Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Cut down in its prime


Jena 6 case, Jena Louisiana; Racial intolerance regarding black high school students sitting under a tree that was monopolized by the white high school students. White students hung three nooses from the tree the day after black students sat beneath it. Six black students retaliated by beating up a white student. The black students were prosecuted and imprisoned but the white students were only suspended for a few days for their actions. A demonstration of 400,000 people came to Jena, Louisiana on Thurs., Sept. 20, 2007 protesting the harsh penalty for the black students versus the white students. There were no arrests or acts of vandalism during this one day protest.


I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree (Joyce Kilmer)

The tree was planted long ago
Amidst the hatred it would grow

The whites would sit beneath this tree
No blacks in this fraternity

And it was known throughout the school
The ones who should observe this rule

The tree with branches full and wide
Would soon be lying on its side

The tree that never was aware
Of those who said they wouldn’t share

The tree for all and not for some
In need of shade, they all should come

But now that day will never be
Because they cut that lovely tree

A tree cut down while in its prime
This tree did not commit a crime

By, Randee Saber 9/25/07