News
UW weighs in on ‘Jena six’
Looking for a print version?
Simply use your browser’s ‘Print’ command and a printer-friendly document will be generated automatically.
Also by Cassie Kornblau:
- UW students dare to experiment with drugs (November 13, 2008)
- Incumbent Kind knocks down Barrett challenge (November 5, 2008)
- Supporting McCain amid Obamamania (October 27, 2008)
- Social media conquer politics (October 23, 2008)
- UW fundraising shaken (October 22, 2008)
Sharing tools:
E-mail this article:
Thousands across the United States, including some at the University of Wisconsin, responded to the incident in Jena, La., where six black teenagers were incarcerated after being accused of beating a white classmate.
The Associated Pressreported Thursday that protesters, including Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson, gathered in Jena to "Free the Jena 6," six black students who protesters believe were treated too harshly by the courts, while alleged racist actions toward the students remain unpunished.
After a black student from Jena High School sat under the “White Tree” last September — a spot dominated by upper-class white students — three nooses allegedly appeared on the White Tree. Months later, authorities reported a white student was beaten by six black classmates. The event escalated racial tension within the criminal justice system and drew national attention to the small Louisiana town.
Dennis Courtland Hayes, interim president and chief financial officer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said in a letter the white students involved received a three-day in-school suspension for hanging the nooses.
However, Hayes said the events led to the arrest of the young black men — all currently charged with serious criminal offenses that could lead to decades in jail.
UW senior Katrina Flores, executive staff member for the Multi-Cultural Student Coalition, said she could not believe this type of racism still happens in this country.
"This is a wake-up call to America that race is an issue in today's society," Flores said. "Things like this occur every year, and we need to be proactive in discussing race in America."
Flores said students on the UW campus should respond in the same manner as they did to Virginia Tech and take action like the students in Louisiana.
"This is not just something in Louisiana but also in our backyard," Flores said. "Youth of color in Madison have the highest incarceration rates in Dane County."
Since the mid-1980s, Flores said UW has not been immune to racial issues.
Flores said MCSC came about after a mock slave auction was held on Langdon Street and in Gordon Commons, where black students were once harassed by workers.
Flores also cited the UW Police Department’s cancellation of the Lambda Theta hip-hop event last Saturday.
"We have a major issue every year," Flores said. "There are still incidents that make students feel unwelcome on this campus."
Flores said it is important to encourage students to get involved and help keep UW a forward-thinking university when it comes to racial issues.
Flores added students should attend the Plan 2008 forum on diversity next weekend and take a cultural dialogue class MCSC puts on each semester.
"We need to go out into the world and graduate as leaders for the community in terms of racial issues," Flores said.
17 Comments | Leave a comment
Leave a comment
Herald Blogs
The Beat Goes On
Muckrakers
President’s Visit Marked a Speech to One of the Last Groups Not Critical of Him
Extra Points
Top Classified Ads (view all)
HOUSES FOR Fall 2010. All houses are on W Dayton or N Bassett. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 bedrooms. All have parking. madisoncampusrentals.com
I want to thank the Badger Herald for addressing this issue. Gracias y Xiexie. Just a few clarifications I want to make about my comments in this article:
I can believe this still happens in America…sadly it is not surprising.
“Since the mid-1980’s” Actually, racism has been prevalent on this campus way before the 1980’s especially since at most universities across the country folks of color were not even allowed to get an education in our recent past. However, I chose only to highlight specific instances starting with the 1980’s so I could be concise.
“MCSC came about after a mock slave auction” Actually, MCSC started in 1999 but the MSC (Multicultural Student Center) came about after the mock slave auction in the 1980’s (so did Plan 2008 and the diversity plan pre-dating that one called the Madison Plan-the first 10 year plan…so yes we are actually in 20 years of diversity plans here at UW-Madison)
The specific course MCSC created to talk about these issues is called ICD: InterCultural Dialoges and is a Sociology course. If you want more information visit our website: www.mcscuw.com to apply. Or you can also take Student SEED. Contact Eric Mata to apply (look him up on the UW people search).
Once again, thank you Badger Herald for your responsible attention to the Jena 6. Please also join the UW Black Student Union’s facebook group to also learn more about how to get involved on our campus in speaking up for the Jena 6.
Paz y Luz Badgers! Forward Thinking. Katrina Flores kbflores@wisc.edu
When people of color stop harassing whites the same way, then I’ll think about getting involved. No one seems to care about it when whites are targeted. Go back to Africa and Mexico if you don’t like it. No one’s forcing you to stick around.
Why don’t whites, many of whose ancestors voluntarily came to this country, go back to Europe.
Look at Katrina, she said thank you in Spanish AND Chinese. So cultured you are!
I think many times minorities beat themselves more than anything. Not all the blame can be put on whites
Everyone needs to embrace each others cultures. Everyone is quick to point the finger at whites for not doing this or not doing that. However, many minorities dont help the cause when theyre not outgoing enough. Alot of minorities dont interact with whites and have social problems. It’s called acculturation. Minorities need to stop being so anti-white and reach out more
Oh so quick to put the blame on students of color. I feel like I am a very well adapted member of society as a person of color with friends from all cultural backgrounds. Yes, this includes those of European descent. My outgoing personality has not prevented me from being racially slurred on multiple occasions. How exactly am I supposed to embrace that?
“Minorities need to stop being so anti-white and reach out more.”
May I ask you if you reach out to students of color? If not, then why do you ask others to do something you’re not willing to do? If the answer to that is that you’ve only had bad interactions with students of color, then do you believe that might be the case with those you perceive to be anti-white? Just looking for some clarification.
“Why don’t whites, many of whose ancestors voluntarily came to this country, go back to Europe.”
Make us.
“Oh so quick to put the blame on students of color.”
No, we’d just like students of color to acknowledge their share of the blame, that’s all. Until they do, we’ll continue to laugh at their misery, most of which is either self-inflicted or imaginary.
hey 10:18 get your head out of your ass!! Most of the quote unqoute “Blacks” and “Mexicans” can not go back to Africa or Mexico for the mere fact, that to go back means to return to a place where one has previously been. And well they’ve most likely never been there because they were born in AMERICA hence the ethnic descriptions of African-AMERICAN and Mexican-AMERICAN.
So instead of all the typing back and forth how about someone step up to the plate and act on what their suggesting??? After all we all know it’s easy to talk a good game and point out others faults, but it’s much harder to actually act out on your words/thoughts, and correct your own behaviors.This issue is only going to get worse before it gets better for the simple fact no one is trying to take their own advice.
WHile I am not a student at UW-Madison, a lot of the issues I am seeing on the campus are direct reflections of what go on at my institution, UW-Whitewater.
First of all, as a minority, I do place some blame on some of us who choose not to branch out to others unfamiliar. College is about acculturation and becoming one with those who are not like you.
With that being said, I do place blame on non-minorities as well. Some of us try to—and have become beacons of diversity on our respective campuses. However, hearing of ignorance on these blogs and in person can deter any minority to remain in their shell because they do not feel comfortable.
It reminds me of a situation I experienced last night when a couple White guys told me that they were cool because they wore Bathing Apes and they knew how to do the Superman. I took offense for a couple of reasons:
One is that I know those were racially motivated. Would they have acted the same way around their White friends? Not likely…
Secondly, I don’t know how to do the SUperman nor do I wear Bathing Apes. As a Black man, it is surprising to hear, right? Only if your mind feeds off of stereotypes.
My point is that in order for people to acculturate and diversify themselves, there has to be a mutual respect on both sides. Minorities should not distance themselves without trying and non-minorities should not consider stereotypes a token of welcome and appreciation of minorities.
Yes, we have come a long way but there is still MUCH progress to be made…
*I Am Purely disgusted by some of the comments on this blog. The mere fact that people engender such notions of racial insensitivity truly makes me believe we live in a backward age. There is so much more to one’s culture and condition that goes overlooked by many outside and inside a distinct racial diaspora. To those who’ve made these vile and utterly ridiculous comments, I’ll truly pray that one day you may gain some grain of common sense, common sense enough to know that you are only perpetuating an ongoing stream of racial disunity and corruption of the HUMAN RACE. Please remember that that is what we all are at the core, humans. Yes we have differences, however those are clearly linked to our heritages, cultures, and the conditions in which we grew up in. Honestly, to speak of another person as lesser than…truly what does that make you? Perhaps you are not as cultured yourself, for in order to have such a limited mindframe, I’m most certain that has to be the case. We are all products of our environment, people go where they feel comfortable, voice opinions based on their experiences, and are entitled to march along the street if they want. THis is America! or is it? because according to these comments I feel as if this nation is rivited with injustice, a dangerous injustice which seems to be nestled in the minds of those holding onto the deep rooted social misgivings we’ve encountered over the centuries… To those who made these comments you should be ashamed…ashamed to call yourself an educated individual, a person of integrity, and a human being… you lack so much understanding of people and the world around you and should truly be more introspective in the future to realize the power of your words
& To whoever said this comment below: Until they do, we’ll continue to laugh at their misery, most of which is either self-inflicted or imaginary. -you are an animail. anyone to take joy in another’s pain is truly lesser than that of the human race. I truly believe you are sick and pray for people like you
This is ridiculous. 1. saying things like go back to Africa/Mexico is completely uncalled for.
stupid comments like that are part of the reason that things are so messed up. We all live here, we’re all Americans in some respect, so why don’t you just chill the fuck out and recognize a person’s right to live here in “the land of the free”. And what gives you the right to say go back to Africa, but when someone says go back to Europe you can say “make us”. what makes you better? the color of your skin. that’s not even a choice, you got lucky, congratulations, but that gives you no right to disrespect others. we’re all immigrants, with the exception of Native Americans, so lets all realize that we all stand on the same plain.
why can’t we all reach out?
Both minorities and whites should be making an effort to get to know and understand one another. it is never the fault of only one group of people. it takes two to tango.
open up your mind.
my guess is that if you’re so quick to judge people, that’s because you don’t know enough about them. as a white person, there is no way to fully grasp what a person who is a minority goes through, but at least try. ask questions, understand, give people a chance to open up and share their opinions and feelings. you’ll never grow if you don’t shut up and listen sometimes. but if you’re happy being ignorant, hey that’s your loss.
Thanks to all who showed up at the march yesterday to support the Jena 6 and also to the information session later on the same day. It’s good to know some do act.
Katrina Flores kbflores@wisc.edu
there is a lot of ignorance and immaturity in most of these comments.
that is all i have to say.
For all those people who have those rude comments about us blacks….continue to be cowards stay ignorant and anonymous. Everyone knows you would NEVER say it to a black person’s face. We marched to show support something that is severely lacking around the world!