Jena: Permeating our every fiber

As we mentioned yesterday, many of the heated racial debates of our day are perpetuated by people who are constantly trying to publicize these issues as racial debates, further polarizing people on one side or the other and re-segregating the population, instead of continuing the arduous and important task of integrating American society, something started only 40 years ago.

In this light, Bishop T.D. Jakes of Dallas is calling for protest in a different way, advocating giving financial aid to those involved in the Jena situation. To quote:

"While I am a firm believer that marching and protesting raises awareness, our parents and the previous generation took that route because for most, that was their only option, their only way to voice their displeasure, their only way to fight. It is effective at raising awareness and showing support.

Today, many of us have the financial resources to support the fight against injustices by exploring other options. It is equally important that we help the families fight this very expensive battle. Helping can be done in many ways ....Those who have no resources can give time or volunteer to help. Most of us can do something."

Jakes' solution seems to be a way of addressing the problem instead of continuing to dance around it. The legal system is not perfect, but it's what we have. If these young men are convicted unfairly, there is an appeals process for which financial support is necessary. Unfortunately, it's true that many people can't afford to work their way through the legal system, which is why non-affluent people are punished quickly, easily and often unfairly (and why some wealthy people are not punished when they should be).


Ideally, at some level, our laws will rule in favor of equal rights to all men and women. If this is not the case, there is a much larger issue at stake. The Jena 6 and all other criminal defendants need financial support to pay legal fees on their way to receiving proper justice . Any way you slice it, those are the facts, and Jakes has taken significant action toward these ends.

The protests and physical support for the young men in Jena are important, yet they represent only one piece of the puzzle. We have to be cognizant of how things work instead of expecting something unrealistic, like an immediate shift in racist perspective.

The ironic part is that people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson would be out of a job if people were not racist. Effectively, their voice on these issues furthers racial separatism and keeps that old order in place. On the other hand, a man like Jakes sees and understands the system as it is, no matter how unfair it might be; he's working with what he has instead of operating upon an unrealistic ideal. Yes, the black community is still fighting for its civil rights, but acting like NOTHING has progressed in 40 years certainly does not help the situation.