Students at GSU's Alma J. Brown sound off on Jena 6 protest
By: Justin LaGrande
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: Jena 6
|
The children marched in protest of the imprisonment of Mychal Bell, and the seemingly racial bias shown toward Blacks in the small Louisiana town. Though they didn't travel far (they only circled their playground), their statement was felt with great emotion.
Before marching, the students were taught about racism. They also learned about the events surrounding the "Jena 6" and their arrest. After the lesson, the school children made signs and prepared to march in support of the six young men who were charged with attempted murder after a schoolyard fight.
When asked about the purpose of the march, Rhonda Jones, Jr., a teacher at Alma J. Brown Elementary, said, "It is our goal as educators not to teach academics, but the whole individual. History will always be a part of us all and we must help our children become more knowledgeable of the world around us by being involved and the students will remember it."
While the children were marching for equality, Teachers took time to tell the kids about the reasons for their march once again. They even had a replica noose and explained why it is such a symbol of racism.
They also allowed the children to carry chains and shackles. The point of the entire exercise was to educate the youngest people on Grambling's campus about the pains of racism, and the dangers of ignoring it.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 13
bob
posted 10/01/07 @ 12:29 PM CST
Mychal Bell is a thug. This is his third offense for beating up kids smaller than him.
Patti Anderson
posted 10/01/07 @ 2:02 PM CST
Being an African American myself and a mother I feel this so called act of teaching children about racism is very foolish and ignorant. These precious children minds are barely developed and you all are instilling your own personal views and feelings on them. (Continued…)
James Costello
posted 10/02/07 @ 8:57 AM CST
Mychal Bells foot was on probation while it was kicking someone in the head. On probation for what you ask? well how about asault. I think the march for justice was a proper march, but for the wrong person. (Continued…)
charlotte
posted 10/02/07 @ 10:07 AM CST
I agree. It was over 400 years ago. I understand that you want to teach history, BUT, you can teach it without the racism. By hanging a noose from a tree and encouraging a young girl to put her neck through it, you are doing worse than what was done by the white kids who hung the noose in Jena. (Continued…)
Dogon Soldier
posted 10/02/07 @ 10:16 AM CST
I am a graduate of Southern University, a Louisiana native, and a conscious minded African-American who does not live in a bubble.
I embrace the reality of racism, and the fact that MANY of us truly do not even know Black History, and much of what we learn had to be taught to us later in life or is something we had to learn on our own. (Continued…)
Kim
posted 10/02/07 @ 5:24 PM CST
As a mother, I was horrified looking at the precious little girl's neck placed in a noose. I thought to myself, what if the lady holding her dropped her or her foot slipped. (Continued…)
Rico Rivers
Rico Rivers
posted 10/03/07 @ 6:52 PM CST
Here we go again with the silliness. You people are nuts! Black children need to be taught about who hated us then (how, when, where, why) and also now! Jim Crow may be dead, James Crow, Jr. (Continued…)
Maria Ricard
posted 3/17/09 @ 6:51 AM CST
I thought this debate was about them, as opposed to featuring them. Whoops.
d-N-b
dNb
posted 3/17/09 @ 1:11 PM CST
I'm sorta feeling Rico. Real talk, why not educate our young, black children the realities of racism? It's still prevelant so educate them about it, make them aware of it and give them the tools to overcome it. (Continued…)
Rico Rivers
posted 3/17/09 @ 1:18 PM CST
AMEN, DNB !!!!
Post a Comment