09.04.07
They cut down the tree, but the roots are still there.- Free The Jena 6
First, let me apologize for weighing in so late on the Jena 6, so let me share my thoughts. I am sure that there are people asking how could this happen in 2007 after Martin Luther King and successes of the civil rights movement? Oprah, Michael Jordan, Will Smith, Tiger Woods are all examples of black success and equality, right, but is it really? I found it significant that the item that started all of this is the greatest metaphor of the whole situation of the issues of race in America. The tree, a symbol of life in the bible. “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bring forth fruit in his season.” This same image has had a sordid past in the south because of the artificial fruit that it once bore. Strange fruit as Billie Holiday once sang.
To cut down the tree and leave its roots intact, is indicative of the American political and social system. The cutting down of the tree is to be seen by many as remedy, hoping that those offended would see this gesture as one of honesty and sincerity. How long are we going to subscribe to this type of programming? We go on everyday striving to get our piece of the pie as if the pie was an end unto itself. Never questioning who baked the pie, what ingredients were used or if there hand were clean, and therein lies the problem. Do we really know if the hands of those who are preparing the proverbial pie are really clean. I say not. What we fail to understand in this country are the constructs of race and class on which this country was founded. These constructs have been in place from the beginning and have been the guiding principals of this country ever since. Every law that has been passed has yet come under the subjection of these construct. Constructs that propose that blacks, especially black men, position on the map of human geography is that of the least. The founding principals of this country have always stayed true to these constructs. Constructs so highly worshiped the Christian Church co-opted its promulgation.
The Word of God always brings revelation. You do not have to been scholar or prophet to receive a revelation. The truth is simple. During the inculturation process of bringing salvation to the slaves, a revelation came. All men are equal. How can this be? A choice had to be made. Do we follow on in truth or not? The Church chose the latter. Rather than walk in revelation, they settled for a form of Godliness denying the power thereof and has limped along in history every since. These constructs say that we don’t matter, we don’t count, our live are worthless compared to theirs because what they fear is our equality. Your place is at bottom, the back of the bus, special ed, cell block 10, 20 to life, death row or we just shoot you with multiple gunshots from a service revolver.
W.E.B Dubois co-wrote “The Negro In The South” along with Booker T. Washington which was published in 1907 . In the chapter entitled, “Religion In The South” he states,
” If my own city of Atlanta had offered it to-day the choice between 500 Negro college graduates–forceful, busy, ambitious men of property and self-respect, and 500 black cringing vagrants and criminals, the popular vote in favor of the criminals would be simply overwhelming. Why? because they want Negro crime? No, not that they fear Negro crime less, but that they fear Negro ambition and success more. They can deal with crime by chain-gang and lynch law, or at least they think they can, but the South can conceive neither machinery nor place for the educated, self-reliant, self-assertive black man.”
The spirit of white supremacy is not messed up at all about crime. Although our news services are very good and highlighting crime and emphasizing its brutality, our society has a remedy for the criminal element. Here Dubois outlines the chain-gang and lynch law, but our modern day criminal justice system is not too far removed from this sentiment. As soon as we assert ourselves or we show promise, they find a way to “criminalize” our behavior to bring us under subjection of the ever present construct of race.
We cut down trees of racism with laws, but the root, which is the construct itself remains intact like the tree in Jena, Louisiana. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is passed as a remedy to Jim Crow which was an offspring of the construct, meant to subvert the right to vote. The Congress before the November 06 election tried to subvert the law once again by its attempt of non-renewal. We finally saw the resignation of a stagnant Attorney General due to a scandal surrounding fired U.S. Attorneys who refused to prosecute voter fraud in minority voting districts. Once again the construct seeks to make its presence known.
As we begin our descent on Jena, Louisiana in a couple of week, let’s remember what the condition of the tree really means. It may be cut down, but roots are still there.
FREE THE JENA 6!!!!