I agree with Chris that the lack of blogospheric coverage of the Jena 6 is telling as to the tenuous relationship between the online left and what’s more traditionally been the left. Indeed, I’ve been part of this problem. That’s largely because I haven’t known what to say, and kept trying to figure out how to link to this Courtney Martin article on the subject while still adding some valuable commentary. But I’ve got sadly little to add.
I will say that the bizarrely long prison sentences imposed on the Jena 6 are obviously racist retaliation, and should be beaten back as such. But the disproportionate sentences that millions of black men get everyday for reasons that aren’t explicitly racist, but have to do with — let’s face it — an institutionally racist criminal justice system, are in some ways a bigger problem, and if the plight of the Jena 6 could lead to a broader conversation as to what the fuck we’re doing, that would be positive.