Black and White

So for this week, I wanted to discuss an article that I found on the front page of CNN. As I continued to read it, I was completely shocked as to how much I wasn't aware of our society's views.  The title of the article "Teen murder suspect carried backpack of hatred", focuses on two cities in Mississippi, Brandon and Jackson, and their racist atmosphere. The whites in Brandon show severe hatred for the blacks in Jackson, specifically being portrayed by a 19 year old boy named Deryl Dedmon. He was charged for killing a black man after he was beaten and run over by a truck (Bronstein, and Griffin). Definitely being a case of unjust violence, I seemed to noticed the social and environmental pressures that led to this tragedy. The tension between whites and blacks in this area influenced Dedmon to pursue such a hateful act. Doing the crime with his friends, they all laughed and commended one another for committing a murder. This article shows that racism still continues to persist in people's lives, which also provides a connection to peer pressure. This is because racist views are typically influenced by your friends, family, and peers you spend time with. For Dedmon, his peers participated in this crime, which psychologically motivated him to kill the man and carry on the act of racism.

If you would like to read more on this issue, check out the link!
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/22/us/mississippi-hate-crime-teens/index.html

Bronstein, Scott, and Drew Griffin. "Teen murder suspect carried 'backpack of hatred' ." CNN. (2011): n. page. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. <http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/22/us/mississippi-hate-crime-teens/index.html>.

Until next time, good luck on exams!
-Sara Malik