About this time every year, I come up on a case that represents a tragic miscarriage of justice. It’s usually a case where some person has been convicted of a felony they did not commit. Unlike the A-Team, they have actually served jail time. In some cases, the actual perpetrator is known, in other cases not. But in all cases, they’re Black. Usually male. This year, we have Anthony Harris.
A couple-few years ago, some lacrosse players at a prestigious Southern university were accused of committing a capital crime. The charges were somewhat specious, but for various reasons, prosecution continued. Right from the get-go, many commentators jumped on from their perspective and argued the merits of the case and what the legal system should (or should not) have been doing. When it finally turned out that there was no merit to the case and the charges were dropped, some of the commentators were up in arms about what this meant for the law, and how it signaled the eventual downfall of our legal system and all kinda other hyperbolic whatnot.
Again, I ask, specifically for the Black folks who were riding soooo hard for the Duke boys: what about all these other cases of Black folks who weren’t doing anything remotely wrong, who were not just charged, but convicted and actually served time? Where’s the outrage on their behalf? Where are the calls for legal reform? I really wanna believe that the name-brand (and off-brand) Black conservatives aren’t just in it to play sides. I swear I do. But when I see the absence of even a thought about the Black folks who have been unjustly incarcerated, I wonder sometimes. Especially vis a vis the Duke boys. Like, if justice became the crusade then, why not for these folks?
Travis Henry * Octomom = China.
*dead*
Travis 100% Henry. 110%, actually. He got 11 kids and 10 babymamas. But one of em had a multiple birth. If he was as prolific running the ball as he was runnin game, he might would still be in the League now. Well…except for that other situation he had goin on.
Is it possible for somebody to live all the stereotypes at the same time?
I’m obviously not very happy with the Eagles this offseason, but I hafta wait til the draft really feel one way or the other. If they can pull Boldin, I guess I’ll be able to find a way to get excited come August.
The Funky Flea Market over there on 6th and Florida NE is the truth.
This weekend:
Songbird vs. Media Monkey. May the best player win.
Finally, this NEVER fails to crack me up. Never. Ever.
UPDATE
So I goes by the Funky Flea Market like I do most Saturdays. What’s waiting for me? A copy of the book I can never keep in the library, The Life And Loves of Mr. Jiveass Nigger.
I am siced!
March 14th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Thanks for the mention, bruh.
Couple things:
1. So, Marvin Harrison and Torry Holt are on the market. Think the Eagles could afford to bring at least one of those dudes in? I mean, what’s the risk? Someone who could mentor D Jack in the ways of the game. Ok, maybe they don’t want Marv back home, true. But what’s the risk of signing Holt?
2. T Henry, man. SMH. That cat there. If anything, I gained a newfound appreciation for Wilt. How did that cat not leave anyone behind?
3. That Anthony Harris case is so egregious and wrong and borderline evil that it still makes me mad. There’s so much misconduct in this case that it’s hard to peg down exactly who should shoulder most of the blame. But I keep coming back to the prosecutor. They’re supposed to uphold the law, you know? Even if the cops engage in some shadiness, the prosecutors should shut down the foolishness and upbraid the investigation. Instead, she went forward and pressed the case against an apparently innocent 12-year-old? At what cost? Think about it: the real killer of a 5-year-old girl is still out there. Is that not being derelict in your responsibility as an attorney?
March 14th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Torry Holt might still have about enough in the tank to get them over the hump on offense. Maybe. But they still need a complement to Westbrook. They’d hafta do somethin serious to impress me after lettin Dawk leave.
March 14th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Well, my Ravens are losing Rolle, lost Bart Scott! and Jim Leonhard. Leonhard stepped in last season and really came though in the playoffs. Scott…. He’s going to be missed.