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Black Teen Hanged In Mississippi?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Jeff, Jul 12, 2000.

  1. Jeff

    Jeff Clutch Crew

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    I missed this and I can't believe it. Apparently, a 17-year-old black kid in Mississippi was found hanged from a tree in his front yard and the police said it was suicide?

    According to neighbors and relatives, he was a good kid that had several scholarships staring him in the face and that this was no suicide. Why was he hanged? He was dating a white girl.

    I've been in the south a long time as have my relatives and a black boy hung on his front lawn from a tree is a message. This wasn't suicide. That boy was lynched.

    I am bewildered. It is utterly amazing to me. How tragic.

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  2. Achebe

    Achebe Member

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    Suicide? I suppose the FBI will be taking this particular case away from the local hicks, I mean... law enforcement.

    Poor kid, poor family.

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  3. DREAMer

    DREAMer Member

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    It's just another example of what a poor job our law enforcement systerm does.

    And, how racism is not a problem that is getting much better or and how it should not be ignored.

    It saddens me.

    I seriously think, that if that happened to me, I'd go on some sort of rampage, damn the law and damn the consequences.



    [This message has been edited by DREAMer (edited July 12, 2000).]
     
  4. BobFinn*

    BobFinn* Member

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    Those who know nothing of history, are doomed to repeat it.
     
  5. Puedlfor

    Puedlfor Member

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    The more things change . . .

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  6. DEANBCURTIS

    DEANBCURTIS Member

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    The incompetence in southern pigs is shown again. They are an absolute disgrace.

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    [This message has been edited by DEANBCURTIS (edited July 13, 2000).]
     
  7. Dr of Dunk

    Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

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    I read Jeff's post and still can't believe it... I have no comments than there are some sick people in this world. Man, that is just revolting that cave-dwelling idiots like that still exist.

    Sad, sad, sad.

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  8. DUDE

    DUDE Member

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    Okay, I will be Devil's Advocate..

    I know NOTHING about this case. I want to say that up front, that I am just basing this on these posts above.

    How can you guys KNOW that It WAS NOT a suicide? If his girlfriend was Black would you think different?
    Geez, you guys are upset at the cops, I am upset with guys thinking like you. Not every death involving a black person dating a white person has to be a murder.
    So if you say it was a murder, would it matter if it was the White Girls dad or brother that did it? Or would you say it was okay if it was a black guy that didnt like a black guy dating a white girl? OR, gasp, he might have pissed off someone and been hanged with NO consequence as to who he dated.
    Anyone remember James Jordan? Everyone thought he was killed due to who his kid was, yet when it all came out he was killed because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and two punks wanted his car.

    Sometimes, **** happens. yes, I feel sorry for his family. Yes it was a horrible thing to happen. But to say this is Racism is ludicrous. Every time something happens to a minority racism is cried. People want special HATE CRIME laws. That is crap. Are you telling me if I murder a black guy it is my HATE for him but if I murder a white guy I DONT HATE HIM? Every murder is HATE. If you loved the person you wouldnt kill him.


    YES racism happens. BOTH WAYS. I have a white friend that went to TECH school, and graduated with a 3.9 on a 4.0. Of course he still is looking for work. To get work the companies go thru the school. The placement counselor picks a certain few to interview and test with a company and the company chooses out of those. The black placement counselor has placed black and white females with MUCH lower grades. Is that racism?

    Back in 1990, right after graduating from High School a Very close friend of mine, who happened to be black, was found hanging in a local park. Police had found NO evidence of foul play, and it was ruled a suicide. He had a scholarship to Tulane. And was very popular. Was THAT racism that he died? Do you think he was murdered because he was found hanging? or as you say 'was he lynched'?
    NO, he wasnt. He killed himself. Why? Because his girlfriend broke up with him THAT same DAY. She was going to California for colleg instead. Oh, yeah and she was White.

    There is ALOT of pain and gried in this world. And most of it is Self-inflicted. The pain he felt that he lost his girlfriend of four years was too much for him on that day that he made a very stupid decision that he would be in LESS pain if he ended his life that night. Maybe the same happened in Mississipi.

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  9. dc sports

    dc sports Member

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    Jeff, that is amazing.

    DOD, I agree, from this information it sounds silly for the cops to dismiss foul play so quickly. But please don't lump all law enforcement together. There are good and bad eggs in every profession, and every corner of the world. I don't think we would hear the same story in Houston, for instance.

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    I hate it when people post while I'm working on a message! [​IMG]

    I think part of the issue here is that it sounds like the police dismissed foul play so easily. You are right though, we should get more info before making harsh judgements.

    Jeff, do you happen to still have the link?

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    [This message has been edited by dc sports (edited July 13, 2000).]
     
  10. DREAMer

    DREAMer Member

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    DUDE,

    I was basing my own personal opinion on the interviews I saw with the man's parents and friends.

    And, it wasn't all black people in the interviews. There were white kids that knew him saying he was killed because he was dating a white girl.

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    dcsports,

    No the story wouldn't be the same here in Houston. The story, however, may have sounded like this:

    "Hispanic man shot at 47 times by police in his own home. No weapons were found in the room of the deceased. Police officers are not relieved of duties."

    or how about California:

    "Black motorist incoherent from being under the influence of drugs was beaten by 13 police officers with batons until he had a broken wrist, fractured leg, and fractured skull."

    maybe New York:

    "Unarmed African man shot to death by two police officers when they mistake his wallet for a gun."

    Here's another one, I forget where though:

    "18 month old baby killed when police officer travelling 120 mph slams into the back of her parents car on the freeway. The officer had his lights on, but not his siren. The mother suffered slight injuries, but the father back was injured to where he can no longer work at the construction job he had. Oh by the way, they can't sue the city because they didn't 'yield to an emergency vehicle'."

    I hold police officers to a higher standard than the average person. Is that wrong? I emphatically think, NO! They have total reign when it comes to my rights. I have no rights when it boils down to it, if a officer has a bug up his arse.

    I also think teachers and priests should be held to a similar high standard. Parent trust their children with teachers, and many people trust themselves and their children to priests. When that trust is broken, severe consequences should be the result.

    I realize that there are good police officers. But, when the bad ones aren't even dealt with in a way that makes the public feel comfortable, then how can any police officer question the lack of trust people have in their profession?

    [This message has been edited by DREAMer (edited July 13, 2000).]
     
  11. BobFinn*

    BobFinn* Member

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  12. Pole

    Pole Houston Rockets--Tilman Fertitta's latest mess.

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    Racism exists (but it IS a two way street), still I have side with DUDE on this--until I know more. Links please?

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  13. Jeff

    Jeff Clutch Crew

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    Here is the link from CNN regarding the family of the boy meeting with Janet Reno and asking for FBI intervention.

    The deal is that this boy had NO depression, scholarship opportunities and tons of friends. He had never mentioned suicide and even his neighbor said that he was a good, happy kid.

    Here's the link:
    http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/07/12/mississippi.hanging.02/index.html

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  14. BrianKagy

    BrianKagy Member

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    You're right. People close to suicide victims always see it coming.
     
  15. DUDE

    DUDE Member

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    Disagree big time with you BK.
    As I said before I had a friend that killed himself. For awhile I wondered if I could have done anything to somehow stop it. I felt guilty in a way. But there was NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING that I, or his other friends or his family, saw that showed were he was heading.

    The guy I knew was a GREAT guy. Always happy. Had a great family and alot of friends. You just NEVER know what some people will do when they get depressed enough.

    Believe it or not, not all people thinking of suicide are walking around talking about it. "Oh, Life is tough, I wanna end it now"
    Anyone that is saying that to you WANTS you to say something and help them out, but I bet most of those people would never kill themselves. It is the ones that go about it in a quiet way that do it. The ones with the scholarship. The ones with the pretty girl. The ones who the neighbors liked. They are the ones that when they are alone and get depressed enough, they cant handle it and make a horrible decision that affects ANYONE they ever knew in alot of ways.


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  16. Pole

    Pole Houston Rockets--Tilman Fertitta's latest mess.

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    Thanks Jeff.

    This seems like it could go either way. Racism definitely exists, and I'm sure Mississippi is a hotbed for it, but I still feel the prudent thing is not rush to conclusions. One thing stands out to me in a related article:
    http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/07/08/bc.mississippihanging.ma.ap/

    {Two autopsies determined that the teen hung himself with a belt, but Johnson's family and Jackson believe he may have been killed for associating with white women in the community.

    "We will not rest until those who committed this murder are brought to justice," Jackson said Saturday. "We reject the suicide theory."

    Dozens of law enforcement officers lined the streets of the four-mile march route from the high school Johnson had attended to his home, but other than heat-related illnesses there were no problems.

    Some residents of the community of 1,000 about 90 miles south of Jackson, Miss., have questioned whether the case is being overblown. A new report released Friday by the state pathologist reinforced earlier determinations that the death was suicide.}

    The fact that a state pathologist is backing the claims of the local authorities--AFTER THIS MADE BIG NEWS--has me concerned about what the truth actually is in this story.

    The media likes sensationalism, and a proported cover up of a lynching is definitely sensational. What clues were there that led the state examiner to back the local authorities? True, both the local and state authorities could be corrupt--OR THEY COULD BE RIGHT. Nothing has been proven, yet in this thread which shows displeasure over the alleged lynching of an innocent person, many people want to lynch some people that may or may not be guilty.

    Again, racism does exist--I won't dispute that--but I always try to put the breaks on discussions that perpetuate racism; and I think thread is doing just that.



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  17. Pole

    Pole Houston Rockets--Tilman Fertitta's latest mess.

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    DUDE, I can assure you--BK was being sarcastic.

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  18. DUDE

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    Only an idiot would say that racism doesnt exist, it does. I am not saying it doesnt.
    But what good is Jesse Jackson going to do? Two autopsies have said the boy killed himself. Just because a family and friends didnt think he did it is now becoming a race thing.
    This race stuff has got to stop.
    Not everything is done because of Race.
    All having JEsse marching is doing is upsetting blacks and making them angry towards all whites, who will then become angry at blacks. It is a vicious cycle.
    This will go on for a long time.
    Meanwhile as soon as the last camera leaves town Jesse will too, regardless of how the death is judged.



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    "Her Box Started Buzzing Ever Since She Heard The CRÜE"
     
  19. DUDE

    DUDE Member

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    thanks. I take my foot out of my mouth [​IMG]
    Being that I was too close to a subject like this, when I read a post like that it gets my blood boiling. Maybe a little too much and too fast. For my HEALTH I need to stop posting on this subject If I dont I will probably piss everyone off. [​IMG]

    But before I do, look at it from his families view. They lost their child do to a horrible death. OF COURSE, they dont think he was that bad off to do it himself. They look for answers and think race. Having JEsse and his buddies in town does absolutely NO ONE any good. The family cant start the healing process and the town gets more and more divided along racial lines. It keeps getting worse, until the town DOES have problems with race. Jesse needs to pack his bags and leave now and leave that town to itself.
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    "Her Box Started Buzzing Ever Since She Heard The CRÜE"

    [This message has been edited by DUDE (edited July 13, 2000).]
     
  20. dc sports

    dc sports Member

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    I think the race question at this point is whether the police did everything they should have done, and would have done had the person been of a different race.

    Just from the description, a hanging by a belt that doesn't belong to him, from a tree in his front yard, would at least suggest the possibility of foul play. Whether or not it's racially motivated could be determined later.

    I can't see any autopsy on this being conclusive. It probably says something like, "Hanging, consistent with suicide."

    FYI -- I was a paramedic for six years. I did encounter a couple of odd cases -- such things often happen in rural areas or small towns which do not have all of the resources, and wish to put the case behind them for whatever reason. One case in particular was ruled a suicide, where an elderly man shot himself in the chest with a shotgun. They were never able to explain, however, how the man, with relatively short arms, was able to reach the trigger with the barrel against his chest.

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