James Craig Anderson Gets Justice
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Update
March 2012 - Deryl Dedmon now 19, pleaded guilty to killing Mr.James Craig Anderson because of the color of his skin. Dedmon received two life sentences after pleading guilty to killing the victim by driving over him with his pickup. Dedmon could have faced the death penalty, but Anderson's family asked prosecutors not to pursue it.
Racism
"I do not think white America is committed to granting equality to the American Negro... this is a passionately racist country; it will continue to be so in the foreseeable future."
Susan Sontag (1933-2004) American author.
Graphic Video
I Am A Man
It’s 2011 and there’s a biracial President in the White House even though he’s identified as a Black man.Yet this very year, a Black man was killed by a group of whites.What’s horrific about this crime?The vicious death of Mr. James Craig Anderson in Jackson, Mississippi was pre-meditated because he was a Black man - June 2011. Don’t believe it was a racial crime? Watch the video and make up your mind.
Mr. Anderson was a 49 year old auto worker minding his business when a group of white attacked the unarmed man. Anderson was in a hotel parking lot with surveillance camera. Much of the murder including the actual murder of Anderson was captured live on videotape. A group of white teens drove to a Black neighbor and beat the man while abusing him with racial insults. According to published accounts, many hotel guests witnessed the events. After beating the man until he could hardly get up, the teens got into a 1998 Ford 250 truck.The standard Ford 250 truck wheelbase is 137.0". The overall length is 227.6", length - front bumper to back of cab 118.9", and height - F-250 SRW (without options) 76.6"-79.2". Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW): The weight of the vehicle including driver, passengers, optional and aftermarket equipment, and all cargo is between 8,000 – 11,000 pounds. This was no small car. All these specs are important because the driver gunned the truck and ran over the dazed man, crushing him to death. Witnesses reported Mr. Anderson staggered toward the headlights of the truck before being run down. He may have been disoriented by the beatings and bright lights. The driver jumped the curb to kill Anderson - it was no accident.
Allegedly, Deryl Dedmon, Jr.the 18 year old driver of the truck told law enforcement, “I ran that n----r(not Negro) over.” In most states at 18, the suspected murders would be tried as an adult. Usually there’s no bail in a murder case, but in this case it’s less than a million dollars. The teens drove 16 miles home in the truck and SUV leaving the smashed body of the Black man. Just why is it that racial hatred continues to plague the South, North, East, West – the United States? Mississippi has a long history of lynching, racial violence - beatings, jailing, dog bites and killings. History seems to be current events.
“There is a law that man should love his neighbor as himself. In a few hundred years it should be as natural to mankind as breathing or the upright gait.. but if he does not learn it he must perish.” Alfred Adler
The other problem – there’s more information about the alleged murders than there is about the victim. James Craig Anderson of Jackson, Mississippi was a 49 year old family man. Who was James Craig Anderson? He was more than how his life ended. “I am a man more sinned against than sinning.” William Shakespeare
Resources
- Video shows white teens driving over, killing black man, says DA - CNN.com
On a recent Sunday morning just before dawn, two carloads of white teenagers drove to Jackson, Mississippi, on what the county district attorney says was a mission of hate: to find and hurt a black person.
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Thank you quildon for being the first to comment. I agree with your opinions.
We seem to be a country divided as much now as we were at the start of the Civil War. Actually, the war never ended. The South gave up overtly, but continued racial ideology until it covered all 50 states covertly. Racists have traveled far and wide spreading their message, from one generation to another. “I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.” - Malcolm X
We live in a country where freedom affords elected officials the opportunity to call the President, tar baby and boy. Newspapers publish pictures and cartoons of the President as a monkey. If such disrespect for the Office of the President is allowed, the average everyday non-white in America has little chance for commanding respect, unless done defensively. Sad state of affairs if we allow the 20% to detect to 80% of the citizens. “A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.” - Malcolm X
quildon 9 months ago
You have tackled a very difficult topic with great courage and insight. As a black woman, it grieves me to see this kind of hatred still being perpetuated in this multiracial country that now has a black president. No matter how far we may have come along the spectrum of racial equality, we'll always have those who continue to hate others who don't like them. This is so unfortunate.