Black student - 7 yrs Assault/ White student - probation arson, Paris TX
 

To some in Paris, sinister past is backIn Texas, a white teenager burns down her family's home and receives probation. A black one shoves a hall monitor and gets 7 years in prison. The state NAACP calls it `a signal to black folks.'

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/n...,1435953.story

You've got to be shitting me.... why hasn't the federal or state governments stepped in? Is there something I'm not getting here about juristiction or some local autonomy laws preventing direct involvement by state or federal officials?

Well . . . she's black.

My guess is that there's some very relevant material not being presented by the newspaper. For example, Ms. Cotton could have been coerced into a full confession to the crime of "assault on a public servant," which in Texas is a class 3 felony, punishable by between 2 and 10 years in the pokey.

The arson convict could have been represented by counsel from the get-go, not confessed and had a reasonably ok defense. Texas law allows the crime of arson in her circumstances to be prosecuted as a "state jail felony" or even a "class A" misdemeanor. The state jail felony would only carry up to 2 years while the misdemeanor might not even involve significant jail time.

It is possible that race wasn't a factor here and that money was.

As many cases as judges hear over a career, it would probably be pretty easy to take the outcome of one case which came out in a manner very palatable to the defendant and another showing an unfair or shocking outcome. The article only shows that this has happened. One outcome was defendant friendly, one was shocking. Not that there is a systemic problem in Paris, Texas which is anything more egregious than the rest of America where monied people will almost always receive a better outcome in the criminal system than the impecunious.

What gets me is the prosecutor's choice to apply that statute. It seems crafted to apply to individuals who the defendant knows are charged with upholding the law. It seems similar to assaulting a police officer. It seems unreasonable to me to say that an assault on a school official should carry such a substantially higher penalty than assault on someone not acting in some official capacity. That was the Texas legislature's decision to make though... I just wonder if this was the outcome they would have wanted.

While the article is very obviously one-sided, I think this outcome at least merits an investigation. The U.S. Department of Education is currently investigating the school system. I'd like to see some inquiry made into the prosecutor's office as well.

I still think it's going to be pretty difficult to determine whether this is a case of racial discrimination or a case of prosecutors taking advantage of those who are unable to secure adequate legal representation.

Another link.
 

http://www.ybpguide.com/2007/03/13/p...in-plain-view/

Unsure of its validity. But there is talk on the internet and something will happen and it will look ugly...

Can you clarify on what will supposedly happen and why it will be ugly?

You know the chatter you hear...

Still confused, guess I'll know it if i see it.

There'll be more bloggings! Someone will write a very tersely worded letter to the editor!

A few points…

1. The hall monitor went to the hospital
2. Shaquanda was offered a plea agreement but opted for a jury trial
3. Once she was found guilty the judge had little choice
4. She was given a indeterminate sentence not 7 years
5. Sensationalism makes for poor journalism

rabble rabble rabble

Update
 

Update

BREAKING NEWS: Cotton to be released

Staff reports
The Paris News


Published March 30, 2007

Shaquanda Cotton is to be released Saturday from the Texas Youth Commission facility in Brownwood, according to a report from the Associated Press.

"We are glad she is getting out and are happy for her family but we have concerns about the way it is happening," Lamar County District Attorney spokesman Allan Hubbard said.

Rep. Harold Dutton, the Houston Democrat who chairs the House juvenile justice committee, said the newly appointed conservator of the Texas Youth Commission told him Cotton was being freed, according to the AP report.

"This is one of those cases that is the poster child of everything wrong with the criminal justice system," Dutton told the AP.

Dutton said he was informed of Cotton's pending release by Jay Kimbrough, who Gov. Rick Perry appointed to investigate the agency accused of ignoring multiple allegations of sexual and physical abuse of young inmates.

"Apparently, cases that get the most public attention can grab the ear of state legislators who can simply order people to be freed from incarceration," Hubbard said. "That sets an alarming precedent."

Local activist Brenda Cherry, a friend of the girl's mother, confirmed that they have been told of Shaquanda's release.

"She should be home by tomorrow," Cherry said.

Dutton told the AP late today that the 15-year-old would be released to her mother on Saturday. He said Creola Cotton was unable to pick up her daughter on Friday because of bad weather

I am sooo glad. She was wrong for what sh e did, however her punishment did not fit the crime. Now, about "little miss firestarter". When is her tail going to be locked up?

Her name really is Shaquanda? I always thought that was the "stock Ebonics" name that no one really had.

Her mother should be arrested for giving her that name.

If you think that's bad you should come to work with me when I am calling the roll! Shaquanda is nothing to the names I fumble over. I either get another student to help me, call last names only, or I spell it out! I

You have got to see these names:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...t=Ghetto+names

Like MercedesSL65AMG, BMW750iL and Ca Dillac Escalade EXT

Funny thread......but its actually quite sad when you come across a made up name that you have actually seen/heard in real life.

How come you think it is funny on the one hand, then sad on the other? :confused:

Well, I think those names are funny because they just are. At the same time, however, they're sad because I know that these people will probably have a hard time being taken seriously as adults if they pursue higher education or professional careers. I don't think I would hire an Aliz'eeta Vuitton to be one of my architects unless she was double-Ivy, magna cum laude at both.

But we hire folks with all kinds of names that employers are unable to pronounce. So, what are you really trying to say? Basically, stop your reasoning behind your justification to hate. Just say that you do and deal with it. Most of us can handle it. It is the young people that won't. Probably because their momma's actually did name them after a car or a shoe.

I understand that the names sound funny, but the name is in an indicator of their abilities. So to say a woman named Lisa will do fine coming from a state school, but Alize has to come from Princeton is just wrong. People will judge them for their names and ask them how did the get them, but damn! My name is very comon so I do not and will not have that problem, but I would hate it if I had to graduate from Ivy Leauge twice to even be considered for a job plus have a 4.0 sheesh how many people on GC have 4.0 at the completion of their Bachelors? (don't answer that) This is exactly why if I have children I will stick to mainstream names because I would be pissed if my child got passed up for a job because of their name.

co-sign...

and rev -- the ex wanted his first son to have his first name.. NO WAY would i ever agree to that!! (you know what i'm talking about)

This may have been mentioned before, but some group did a study and found out that certain type names are discriminated against when people evaluate resumes.

While it may be a shame that people make these assumptions based on name alone, it's pretty easy to keep the assumptions in mind when you name your kid. Why make things harder for the kid by giving him or her a name likely to be problematic?

Because most people think they can name their children what every they want in the US. Moreover, the freedom to name one's offspring has occured for at least 50 years. Yet, should a child be ashamed for what his or her name because that is what his or her parents chose as a name?

Having a name is one of the first levels of critical thinking for oneself...

So are we suppose to become submissive and fit our names under what you describe essential for our names?

I use to know someone who did that, we use to call him overseer or "Massa".

Because the names are funny..........it's sad that someone would actually name their child something like that and think that it is appropriate. Good luck being taken seriously.

So like Cadillac Williams is a very inappropriate name and is never taken seriously...

1. Cadillac is a nickname......his real name is Carnell.

2. He's a football player. Is that really the best example you could have used? Brian Bosworth was a great football player.......don't think many people took "The Boz" very seriously.

Cadillac was a name given to Carnell while he was in HS, because supposedly he ran smoothly. It happened to carry over to Auburn, and fans and ESPN calling him that pretty much made it his first name. That being said, when I was at AU most people referred to him has Carnell, the media is what most perpetuated the Cadillac and Caddy thing. Also, I think Tuberville referred to him as Cadillac at times.

Okey, how about "Dick Butkus"... :rolleyes:

Dude couldn't help folks during his time would call Richard, a Dick... And folks cannot help what their last name they were born into. But, I do find his name funny and sounds inappropriate by your definition. However, as you are well aware, he proved the kind of person he was on the field and is a Hall of Famer...

And then let's not go into "The Goat" in B-ball...

Naming your kid something like LaQuandra/Lavernius/Shaquita is completely different, in my opinion, than naming your kid Richard. Yeah, his name does sound funny when you are calling him by his nickname.......but it's just that.....a nickname.

Just to keep it fair, we also mock celebrities that come up with odd and unusal names for their offspring.

Wait, what about "Laveranues Coles"? He is still in the NFL...

And LaDainian Tomlinson?

There are reasons why we may name our children "funky" names that eventually become common place: such as JaLisa, Tomika, or Kenya...

But hey, it is America last I checked. And the Constitution and Bill of Rights says I can name my kid a name whenever and whatever I want. It can be a jacked up name or a more "appropriate" name that lacks creativity.

My mother's name could be viewed a "ghetto" because her mother could not spell...

I don't know why you keep throwing out the names of football players.

....and I am perferctly well aware that you can name your kid whatever you want. That is totally besides the point.

You can obviously name your kid whatever you want. The point is that you're usually not doing them any favors if you name them something off the wall.

Whoa. People can name their kids anything they want; I certainly don't dispute that. I haven't outlined anything as essential for "your" names. I just pointed out the results of a study about resume screenings; I didn't screen the resumes.

I joke around about naming my kids after characters in Shakespeare, but I think they'd take a lot of extra teasing for it, so I don't think I really would.

So I wonder if you know that giving your child a certain kind of name will close doors for him or her, why would you do that? Is your answer "just because we can"?

Oh so like "Moon Unit and Dwezil Zappa" don't have any favors? Or Angelina Jolie?

Doors are closed for people for any given reason. The way names are spelled to their looks or what interviewers are looking for in a candidate. That is the nature of jobs and careers in this country (I am unsure how is it in other countries).

If people want to be prejudicial regarding names, then let them say it and relish and bask in their bigotry.

But some people make a ton of money based on their weirded out name and that becomes all relative...

You think the kids who were named after the first gulf war: Bush and Saddam are having issues?

Hayle, I knew kids named after Marc Antony and Cleopatra and they were anything but Black...

So, yes, Black names can get wild and out, but so do other names and the everyone wants there child to be that one child who will change the world and become unique.

Too bad they didn't tell them it has more to do with actions than names...

Once again, you're referencing abnormal circumstances.

If a person of normal means did that then no, thats not doing them any favors. What is interesting or appealing in the entertainment or sports world very likely might not work in most other contexts. Take away the celebrity status and you've just got a weird name.

On a side note, I think its stupid even for Hollywood kids to be named weird things. Its setting them even more apart from the general public. Hollywood is messed up and stupid enough as it is, I wouldn't want my kid to have a dumb name to boot. It seems like parents are sometimes setting their kids up to follow in their celebrity footsteps, which is the complete opposite of what I'd want. I'd want my kid as far away from that scene is possible, hoping that maybe they could grow up to be a respectable and minimally scarred individual who may make it through life without 3 divorces, a drug problem and criminal convictions.

Their dad was Frank Zappa......one of the 100 greatest music artists of all time. I'm pretty sure they don't have to worry about anything financially, work related, etc. Now if they were normal, run of the mill kids....then no, their parents naming them that wouldn't be doing them any favors.

...and Angelina Jolie? Once again, her dad is Jon Voight. C'mon, sure you realize how referencing these types of names are not doing anything for whatever argument you are trying to make.

I think the bias against unusual names isn't an area in which people recognize their own prejudice, so there's no way they are knowingly "basking in their bigotry." (although that's a cool turn of phrase)

My point, and I only kind of have one, is that this if I were going to knowingly choose to do something that would run the risk of stereotyping my hypothetical kid, I wouldn't want the stereotype to run to "ghetto" or redneck, so I guess Brandie Sue* and Traquanda* are both out, not that there's anything wrong with those names in the abstract.

I also intend to avoid trendy traditional names if I can because I'm sure people never anticipated the day when five girls in class are named Katie or boys are named Corey, not that there's anything wrong with those names, either.

One other drawback as I see it is that when there's not a strong relationship between the pronunciation and the spelling, the first day of school is bad for everyone.

* If you are named either Brandy Sue or Traquanda, I apologize.