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The story of the “Jena Six” has swept the United States and international media. I didn’t know anything like this existed until a few days ago. The story is complicated and sad.
Countless activist groups, many of them online – particularly, many Facebook groups – have risen to espouse various opinions on this controversial issue.
The media have been saying that a group of black high school students in Jena, La., chose to sit under a tree traditionally used by white students during lunch. The next day, someone had hung three nooses in the tree – some sources say two – a clear reference to the lynchings of black people that have historically plagued the South.
The next few months were filled with protests, near-riots and an alleged act of arson that destroyed the main building of Jena High School.
A district attorney is accused of telling black students he could ruin their lives from his office. But amid all this conflict, the only legal action that has occurred is the charging of six black students with attempted murder.
The resentment following these actions is justified for many reasons but mainly because it is 2007. Many of us who do not live in racially charged areas scratch our heads after such events and ask, “Hasn’t the US moved on?”
The poignant truth is that racism did not end with the passage of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision and the Civil Rights Act; institutional racism – segregation, etc. – simply became illegal.
I spent 18 years in Kenya and ethnic biases eroded many communities there due to nepotism, unfair distribution of wealth and corruption in many public places. It was sad to realize that we judged ourselves based on our ethnic background. People in Kenya have put this phenomenon behind them and are working together to build a stronger country. This ethnic tension is no different than racism. Sometimes, you just wonder why superiority is such a human weakness that we can’t just get along despite our differences.
I realized that the problems stemming from many of the ethnic biases in Kenya and the latent racist attitudes which permeate America cannot be solved with legislation; they require all people to make personal attempts to bridge ethnic and racial gaps to end so-called self-segregation.
A common trend that I realize here in America, especially among social organizations, is to attach the euphemism “historically” before various groups. “Historically” black churches, “historically” white fraternities, “historically” black colleges and universities and “historically” white suburbs all have significant cultural value, but history should not prevent us from moving beyond these segregated lines.
During my time here in the United States, I have met a few people whom I would characterize as “passive racists.” They don’t harbor strong negative feelings to people of other races – and they certainly aren’t violent or hateful – but it is obvious from their speech and actions that they are uncomfortable with minorities.
My challenge to them is simple: Why do these things bother you? Most of the time, these people can’t articulate a convincing answer. But I would also say that I have met some notable and decent people here at the University of Maine and I have learned a great deal from them. Most people are willing to give you a chance, get to know you and help you discover yourself. That is what has defined my UMaine Black Bear experience during my time here and I am grateful for that.
My fellow students should know that if integration is not achieved, nations and societies will remain backward in many ways. They should know it is 2007. Countries and societies are becoming globally integrated and the growth of their economies and living standards have significantly improved due to these integrations of great minds of people from all over the world. I believe the bottom line is, “Just get to know the other person better.”
Every time we prejudge someone because of skin color, we hinder our ability to move on and, instead, make our communities more isolated from the rest of the world.
Steve Nganga is a graduate student in public administration.
Bangor Daily News