Dr. Phil and the Jena Six

Did anyone catch Dr. Phil on Friday? He had a mix of people involved in the Jena Six saga – a teacher from Jena Junior High, Justin Barker and his parents, Rev. Brian Morgan and Al Sharpton.

I can’t even get into everything that they argued about and discussed, but I’ll point out some things I thought were interesting. You can look at transcripts of the show here.


* I thought it was interesting to see the Barkers discuss what has happened. Justin Barker was in the audience, instructed by a lawyer not to discuss the fight, but he said he’s doing OK now.

Dr. Phil asked his parents if they thought his life “hung in the balance” after the fight where the six students punched and kicked him, to which they replied, “yes,” to which I replied, “then why did you let him go to a social function later that evening?”

Dr. Phil also asked if Justin Barker did anything to provoke the fight. Both parents said he didn’t, that they specifically asked him if he said anything that made the boys beat on him the way they did, and Justin Barker said he didn’t do anything. Hmmmm…Teenager 101: would he actually have told his parents that he provoked a fight that has thrown his family, school and town into the national spotlight as the 2007 poster children for racial tension? Or is it easier to put the blame on someone else?

* Bobbie Cornett, a teacher’s aide at Jena Junior High School, said she blames Rev. Al Sharpton for making Jena seem like a town full of racists, calling him the racist and a bully. According to her, “Our town wasn’t racially divided before this happened.”
Sharpton pointed out that he was called to Jena by the parents of the six students and other blacks in the town that felt differently.

I won’t get too detailed into my thoughts about Cornett’s statement, but I wish that she, and other white residents of Jena, would stop saying that. Just because you ignored a problem or because it didn’t happen to you doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. How can they keep saying that it didn’t, even in light of what’s going on?

Mrs. Cornett, the first step in fixing a problem is to admit that there is one. Then you can move on from there.


I will say I was a little disappointed in Dr. Phil. I expected him to call some of these people out on their B.S.
Known for his no-nonsense way of dealing with people and their problems, I really expected him to ask the tougher questions others haven’t asked already.

But, he’s got another chance. Monday’s show is supposed to contain footage of what happened when the cameras kept rolling. Also, Dr. Phil sent Bishop T.D. Jakes to Jena to talk with the parents of the Jena Six, so we’ll get to hear from them.

Check it out at 3 p.m. on KTBS 3 and let us know what you thought…

Gov. Blanco and the Jena Six

I was ready to write a post about Governor Kathleen Blanco and her silence during everything - the arrests, prosecution, rally, bond hearing - going on in Jena, but a quick Google search slowed me down.

I stand corrected.

Blanco has issued statements on the situation in Jena, the first one looking like it was Aug. 10:

"I have received hundreds of calls, letters and emails from citizens concerned about the situation involving the case of the high school students in Jena, La. As Governor, as a citizen of the State of Louisiana, and as a mother, without rushing to judgment, I condemn racism in any form, and I fully expect that those involved in this case, including all parties, will act with fairness and in complete good faith."

She goes on to clear up the "misconception" that many people have about her ability to fix the situation, saying that not one branch of the three branches of government - executive, judicial and legislative - has power over the others.

Blanco issues another statement on Sept. 17, encouraging free speech that the Sept. 20 rally would demonstrate - and oh yeah, subtly reminding folks that the State Police would be out in full force.

(Sidenote: During a pretty significant time for race relations in her state, instead of being somewhere on Louisiana soil doing what she can to protect the reputation of her state, Blanco is in Madrid, Spain on a "business development mission"...sending e-postcards like this one posted on the day of the rally.)

And finally, Saturday, she issued a response to news that hate groups were publishing contact information of the families of the Jena Six on the Internet.

So, yes, Blanco has responded - somewhat - to the situation in Jena, but you know me. I'm never satisfied.

With exception to her last response, calling for law enforcement to investigate the hate groups, her statements have been pretty bland. I'd like to see her take a stand and maybe call for an investigation into how this situation in Jena came to be.

But that's just me.

I mean, what does she have to lose? Votes toward her re-election?

March on Jena: People, people, people

So, as it turns out, my preconceived "party with a purpose" notion wasn't so far off. I mean, it wasn't a party, but the atmosphere definitely had the feel of something like a family reunion.

I ran into friends, former classmates, colleagues, former co-workers and sorority sisters. Even people I didn't know greeted me with smiles and friendly conversation. That's how I met folks like Dashene, a young aspiring filmmaker who drove all the way from New York City, alone, just to participate in the event and show his support to the Jena Six.

The weather didn't seem all that hot at first, but by the end I was definitely sweating and my feet let me know that those tennis shoes I thought would be so comfortable actually turned out to be unbearable!

Anyway, the first thing that I found most fascinating were obviously the crowds. (FYI: You can click on the pics to see them bigger.)



We started out at the LaSalle Parish Courthouse where it looked like at least 20,000 or more folks were, including the crowds in the pics above.



And I guess where there's a will, there's a way because some folks even found seats in the treetops:

















Various speakers were taking their turn at the mike shouting chants like "Free the Jena 6! Free Mychal Bell!" We heard that just minutes before folks like Tyler Perry and the Rev. Al Sharpton were among those speakers. The P.A. system made it difficult at times to hear what was being said, so some in the crowd would spontaneously start their own chants and mini-marches, like this one:


After that we wandered to the other side of the courthouse where we saw a whole 'nother crowd that appeared be in the thousands marching on a road that ran from the school to the courthouse.
I admit, it was a bit overwhelming at times taking it all in because there didn't seem to be a set schedule that I was aware of and there were so many things to see, so many rallies and gatherings going on at the same time all around that you weren't sure which one to go to next. However, despite the confusion and crowds, everyone was so friendly from their greetings to their polite "Excuse me ma'am," or "Excuse me sister," as they passed through the crowd.

Check back for more on my journey in Jena, including pics and video from the day's events.

March on Jena: The Intro

You know, when I first read the story of the Jena Six on our editor’s blog back in July, I felt sick. So sick that I wanted to get my thoughts out immediately. And I felt sick for several reasons: 1. I couldn't believe that I hadn't heard until then that something like this was going on just a few hours away from me. 2. The injustice that occurred is so disgusting and disappointing, but sadly, not shocking at all. 3. It's just a plain ol' sad reminder of the die-hard racism that still exists in the South and really the entire country.

I am optimistic, though, that people are putting their foot down and saying “No more!” However, is it me, or does it seem like everyone but Louisiana folks as a whole are even showing this the amount of attention, concern or outrage that this case warrants?

I mean, this is supposed to be 2007 not 1957, right?

Some say the March on Jena will be one for the history books as far as the number of participants. Among the big names expected to be in attendance include Michael Baisden, the very popular syndicated radio show host who's been largely credited with bringing this story to national attention and keeping it alive through his radio show; the Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, of course; and the children of the late Martin Luther King Jr. I’ve even heard some prominent entertainers are going to be there.

I'll see for myself Thursday when I, along with Times reporters including Ashley Northington and Loresha Wilson, will travel there to cover the events. They’re going to bring you full coverage which you can find on shreveporttimes.com, while I share my personal account of the experience on here.
Times reporter Joel Anderson was already in Jena earlier this week and you can read more about that in tomorrow's edition of The Times.
Meanwhile, check back here and on shreveporttimes.com throughout the day for up-to-the-minute coverage of the March on Jena.