't know if Rev. Sharpton is going to help this cause. I don't recall him asking for a Congressional... [MORE]
Carol
Sep 20, 2007 16:44
What I find amazingly disturbing is the fact that the stunt with the nooses is even brought in to this... [MORE]
David
Sep 20, 2007 16:27
I am almost 68 years old and I have seen the whole spectrum of racial divisiveness this country can produce... [MORE]
Jim
Sep 20, 2007 16:08
Al Sharpton has zero credibility. He is a fraud and has no business in LA. The Tawana Brawley case will... [MORE]
Bob Henkel
Sep 20, 2007 16:08
Do you think one could dismiss the hanging of nooses in Jena High school as a joke especially given the... [MORE]
Siva
Sep 20, 2007 13:35
Mr. McWhorter has no problems exposing the Jena prosecutor as a bigot, based on the facts as he sees them.... [MORE]