Describe The Experience Of The Jena 6: Who, What, When, Wher

Describe the experience of the Jena 6: who, what, when, where. How was the case eventually adjudicated?

The Jena 6 refers to six Black teenagers involved in a controversial racial incident in Jena, Louisiana, in 2006. The case arose after a racially charged altercation at Jena High School, where a noose was hung in a tree sparking outrage. The six youths were arrested and charged with serious crimes, notably for their involvement in a fight with a White student. The case became a national symbol of racial injustice; it prompted protests and drew attention to disparities in the criminal justice system. In 2007, some of the charges against the Jena 6 were reduced, and others served reduced sentences or were acquitted, but the case highlighted systemic issues of racial bias and the criminalization of Black youth.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The Jena 6 incident exemplifies racial tensions and injustices within the American criminal justice system. In 2006, in Jena, Louisiana, six Black teenagers became the focal point of nationwide attention following a series of racially charged events at Jena High School. Prior to the incident, the school was embroiled in racial tensions, notably after White students sat under a tree that had a noose hanging from it, symbolizing a racial threat and intimidation. The students involved in the altercation were accused of assault and other serious charges. The case drew widespread criticism for perceived racial disparities: the Black youths faced more severe charges than their White counterparts, and the case was seen as emblematic of systemic racial bias. The case was eventually adjudicated with some charges reduced, sentences shortened for some, and acquittals for others. This case underscores the broader issues of racial injustice, school desegregation, and the criminalization of Black youth in America.

What has been the attitude of the civil rights community on the War on Drugs?

The civil rights community has largely criticized the War on Drugs, viewing it as a policy that disproportionately harms communities of color. Critics argue it has led to mass incarceration and systemic racial disparities in sentencing, perpetuating social and economic inequalities instead of reducing drug abuse or related crimes.

What one area of criminal justice has most been the focus of civil rights lawyers?

Civil rights lawyers have primarily focused on issues related to mass incarceration, racial disparities in sentencing, and prisoners' rights within the criminal justice system.

Why was Rosa Parks chosen to be the symbol of courage by not giving up her seat on the bus?

Rosa Parks was chosen because her act of defiance in 1955 challenged racial segregation and became a powerful symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, exemplifying individual courage and resistance against racial injustice.

Who were Claudette Colvin and Mary Louise Smith? Why were they not chosen to represent the bus boycotters?

Claudette Colvin and Mary Louise Smith were young Black women who also refused to give up their bus seats before Rosa Parks. They were not chosen as the symbol because of their age, circumstances, or the timing of their acts, which did not garner the same immediate attention or fitting narrative as Parks’ protest.

Why does Alexander include these examples (Parks, Colvin, Smith) in her discussion of criminal advocacy?

Alexander highlights these examples to illustrate how individual acts of resistance and social activism challenge systemic oppression, and to show how civil rights advocates use legal and social strategies to confront racial injustice.

Do poverty and unemployment statistics include people behind bars?

No, poverty and unemployment statistics generally do not include people behind bars, which can underestimate economic hardship among the incarcerated population.

On what basis does Bruce Western argue that it is “pure fiction” that the Clinton years were good for African Americans?

Bruce Western argues that the claim is fiction because during the Clinton years, mass incarceration increased sharply, disproportionately impacting African Americans and undermining economic and social progress in Black communities.

What is the Corrections Corporation of America?

The Corrections Corporation of America (now CoreCivic) is a private prison company that profits from operating correctional facilities, often under contract with government agencies.

Besides for-profit prisons, name at least three “prison profiteers.”

Other prison profiteers include private probation companies, electronic monitoring firms, and private immigration detention centers.

Does mass incarceration contribute substantially to lower crime rates?

Research indicates that while mass incarceration may have some crime-deterring effects, its overall contribution to lowering crime rates is limited and often disproportionately affects marginalized communities.

What did California’s Proposition 36 mandate?

Proposition 36 mandated the diversion of non-violent drug offenders from prison into treatment programs instead of incarceration.

What is colorblindness and why is it problematic as an approach to the War on Drugs?

Colorblindness is the idea of ignoring race altogether in policy making, which is problematic because it disregards the racial disparities and systemic inequalities embedded in the War on Drugs, thus perpetuating injustice.

What is California’s Proposition 54 (endnote #34). Did it pass or fail?

Proposition 54 aimed to ban the use of streaming or recording legislative debates until after they occur; it failed to pass.

Why does the author consider affirmative action as a “racial bribe”?

The author views affirmative action as a “racial bribe” because it is seen as a way to placate racial groups while maintaining systemic inequalities and not addressing deeper structural issues.

What are the four threats to the declining circumstances of white men in the U.S.? Hint: one is NOT affirmative action.

The threats include economic decline, shrinking job opportunities, health disparities, and systemic racial changes; affirmative action is not one of these threats.

Does the presence of people of color as workers in the criminal justice make a difference in light of all the problems discussed in the book? Why or why not?

Generally, the presence of people of color as workers in the criminal justice system does not significantly change systemic issues; it can sometimes reinforce existing racial biases and inequalities.

Has President Obama’s administration made things worse or better? How does Alexander support this answer?

Alexander argues that Obama’s administration made some progress but ultimately continued mass incarceration policies, supporting her view with data showing persistent disparities and expansion of certain criminal justice practices.

Who said, “Look, you know, when I was a kid, I inhaled. Frequently. That was the point”?

This quote was famously said by Bill Clinton during a televised interview discussing his prior drug use.

Which writer said to his nephew, “this is your home…do not be driven from it. …we can make America what it must become”?

This was a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a letter emphasizing hope and activism in the struggle for racial justice.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail - Who is the author

The author of the letter is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

To whom was the letter directed?

The letter was addressed to fellow clergymen and community leaders who had criticized his protests.

What did St. Augustine say about an unjust law?

St. Augustine stated that an unjust law is no law at all and should be disobeyed.

Who was Albert Boutwell? Bull Connor?

Albert Boutwell was a politician and segregationist mayor of Birmingham; Bull Connor was the commissioner of public safety known for deploying police forces against protesters during the Civil Rights era.

Which U.S. Constitutional Amendment guarantees peaceful assembly?

The First Amendment guarantees the right to peaceful assembly.

What is Beverly Tatum’s 1997 book?

The book is titled “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?”

What is Tatum’s definition of “antiracist activism” using the metaphor of the conveyor belt?

She describes antiracist activism as a process of continuous effort to dismantle systemic racism, like a conveyor belt that never stops moving forward.

Is there such a thing as passive antiracism? Why or why not?

No, true antiracism requires active effort; passive attitudes perpetuate injustice and are insufficient for meaningful change.

Describe who each of these antiracist activists are and what they did to end racism.

Margaret Burnham is a legal scholar focused on racial justice; Terry D. is an advocate for criminal justice reform; Dr. Martin Nathan is a historian studying racial history; Dr. James Cameron is a civil rights activist; Dr. Beverly Tatum advocates for education on race; Timothy Jacob Wise works on racial equity in policy.

References

• Alexander, M. (2010). The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. The New Press.
• King, M. L. Jr. (1963). Letter from Birmingham Jail.
• Burnham, M. (2018). Race for Justice. Harvard University Press.
• Clinton, Bill. (1992). Interview on drug use. PBS.
• King, M. L. Jr. (1963). Letter from Birmingham Jail.
• Western, B. (2006). Punishment and Inequality in America. Russell Sage Foundation.
• Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. (1998). Report on racial disparities in criminal justice.
• Goffman, A. (2014). on mass incarceration and racial inequality. Stanford University Press.
• Alexander, M. (2012). Demanding Justice: Civil Rights and Criminal Justice. Harvard University Press.
• Wilson, W. J. (2010). The Declining Significance of Race: Blacks and Changing American Institutions. University of Chicago Press.