My Story as a Jena 6

When I was seventeen years old, I was charged with attempted murder. It was a crime I did not commit; in fact, I wasn't even in the room when it happened. But I was soon implicated as a conspirator, and from that moment on, my life changed forever. I should have known that it was only a matter of time before either myself or someone I cared about would be hurt by living in Jena. White people stayed on one side of town, and black people stayed on the other. If you didn't follow these unwritten rules, then someone was going to get hurt. But I was an optimist kid, and all I cared about was hanging out with my friends, being good to my mom, and playing ball. I didn't understand at the time that there were people in the world that would attempt to ruin a black man's reputation, or even take his life, just to prove a point. Eventually I had no choice but to leave my hometown of Jena. I moved to Dallas and discovered a whole new life. The people were progressive and educated, and I was accepted. However, even as I began to build a new life for myself, the attempted murder charge and ensuing court dates continued as the victim and his lawyer continued to pursue a conviction against me and five other black men, who became known as the Jena 6. Now that I'm a few years older and can look back and reflect on the whole situation, I can see that there were egos involved, mixed with a sense of entitlement on behalf of the victim and his family. I don't blame them anymore for what happened to me during those years. I wasn't perfect myself. But mostly I can see now that ignorance breeds hate, and the only antidote is forgiveness. I would not be the man I am today without having gone through this legal battle. I saw the good in people, and I saw the bad. And I learned that even if the opportunities we have in life are not equal, it doesn't mean that we can ever stop fighting for equality. It taught me to question authority, to stand up for what I believe in, and above all to fight to expel ignorance. I'm proud to say that I graduated college and have started my own business. Now that I no longer have to keep looking behind me to prove my innocence, I can focus on the future and life outside of being a Jena 6. The future looks bright, indeed.