John Mellencamp–the man I used to lovingly refer to as ‘John Cougat Melonchop’ for no earthly reason, recorded a song called ‘Take down your nooses’ in response to racism in America and of course, the story of the Jena Six.
Now, there are many views to take on the situation–my view is that I don’t condone violence but I can’t see how the punishment is fitting the crime. If a sneaker can be construed as a possible weapon, and I suppose it could if you were on bizarro planet, they’ve got something on the kid with the offensive sneaker…BUT, here’s the thing: it’s been said that the black jurors called never appeared in court. That may be true. Do we know WHY they didn’t appear? Not as far as I know. I’ve been around long enough to know that there are means used in the South especially, to dissuade folks from doing what they know is right. I can’t paint the entire town with one great big paintbrush. They are individuals. I can give most of ‘em the benefit of the doubt. My main problem here is in understanding how the students who hung the nooses in the first place weren’t treated the same way. It was a hate crime. Nooses do not conjure up warm and fuzzy memories of puppy dogs, ice cream sodas and rainbows. Come on. I was born at night, but not last night.
Even if those kids (the perps, as they shall be called in this column) had engaged in criminal activity prior to the ‘beating’ (okay, so the kid who was beaten attended a social gathering after the ‘attack’. what was this kid, Wolverine?) what justifies the sentencing?
I don’t get it.
I DO know that I’ve been black all of my life and I grew up in privilege and comfort. My Dad grew up in Mississippi. I know what a small southern town is like, believe me. There are towns in the south that still have an unspoken rule that the Sun should not set on anyone with African ancestry. Take my word for it, I am not naive.
So, go on over to youtube and check out Melonchop’s song.
I’m not sure if I can put it up here since it’s going to be on his new album. I don’t want the brotha on my arse about it.
It’s called ‘Take down your nooses’–I think.
Hey, you can also check it out on his website.
I dig the ole fella.