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The Shaquanda Cotton Case
Southwest Bureau Chief for the Chicago Tribune, Howard Witt, just contacted me with an important update about the remarkably unjust, race-motivated sentencing of Shaquanda Cotton in Paris, TX.
Just in case you haven’t heard the backstory, I’ll let Shaquanda tell you herself from the “About Me” section on her blog Free Shaquanda Cotton:
I am a 14-year-old black freshman who shoved a hall monitor at Paris High School in a dispute over entering the building before the school day had officially begun and was sentenced to 7 years in prison. I have no prior arrest record, and the hall monitor–a 58-year-old teacher’s aide–was not seriously injured. I was tried in March 2006 in the town’s juvenile court, convicted of “assault on a public servant” and sentenced by Lamar County Judge Chuck Superville to prison for up to 7 years, until I turn 21. Just three months earlier, Superville sentenced a 14-year-old white girl, convicted of arson for burning down her family’s house, to probation.
Now onto the update from the Chicago Tribune:
HOUSTON — The sentences of many of the 4,700 delinquent youths now being held in Texas’ juvenile prisons might have been arbitrarily and unfairly extended by prison authorities and thousands could be freed in a matter of weeks as part of a sweeping overhaul of the scandal-plagued juvenile system, state officials say.Jay Kimbrough, a special master appointed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry to investigate the system after allegations surfaced that some prison officials were coercing imprisoned youths for sex, said he would assemble a committee to review the sentence of every youth in the system.
And about Shaquanda specifically…
Among the leading candidates for early release is Shaquanda Cotton, a 14-year-old black girl from the small east Texas town of Paris, who was sent to prison for up to 7 years for shoving a hall monitor at her high school while other young white offenders convicted of more serious crimes received probation in the town’s courts.Shaquanda’s story was the subject of a March 12 Tribune article that triggered hundreds of Internet blog articles and thousands of message board postings and led to a nationwide letter-writing campaign to the Texas governor decrying perceived racial discrimination in her case.
Cotton, now 15, has been incarcerated at a youth prison in Brownwood, Texas, for the last year on a sentence that could run until her 21st birthday. But like many of the other youths in the system, she is eligible to earn earlier release if she achieves certain social, behavioral and educational milestones while in prison.
But officials at the Ron Jackson Correctional Complex have repeatedly extended Shaquanda’s sentence because she refuses to admit her guilt and because she was found with contraband in her cell–an extra pair of socks.
Socks? I guess Texas is like a whole other country.
This is good news people. Very good news. And I hope we’ll all continue to blog about this story so the momentum against these racist incarcerations will build and get them reversed quickly.
And apparently, we’ve already had an impact…
If you had Googled the black girl’s name, Shaquanda Cotton, the day before the story was published on the front page of the March 12 edition of the Tribune, you would have gotten zero results. On Monday afternoon, there were more than 35,000 hits.The story has been picked up on more than 300 blogs around the country, many of them concerned with African-American affairs. It has generated thousands of postings to Internet message boards.
It was the top story on digg.com, a site that ranks Internet pages by user popularity and recommendations. It became the most-viewed and most-e-mailed story on chicagotribune.com more than a week after it was originally published, which is particularly remarkable because most news stories on the site automatically expire after just a few days.
And now the story has jumped across the ethernet into the physical world: Dozens of talk-radio stations across the nation were buzzing about Shaquanda last week, protests on her behalf were held in Paris, a petition- and letter-drive aimed at Texas Gov. Rick Perry and the judge in the case, Chuck Superville, is under way, and civil rights leaders from the NAACP and the ACLU to the Rev. Al Sharpton are weighing whether to get involved.
I leave you with three words: Free Shaquanda Cotton.
138 Responses to “The Shaquanda Cotton Case”
Hey Steve,
I sure hope your right about the panthers, I need to believe that. As far as Polish American, etc… I just dont agree with it. And it doesnt follow American, American follows wherever. When you say it, it sounds like you are more proud of wherever than America, and she deserves better. No other country in the history of the world has done more to help bring people of different cultures together, or to help the less fortunate. I know there are still problems, but the good outways the bad. (kinda like my marriage of 16 yrs. hahaha).
I have owned my own business for 15 yrs. (started it with 1,200.00–absolutely all I had to my name at 25 yrs of age). My wife has never really worked at my co. ( this is relevant later). The other day I went on a sales call with a prospective client that I have been trying to get a meeting with for at least 2 yrs. She finally agreed to see me. I was really prepared, and excited. It would be a great account for us, and I know I could save her money, and improve the quality of service she was currently recieving. We went into the conference room, I set up my overhead and prepared to give my presentation. She said “before we get started Jeff, are you a minority owned business?, because that is who I like to do business with.” I said “no Im not, I dont participate in anything racist, and thank you for your time”, and I left. She said you dont have to leave, and I said yes I do. This particular co. was not a government agency of any type, and was not required to give contracts to minority owned businesses. (In case you dont know most gov agencies, school districts, etc… require you to have minority status in order to even bid on a job). The ONLY group of citizens that dont qualify for minority status are white males. White females are considered minorities, which is why most business owners put 51% of their business in their wives name. I will not!
My wife doesnt own it or even work there, but if I did I could make ALOT more money. Oh yea, I can qualify if I have a sex change, or even cross dress, but I would make one ugly woman. It is a total racist and sexist policy, that is totally accepted by most, not all, “minorities”. This kind of stuff has to change if we are ever to unite as Americans.
Imagine if “light brown and darker brown” Americans truly united and forgave each other. We would be one tough nut to crack as a country, and the world would be a much better place because of it. .
Best of Luck to you my friend.
Jeff
jefft,
if her mother really cared about the welfare check, dont you think she would have cooperated with the courts to begin with? That would only make sense, but then again some people dont have common sense. You will be suprised how many 14y/o girls get in fight in school. It also depends on which school you attend. I dont know anything about the high school she was at. I cannot do any real research b/c that would mean that i would find some way of getting all the court documents and records from the school and maybe someone videotaped it. The only way I can do research is by reading some of the comments as I stated before or reading some of the newpaper articles on it which tend to put their own spin on it. So this is the best I can do and I think that I am not far off the track. No one will know the facts except those that were there and if you have ever played “telephone” things turn out way different than they were. The research that I did says she was sentenced to seven years. Maybe you should post some of the places where you did your research so some of us can understand where you get your facts from b/c i dont think that you were there during hte fight, or the trials, or the conversation between her mother and the case worker. Yes, some us can handle being provoked better than others. But if she has a history of being in trouble in regards to fights and stuff, then she will need some help in order to handle things. I honestly dont think that she will go thru some type of anger management. What was the purpose for your last comment in the paprgraph that you had referencing to me b/c i didnt say anything in my comment about racism?
Isn’t everyone glad she is out? I know I am. God is good all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes God is good all the time. First off what was she doing at the school before it opened in the first place? Now on to my repy. I am a middle class black woman from Dallas. I think its a sad think for a child to go to jail but who will control our kids when we don’t. Bottom line school is not a daycare center you do not put your hands on another human being. And as far as this so call rasim in paris, I’m sick of black people not owning up to the progress that has been made. Fighting is not the way to solve issues. Not have a ghetto tude doesn’t mean your not keeping it real. Read all the facts before protesting the wrong thing. It would be a bad thing if this little girl didn’t get the mental help she needs for her anger issues. And no I would not want my little girl in the sae school with this little girl.
O.K, I THINK WE ALL KNOW JANICE IS REALLY CAUCASION. NICE FRONT! GOD HELP US IF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS TOTALLY WIPED OUT. I THINK BLACK PEOPLE THAT OPPOSE IT FORGET, THIS IS PROBABLY HOW THEY GOT WHERE THEY ARE. IT WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN NECESSARY IF EVERYONE WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING FROM THE BEGINING. WHITE PEOPLE WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND, THEY CAN FEEL EMPATHY BUT NOT SYMPATHY. THEY ALWAYS HAVE STORIES OF HOW PREJUDICE WAS DIRECTED AT THEM IN SOME WAY (WHICH IS WRONG) BUT NOT THE SAME AS BEING A VICTIM OF RACISM. MAYBE THEY REALLY DO NOT MEAN TO BE SO IGNORANT. I DOUBT IT THOUGH. THE TWO (PREJUDICE AND RACISM) ARE VERY DIFFERENT. EVERY BLACK MAN IN MY FAMILY HAS A STORY OF HARRASSMENT FROM THE POLICE AND, SOME OF THE FEMALES. I HAVE SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN LAW SUITS. IN SOME OF THE CASES THE OFFICERS DIDNT GET THEIR LIES TOGETHER AND ALL CAME IN WITH DIFFERENT STORIES!! I LOVE IT BECAUSE IF NOT, OF COURSE THEY WOULDNT BELIEVE SOME “BLACK HOODLUMS” OVER THESE UPSTANDING WHITE OFFICERS. THE BEST ONE INVOLVES MY BROTHER IN LAW AND HIS BROTHER AND THE WHOLE INCIDENT IS ON THE COPS CAR CAM. NO RESISTANCE, PULLED THEM OVER, COULDNT EVEN REMEMBER THE EXCUSE IN COURT. PULLED THEM OUT, BROKE BROTHER IN LAWS THUMB, PULLED IT BACK, BEAT THEM, FRACTURED RIBS AND ALL WHILE THEY ARE HANDCUFFED AND ON THEIR KNEES ON THE GROUND. FUNNY THING THE OFFICERS MUST NOT HAVE KNOWN, OR THOUGHT THE TAPE WOULD DISSAPPEAR, (THEY USUALLY RUB EACH OTHERS BACK) SO THEY TOLD THIS WONDERFUL STORY OF RESISTING ARREST AND, OFFICERS BEING ATTACKED. HOW FUNNY WAS IT WHEN THEY WERE SHOWED THE TAPE. MY BRO IN LAW ONLY GOT 20,000. SCREW THE MONEY, PUBLIC HUMILIATION IS WHAT THE SHOULD RECIEVE. WE WILL ALWAYS NEED SOME TYPE OF EQUALIZER IN THIS AMERICA BECAUSE WE WILL ALWAYS BE TREATED AS LESS THAN. MOST WHITE PEOPLE HEAR THESE STORIES AND THINK “THEY HAD TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO WARRANT THAT BEHAVIOR” WHICH IS MORE TIMES NOT THE CASE THAN IT IS. ANY ONE CAN BE PREJUDICE, IT’S A FEELING. MOST BUT, NOT ALL BLACK PEOPLE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO BE RACIST AGAINST ANY ONE. RACISM IS AN ACTION, DENYING HOUSING, JOBS, LOANS, JUST OPPORTUNITY IN GENERAL THAT AFFECTS OUR LIVELIHOOD. I CAN CALL SOMEONE WHITE RACIAL SLURS ALL DAY LONG IT MIGHT HURT THEIR FEELINGS BUT THATS IT. THATS ALL I HAVE, FOR NOW!!
micat72: Even though your first sentence may not be true, it was hilarious when i first read it b/c i was thinking the same thing! lol. I also wanted to tell you that I appreciate every posting that you have made, b/c it is very insightful and you start to let people know that there is a difference between prejudice and racism.
I think that some caucasions more so experience prejudice than racism. I also think that caucasions were starting to become a minority once the immigrants started migrating over here. The minorty was starting to become the majority and that may have been a reason for extraditing so many Mexicans, but that is besides the point.
She is free and hopeful God will protect her from all those people that want to see evil things done to her. I cannot speak for God, but I think that this was done to first to maybe let Shaquanda know that her actions will ultimately have a serious consequence if her behavior continues, and second, to unveil the racism that exists throughout the court system. But that is just may opinion and I am allowed to have one.
To Vedat and mICAT,
Why is white on black racist and black on white prejudice. Riduculous. You should just be responisble for yourselves and your family, and STOP DEFENDING WRONGDOING BECAUSE OF COLOR!!! Your comments about Janice are racist comments you bafoons. I wish you guys would start listening to, and reading intelligent blacks like Bill Cosby, or the great Alex Haley. Or we could just hate all teachers, and law officers, and judges, and whoever holds us accountable, so we dont act like a bunch of animals….like what happened in the SuperDome a while back. How much education do either of you have anyway. Really, I would like to know. Did you graduate college, or even high school? ONCE THE MAJORITY OF OUR COUNTRY IS UNEDUCATED THERE IS NO GOING BACK! Help your kids with their homework EVERY NIGHT, and get involved with their education, so they can be enlightened and open minded. Or you could just always side with black people NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO. The girl beat up an old lady … you 2 retards.
P.S. …and Vedat…I dont know what to say to you about the sentencing other than you SHOULD research the case. BECAUSE YOU ARE WRONG!
Oh yea to Vedat,
Maybe her mother didnt realize (ignorance) that her check would be for less until she opened it. They offered the girl probation and the mother declined. She has always taken the girls side regardless of her actions, kinda like you. I think this is the real problem.
To mICAT,
You say that white racial slurs only hurt someones feelings, thats it. You say that racism is a reflection of ones actions, and you gave examples.
Apparently I have been a victim on prejudice (words), not racism. I wonder if you feel the same way about Imus’s words “nappy headed ho’s”.
Not racism right? I am white and I have had nappy hair before. White women could possibly be referred to as hos, couldnt they? Even though its a terrible thing to say. I would bet it all that you feel differently about Imus’ comments. You know why …BECAUSE YOU ARE RACIST. If black people want to own the words “nappy, and hos”…then have at it. There were 2 white girls on that team also. I dont agree with Imus or what he said. It was wrong, and he should apologize. I dont listen to him anyway.
But I guarentee you, that you feel differently about his words because he is a white guy. You said that words only hurt someones feelings, thats it.
You live with a total double standard, and it is very hard to take you seriously.
JEFF, JEFF, JEFF. HOW INTELIGENT TO ATTACK ME, MY EDUCATION, THE WAY I RAISE MY CHILDREN. AND YOU QUESTION MY EDUCATION? FINISHED GRADUATE SCHOOL LAST YEAR @ U OF M, WORKED FOR A NON-PROFIT IN D.C. SINCE 97 AND, NOW AM A HOUSE WIFE. NOT THAT I HAVE TO PROVE A THING TO YOU. YOU CAN GET ANGRY AND SAY WHAT YOU WILL, IM SURE YOU DON’T OWN A DICTIONARY, GO TO THE LIBRARY AND CHECK OUT A WEBSTER AND LOOK UP THE WORDS. IF YOU HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, E-MAIL WEBSTER. IF YOU CHOOSE TO QUOTE ME, DO IT CORRECT. I SAID MOST BLACK PEOPLE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO INFLICT RACISM ON WHITES. ITS TRUE, I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU THINK, IT’S A FACT. AND SINCE YOU ARE SO INTELLIGENT IM SURE THAT YOU CAN BACK TRACK AND READ THAT I SAID THAT IF SHE DID HIT THE WOMAN FIRST, LET HER MOTHER WHIP HER ASS AND SUSPEND HER. I DID NOT SAY EXCUSE ANYTHING. GET IT RIGHT, DON’T COME HALF ASS AND WRONG. AND JUST AS YOU CHOOSE TO BELIEVE WHAT YOU HAVE READ AND HEARD, I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE WHAT I HAVE READ AND HEARD WHICH CONTRADICT YOUR FACT FINDING. AS EASILY AS YOU SAY I DEFEND HER ONLY BECAUSE IM BLACK, I WOULD BET YOU CONDEMN HER BECAUSE SHE’S BLACK. HOW NICE OF YOU TO GIVE EXAMPLES OF MODEL NEGRO’S FOR ME TO EMULATE MYSELF AFTER. NO, YOU’RE NOT RACIST (DRENCHING WITH SARCASM). IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT IMUS OR MICHAEL RICHARDS OR ANYONE, ASK. DONT ASSUME, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ASS-UMING DON’T YA KIDDO? YOUR GUARANTEE ON HOW I FEEL IS NULL AND VOID. I COULD CARE LESS WHAT EITHER OF THEM SAY. THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINIONS HOWEVER ASININE THEY MAY BE, YOU’RE IN THAT CATEGORY TOO. THAT WAS NOT RACISM, IT WAS PREJUDICE, IM SURE A YALE MAN, OR IS IT HARVARD MAN LIKE YOURSELF KNOWS THAT. NO PERSON WITH A BIT OF SENSE WOULD SAY A SENTENCE OF UP TO 7 YEARS IS APPROPRIATE, UNLESS AS I STATED BEFORE THEY ARE RACIST. SO I SEE WHERE YOU STAND. WHO THE HELL MADE RACIST STATEMENTS ABOUT JANICE? I SAID SHE’S CAUCASION. IS IT RACIST FOR YOU TO CALL ME BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN (AS I PREFER TO BE CALLED)? YOU MY GOOD MAN ARE AN EMBACIL, FROM YOUR COMMENT YOU SEEM TO THINK THAT IF I WERE NOT ABLE TO FINISH SCHOOLING (FOR ANY REASON) THAT I WOULD NOT BE ENTITLED TO STATE MY OPINION. SO ALL THE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE DROP OUT BLACKS SHOULD SHUT UP AND GET TO PICKIN FOR OL MASSA HUH? I DON’T CARE WHAT LEVEL OF EDUCATION ONE COMPLETED, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT SAME AS MYSELF TO VOICE THEIR OPINION AND BE RESPECTED. IF YOU FEEL THAT YOUR MIND IS OPEN GOD KNOWS I THINK MY CHILDREN SHALL HAVE CLOSED MINDS. WHY DO PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD USE RETARDED SO FREELY? HOW OFFENSIVE. IM SURE IF YOU HAD A DOWNS SYNDROME CHILD IT WOULDNT FLOW SO EASILY OUT OF YOUR MOUTH. BUT YOURE OPEN MINDED, O.K. THATS HOW AN OPEN MIND FUNCTIONS, CALL PEOPLE RETARDS. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE ME SERIOUS. YOURE NOT IMPORTANT. DO YOU THINK ANYTHING IN MY WORLD WILL CHANGE BECAUSE YOU DO OR DONT TAKE ME SERIOUS? MY MISSION IS TO HELP WHERE I CAN AND, YES I BELIEVE CHARITY STARTS AT HOME. YOU DO UNDERSTAND THAT, DONT YOU? AND AS FOR ME DOING MY HOMEWORK WITH MY CHILDREN “EVERY NIGHT”, THEY DON’T NEED MY HELP,THEY ARE AWARDED THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ACHIEVEMENT AWARD EVERY YEAR, IN GT CLASSES, ONE DAUGHTER BUSSED TO A GT PROGRAM AT FOX CHAPEL ELEM AND, ALWAYS ON THE HONOR ROLL, SEE I DID MY JOB EARLY. HOW ABOUT YOURS? THEY WILL PROBABLY DO BETTER IF YOU WERENT HELPING OR INFLUENCING THEM IN ANY WAY IF YOU ARE THE ABSURD MORON YOU PRESENT YOURSELF TO BE. SEE I DONT BELIEVE IN PERSONAL ATTACKS JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION THAN MINE HOWEVER, YOU ATTACKED ME PERSONALLY FIRST AND I DO BELIEVE IN RETALLIATION. DO YOU ALSO TEACH YOUR KIDS TO NAME CALL AND BEHAVE VEHEMENTLY IF SOMEONE DOES NOT AGREE WITH THEM? AND VEDAT ROCK ON, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DEFEND OUR CHILDREN,JEFFY BOY HERE WOULD LIKE TO SEE US THROW THEM TO THE WOLVES IN KLANS CLOTHING!! AS I HAVE STATED JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE WHITE OR WITH SOME TYPE OF AUTHORITY SAYS IT’S TRUE DOES NOT MEAN IT IS SO. AND TO BRING UP THE DOME, TYPICAL RACIST, TRYING TO POINT OUT HOW OUR BEHAVIOR WAS SO ANIMALISTIC THAT WE PREVENTED OURSELVES FROM GETTING HELP. SHO’ YA RIGHT. YOU AND YOUR IMPETUOS COMMENTS, I BET YOU CANT BE RACIST BECAUSE YOU HAVE “BLACK FRIENDS” OR, HAVE DATED “A BLACK” HUH? (MORE SARCASM). WHAT IS TRULY SAD IS THAT A GROWN ASS MAN WOULD GO TO SUCH LENGTHS TO TEAR DOWN A CHILD. WELL GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN, YOU HAVE NO POWER HERE!!!
micat72 i agree. jeff sound stupid cause is what u said. imus said something to hurt those girls feeling. it didnt do anything to stop them from working somewhere or living somewhere. thats the different between racism and prejudice. preach it
i do think people like imus should be socially responsible when saying stuff.
YEAH, I TOO THINK PEOPLE NEED TO BE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HATEFUL AND, OR HURTFUL COMMENTS THAT SPREAD HATE AND IGNORANCE. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT MOUNTAINTOP, HE’S HALF DEAD, GOT ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE ANYWAY SO, WHO CARES?!! HE’S A TYPICAL RACIST, DID’NT MEAN FOR THE RED TO STAIN HIS SHIRT COLLAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS SO CUTE THAT SHE WAS DYING FOR MC’DS. WHAT A TYPICAL KID!!! I HOPE SHE GROWS UP AND FIGHTS INJUSTICE IN THE COURTROOM. PERHAPS SHE WILL BE AN ATTORNEY, AN OFFICER OF THE LAW. WHO KNOWS, MAYBE ONE DAY WE WILL ADDRESS HER AS “YOUR HONOR”. THEN SHE CAN PREVENT INJUSTICE’ AS THE ONE SHE INCURRED.
mICAT,
You are so full of it, I dont know where to start. Lets start with the African American Achievement Award. Can white children compete for that? What if they came here from Africa? You sound JUST LIKE the idiots in the KKK, you would be a great asset to Mr. Sharpton or any other racist group.
Keep overplaying your race and it will come back to bite you. I havent seen one post about our great country, or taking responisbility. Did you find a loophole to that too? Racism(white), Prejudice (Black)? HMMMM? Doesnt sound believable. And as far as preaching, I am not your congregation. Remember how you judge when you are being judged.
Sorry to have interrupted you BET!
Oh and mICAT,
Your reparations check is not in the mail!
JEFF, YOU DIDNT GIVE ME YOUR CREDENTIALS, WHY NOT HON? WHITE CHILDREN DONT NEED TO COMPETE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN AWARDS. MAYBE YOU ARE NOT AWARE BUT, THESE THINGS WERE INITIATED BECAUSE WE WERE NOT PERMITTED TO COMPETE FOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS WHICH WERE FOR WHITES ONLY. SHOULD WE STOP NOW BECAUSE YOU SAY SO(WONT HAPPEN)?!! IT IS PART OF A PROUD TRADITION NOW, YOU MIGHT COMPARE IT TO DISCRIMINATION BEING A TRADITION FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENT, I WOULD BE A GREAT ASSET TO REV.SHARPTON. MAYBE YOU COULD E-MAIL HIM WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR ME? I NEVER SAID I WAS PREACHING. YOU DID. I NEVER ASKED YOU TO FOLLOW ME, YOU CHOSE TO RESPOND TO ME. IF YOU THINK IM PREJUDICE, YOURE ENTITLED TO THINK THAT. YOU DEFINITELY ARE, COMMENTS ABOUT BET. YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE JEFF, WHY PRETEND THAT YOU ARENT? THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE GREAT IF NOT FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF. AT LEAST THE SKINHEADS AND KLAN ARE HONEST, I HAVE TO RESPECT THAT. ITS PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU HAVE BEFRIENDED BLACK PEOPLE AND ALL THE WHILE ARE STABBING THEM IN THE BACK. IM SURE YOUR “BLACK FRIENDS” THAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER WOULD QUESTION YOUR FRIENDSHIP IF THEY READ THE MANY STEREOTYPICAL COMMENTS YOU HAVE MADE HERE. OBVIOUSLY YOUR FEATHERS ARE RUFFLED. GET OVER IT. YOU CANT OFFEND ME. YOU ARE NOT IMPORTANT. I RESPOND TO YOU OUT OF BOREDOM. I KNOW I CAN NOT CHANGE THE MIND OF A RACIST OR PREJUDICE PERSON AND, HEY IM NOT TRYING. I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT WHEN I SEE INJUSTICE THOUGH. YOU TRULY ARE COMICAL. AND YOU ARE RIGHT, I AM FULL OF “IT”. “IT” BEING COMPASSION. OH YES, I DONT WANT TO LEAVE ANY QUESTION UNANSWERED, YES A WHITE AFRICAN CAN WIN THE AWARD, LIKE ISMOTU FROM ZIMBABWE. ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS FRIENDS THAT WON AN AAA THIS YEAR. BUT YOU HAVE A COMPUTER, YOU COULD HAVE FIGURED THAT OUT WITHOUT ASKING ME SO, JEFF WERE YOU TRYING TO BE SARCASTIC? TSK TSK. KNOW THE ANSWER TO A QUESTION PRIOR TO ASKING, IF YOUR INTENT IS TO BE A SMART ASS. THOUGH I MUST SAY YOUR ASS IS LOOKING LESS AND LESS SMART WITH EVERY COMMENT. WHY ARE YOU ON THE NET AT THIS TIME OF DAY? ARE YOU ON WELFARE? SEE I HAVE A HUSBAND THAT HAS A NICE INCOME, WE DO LIVE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY MD. ONE OF THE RICHEST IN AMERICA. SO AFTER MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS NICE AND TIDY AFTER SENDING THE KIDS OFF TO SCHOOL, I HAVE FREE TIME, WHEN IM NOT VOLUNTEERING AT THE SALVATION ARMY, OR AT THE SCHOOL OF AUTISM. IF YOURE NOT ON WELFARE ARE YOU AVOIDING YOUR DUTIES AT WORK? THATS NOT A GOOD WORK ETHIC. I HAVE SEEN A FEW POSTS ABOUT OUR “GREAT COUNTRY”, THEY WERE YOUR POSTS. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY NO MORE AND NO LESS THAN I LOVE ANY PART OF THE EARTH THAT GOD CREATED. YOU HAVE NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE TO SAY. WHY ARE YOU POSTING HERE? ARE YOU AN ANGRY WHITE MAN THAT HATES MINORITIES AND JUST WANTS TO TAKE EVERY GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS IT? YOURE BORING ME NOW JEFF. I HAVE TO GO NOW, MAYBE ILL DUST MY DEGREE, (M.A IN CRIM). OH AND IM SURE YOUR RACIST MIND IS TELLING YOU THAT I DIDNT HAVE TO PAY FOR MY STUDIES, YOURE RIGHT, MY HUSBAND PAID NOT THE STATE AS IM SURE YOU ASSUMED HOWEVER, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH G’VMENT FUNDING FOR THOSE THAT NEED IT. IM SURE YOU DISAGREE, ESPECIALLY FOR MINORITIES, DONT YA JEFFY? GOTTA GO
WHY IS MY REPARATIONS CHECK NOT IN THE MAIL? PERHAPS YOU TOOK IT THINKING IT WAS YOUR WELFARE CHECK?
I REALLY AM MATURE LADIES AND GENTS, I JUST THOUGHT THIS RESPONSE WAS TOO FUNNY!!!
ANOTHER THOUGHT, I DO THINK MINORITIES SHOULD RECIEVE SPECIAL GRANTS FOR ED. WHITE PEOPLE (LIKE DUMB C-AVERAGE GEORGE BUSH) ARE PERMITTED TO GO TO CERTAIN UNIV’S JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE A LEGACY, (PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS ATTENDED) AND A LOT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS CAN NOT BE LEGACY’S BECAUSE OUR ANCESTORS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ATTEND THESE SCHOOLS. AS A LEGACY YOU DO NOT HAVE TO MAINTAIN A SPECIFIC GPA (OBVIOUSLY, AS I STATED DUMB C-AVERAGE BUSH) BUT, WITH A GRANT YOU MUST MAINTAIN A CERTAIN GPA DEPENDING ON THE GRANT.
Ok thats funny mICAT,
I think I am posting out of boredom also. I graduated from UT, MBA North Texas. No I am not on welfare, I have owned my company for over 15 years now. I am at my desk working as usual. My wife is a stay at home also (we are very lucky as well). My oldest is an honor student, my youngest still needs help with his homework. Look…it seems like your feathers are pretty ruffled as well (from the books you shared). I have never posted anywhere before (honest), but the Cotton case kinda got me.
Your right about me being a nobody in the scheme of all this. But, I am really tired of African Americans (ugh!) who stick together regardless of the offense, they comitted, or that was comitted against them. Whats with that?
Why are people on the national news because of words, or even percieved crimes against blacks and no one else (poor Duke kids). Why doesnt your Mr. Sharpton take up for whites also? I was watching scrubs the other night and the African American nurse on the show said that white people smell like dogs when they come in out of the rain. Now if that had been said about African Americans (UGH!) it would have made national news and someone would have been ruined. Your Mr. Sharpton would not have stopped until he did so. I think it was funny. Maybe I am just more confident, I dont know?
It seems like you have some type of chip on your shoulder. I am also pretty sure that you are hateful towards most whites (mabe until they PROVE themselves to you huh?). Does your school offer the Mexican Achievement Award, or the Vietnamese Achievement Award, where does this end? Unless you think that African Americans deserve to be treated differently than the rest of us, and by the way… OBVIOUSLY YOU DO!
Anyway you are well spoken and I wish you and your family the best, neither of us can apparently change any of this. You should run for Miss Black America…you would kick butt in the question and answer format!
Also mICAT,
You said “Great Country”, thats sad. Especially after it sounds like you have done pretty well here. You love it no more than say Nicaragua, Iraq, Iran, Canada? I bet you dont, the scary thing is…there are alot of you out there. Maybe you should relocate. Take some buddies with you.
Sorry I meant Miss African American America
This is something that should be taken serious. It’s news such as this that makes me want to get involved and do my best to be apart of this case…What is this world coming to, I mean the only left to say is, IT’S IN GOD’S HANDS.
Yea I agree Nikki, it is and always has been. Its the only thing that makes it all make sense. True and equal.
In case none of you have heard, Miss Cotton has not learned her lesson. She was arrested for assult again, this time for assulting her mother.
I wonder if her mother will finally realize that the girl has some serious anger and disciplinary problems.
Yes its true. Where is all the media? Very sad, but she put her mother in the hospital, and is now in jail. The girl needs help, maybe Mr. Sharpton will help her.
No one else has anything to say? Come on…where are mICAT, and VEDAT, and everyone else almost.
Thank goodness your racist voice didnt release a murderer.
Paris Texas is not a racist town, if it were, I am sure Mr. Sharpton would call it his home. I am really sick of it. COME ON … WHERE ARE YOU NOW!
And where are you AustinRoth? It was sooooo easy for you to sell your great state out! Cat got your tounge?
WELL ACTUALLY I HAVE A LIFE (SOMETIMES!!) AND HAVENT LOOKED AT THIS SITE IN A BIT. I DONT KNOW THAT THIS IS TRUE HOWEVER, IF IT IS THAT STILL DOES NOT SAY THE INITIAL SENTENCE FIT THE CRIME. NO ONE EVER SAID GIVE US SPECIAL TREATMENT, JUST FAIR TREATMENT. SO ITS BETTER TO KEEP BLACK CHILDREN LOCKED UP FOR CRIMES THEY MAY COMMIT IN THE FUTURE BUT, WHITE CHILDREN THAT HAVE CONTINUOSLY BROKEN THE LAW CONTINUE TO GET LEAN SENTENCES. IF SHE DID ATTACK HER MOTHER, AND THAT IS “IF” THEN THIS IS HER SECOND OFFENSE. O.K, I DONT CONDONE OR EXCUSE THIS BEHAVIOR. MY POINT ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS IS THAT WHEN IT WAS HER FIRST OFFENSE SHE WAS GIVEN SUCH A HARSH SENTENCE, HER MOTHER DID NOT REFUSE PROBATION AS MANY ARE SAYING. SO NOW WHAT WILL THE SENTENCE BE ON HER SECOND OFFENSE WHICH IS ASSAULT DONT KNOW IF ITS FIRST DEGREE 2ND ETC…..(OR IF IT IS TRUE) SO WHY NOT GIVE HER PROBATION AS THEY DID WITH THE EUROPEAN AMERICAN TEENAGER THAT BURNED DOWN HER FAMILY’S HOUSE WHILE SHE WAS ON PROBATION FOR ANOTHER OFFENSE, WHICH ALSO WAS NOT HER FIRST OFFENSE? WHY DIDNT THEY LOCK HER UP FOR A POSSIBLE 7 YRS. I DONT CARE IF HER PARENT/GAURDIAN WAS COMPLIANT, SHE HAS PROVEN SHE IS A THREAT TO SOCIETY. ONCE AGAIN NOT SPECIAL TREATMENT, EQUAL TREATMENT
I HAVE LOOKED AT “PARIS NEWS” AND A FEW OTHER LOCAL CARRIERS AND WENT RETRO (LIKE 30 DAYS) AND SEE NOTHING AT ALL ABOUT SHAQUANDA BEING CHARGED, HER MOTHER BEING ASSAULTED OR ANYTHING ABOUT HER AT ALL. WHERE IS THIS “STORY” AT? GIVE ME A SITE PLEASE AS I DO WANT TO READ THIS. ALSO I DONT THINK THIS STORY WAS GIVEN THE PUBLICITY PEOPLE FROM THIS TOWN THINK IT DID. PEOPLE ARE JUST THIS YEAR HEARING ABOUT IT AFTER HOW LONG? AND THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW DIDNT KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL I TOLD THEM. IT HAS NEVER BEEN MENTIONED IN OUR LOCAL PAPERS OR ON THE LOCAL NEWS, IT WAS NOT THE MEDIA AS MUCH AS WORD OF MOUTH. NOT IMPORTANT, JUST FYI IN RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE ARTICLES I READ IN THE “PARIS NEWS” NEWSPAPER.
Her mother refused to sign the probation papers. He had no choice but to sentence her (for the least amount of time possible) after that. The European American girl (are you serious, I hope not, but its funny), is in jail along with lots of kids of all colors. The point is how the black community rallied behind this girl because of her color, even when they didnt have the facts. And they condemmed an ENTIRE town, without having all of the facts. Come on surely you understand that.
Im guessing that Shaquanda was pretty mad at her mom for letting her go in the first place, just to prove some ………..I dont know.
ACCORDING TO SHAQUANDA’S MOTHER THE SENSATIONALIZED STORIES OF HER “REFUSAL” ARE NOT TRUE. I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE HER. THE EUROPEAN AMERICAN MAY BE IN JAIL NOW BUT, NOT WHEN SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. BECAUSE THIS JUDGE WAS SO LENIENT HE ALLOWED HER TO RECIEVE PROBATION WHILE ON PROBATION, WHY WERENT EUROPEAN AMERICANS RALLYING FOR HER TO SERVE TIME THEN AS OPPOSED TO MORE PROBATION. THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE ASKED CAN EASILY BE TURNED AROUND. AS I STATED BEFORE, FACTS MAY BE “FACTS” TO YOU BECAUSE SOMEONE WHITE OR OF AUTHORITY SAID IT BUT, NOT TO EVERYONE. I DONT BELIEVE THEIR “FACTS”. WHY IS IT HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT SEVERAL BLACK PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED INJUSTICE AND KNOW ALL TOO WELL HOW CAPABLE THESE “AUTHORITY FIGURES” ARE OF LYING. JUST LIKE YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ, WE BELIEVE THE SIDE WE SEE. JUST AS YOU CHOOSE TO SEE ONLY NEGATIVE, WE CHOOSE TO SEE THE POSITIVE IN OUR PEOPLE. THE POINT TO YOU IS HOW WE RALLIED BEHIND HER. THAT’S NOT THE “POINT” TO US. IT IS ONCE AGAIN, THAT A WHITE REPEAT OFFENDER WAS GIVEN PROBATION FOR BURNING DOWN A HOUSE WHILE ON PROBATION. SHE MAY BE IN JAIL NOW BUT, WHY WAS SHE GIVEN SO MANY CHANCES? AND IF HER (SC) PARENT/GAURDIAN WAS NOT WILLING TO DO WHAT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN SENT TO FOSTER CARE. SO I KNOW THAT’S A LIE UNLESS SUPERVILLAN DIDNT FOLLOW PROTOCOL. YES I JUDGE THE TOWN BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME CYNICAL IDEALS OF BLACK PEOPLE AND THEIR OWN AGENDA’S BECAUSE A CIVIL AND RIGHTEOUS PERSON WOULD NEVER THINK THIS WAS FAIR. AND ONCE AGAIN I ASK WHY DIDNT YOU AND YOUR FELLOW NEIGHBORS FIGHT FOR THIS WHITE GIRL TO SERVE TIME AS SHE IS A DANGER TO YOUR COMMUNITY? IF THE ROLES WERE REVERSED AND A BLACK JUDGE GAVE A BLACK GIRL THAT IS A REPEAT OFFENDER PROBATION ON TOP OF PROBATION FOR ARSON AND, A WHITE GIRL FIRST OFFENSE IN CRIMINAL CASE UP TO SEVEN YRS I HAVE A FEELING YOU WOULD SEE THE ISSUE AT HAND FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS. EQUAL TREATMENT!!!
ALSO CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE TO FIND THE STORY OF HER ASSAULTING HER MOTHER? AND CAN I TELL YOU ITS NOT JUST BLACK PEOPLE THAT FIND THIS TO BE AN INJUSTICE AS MY FATHER AND HIS FAMILY (THE ONES THAT CLAIM &TALK TO ME) FEEL THE SAME WAY MYSELF AND MY PEERS FEEL.
Well I think you have proved my point. I will not respond to you anymore.
Your views are a shame. European Americans? You are a true divide to our nation.
THATS FINE. I NOTICE NONE OF THE QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED. IS IT BECAUSE IT’S NOT TRUE(ASSAULTING MOM) AND OTHERS I GUESS BECAUSE TRUTH HURTS. GOD SPEED TO ALL
AND FYI FOR ANYONE THAT HAPPENS UPON THIS SITE, SHAQUANDA DID NOT ATTACK HER MOTHER AND AS A MATTER OF FACT WILL BE DOING A LIVE CHAT TOMORROW ON BET.COM WITH HER MOTHER.
Regardless of what the people are saying about the Ms. Cotton the fact remains the same that the system is injustice when it comes to those of the darker skin, in Paris, Tx. Alot of people are pointing out the fact that she pushes a 58 yr old. Was she wrong for that maybe so but to give a young girl at the precious age of 14 now 15yrs old 7 years is wrong. whatever happened to in school suspension or being kicked out of that school. For Ms. Cotton to not have a prior criminal record is wrong, what she has done is no different then kids fighting at school on campus. even with that now especially in Texas there is a fine not a jail sentence. No matter how you all view this the Cottons have every right to stand up for what they believe in. If she doesn’t want to plead her guilt then oviously she has her reasons. But seven years for pushing a 58 year old that is still living and walking freely is nonsense. What point is the judge or the jury trying to prove. Especially if the other children of the “White” culture only received probation. It’s real hard not to pull the race card when all the facts are pointing towards it!
Wow. I didnt know I was being discussed while I was away doing important stuff, like getting married and taking care of my child. It was very nice of you micaT to take up for me while I was away. I was reading through your comments to Jeff and I couldnt stop laughing. I really liek the fact that he didnt give you the website or resource that said tht she hit her mother. B/c you know that if it were true, he would have been the first person to rub it in your face as he did in his first comment about the “second offense”. He even dug up my name and I hadnt commented in forever
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