(April 1st): Shaquanda is now free. Read about it on her blog.
In Paris, Texas, a town once famous for public lynchings, a recent sentencing of a fourteen year old black girl to seven years in prison for pushing a teacher’s aid is making news all over the Internet. The girl had no previous arrest record, and the teacher’s aid wasn’t hurt. Three months earlier, the same judge sentenced a fourteen year old white girl, convicted of arson, to probation.
Shaquanda, the girl, had been targeted by school administrators before, due to her mother’s complaints of racism at the school. In this instance, the teacher’s aid did not let Shaquanda into the building to take her medicine, and according to Shaquanda the teacher’s aid actually pushed her first.
This case fits perfectly with the reputation for systemic racism in the Paris school system. In the past five years, there have been at least a dozen discrimination complaints filed by black parents against the school district.
Shaquana reportedly has tried to harm herself several times in the past 10 months of her prison sentence.
She tried to harm herself, Shaquanda said, out of depression, desperation and fear of the hardened young thieves, robbers, sex offenders and parole violators all around her whom she must try to avoid each day.
“I get paranoid when I get around some of these girls,” Shaquanda said. “Sometimes I feel like I just can’t do this no more–that I can’t survive this.”
Another edit: Apparently she was offered probation but her mother turned it down. Read a more comprehensive summary of the controversy here.
That judge’s sentencing record should be examined by someone. That must be public information. There has to be a way to get it. Then examined by race and sentence. This should be brought to the attention of the national news. That is so totally racist. It’s siickening.
Holy shit.. some people are assholes.
I read an article on BBC News that showed that if someone is considered attractive, they are less likely to be found guilty of a crime.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6478659.stm
It just goes to show that even Judges are not above this rule. I bet he was white. . .
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/11726544423410.xml&coll=2
Take a look at this news item, a teacher can bind and gag kids and no criminal charges are made, a black kid pushes a teacher and gets 7 years…….??????
First of all, don’t just believe everything you read. At least not immediately, 100% upon reading it. If an adult pushes another adult, thats assault, plain and simple. You go to jail for assault, why should a teenager be any different. I’m really tired of hearing this crap about racism this, racism that. You commit a crime, you go to jail, how hard is that. Just because black people tend to commit more crime than white people, doesn’t make it racist when a black person goes to jail. Also, the judge has to look at the whole picture when he\she sentences. Read the quote from the black girl, she can’t even speak proper English, things like that DO play a role in sentencing. Anyway, all I’m trying to say, is that people should not be so quick to throw the racism card. It’s stupid and I’m tired of hearing it. One more thing, if her mother was so worried about how racist people were in Paris, Texas, why didn’t she just move. You have to know when to cut your losses. Well, thats all I have to say, and I’m sure plenty of people will cry and moan over what I have to say, but, oddly enough, I don’t care.
scerwup, you are right that we should believe everything immediately upon reading it. But after a little research it should be immediately obvious that this is a case of racism.
We have a 14 year old girl, an age when the mind is not fully developed, commiting a relatively minor offence. Where I come from, this kind of behavior would have been dealt with through a detention at first, suspensions later, and finally expulsion. 7 years in prison is a punishment far beyond the scope of the crime. This is an example of racism and the judge should be punished and removed from the bench.
While I agree that there do exist cases where a racism card is thrown in without reason, this is not one of those cases.
“black people tend to commit more crime than white people”
Where did you hear that? Or did you just make it up because it sounded nice? You need to look at some evidence, meet some people, and re-examine your ideas.
scerwup: She got seven years for pushing someone who didn’t get hurt. There’s no way it’s a normal sentencing; something else had to have been involved. What relevance is it that she “can’t speak proper English” (and most teenagers I know can’t), and how does that relate to the big picture? This is racism, plain and simple, and I can’t believe you’re totally ignoring it and trying to write it off as “black people tend to commit more crimes” and “you commit a crime, you go to jail.” You’re missing what the point is — it’s not that she’s being punished, it’s that the punishment is so extreme, especially in comparison with the white girl her age tried by the same judge that got probation for arson.
You would fit in great with the Alice Shannon from my earlier post, the way you think that rather than trying to fix the blatant racism they should just have to move out and live somewhere else.
When I committed crimes, I went to jail, twice. I don’t think anyone else should be treated any better or any worse because of skin color. Therefore, YOU COMMIT ASSAULT, YOU GO TO JAIL. Black, White, 14, 80. Doesn’t matter. I guarantee when she gets out of there she won’t be assault anyone anymore, and if she does, then she deserves to go back to jail. As for black people committing more crimes. They do, statistically, there are more black people, as a percentage of their population, than any other race. Do some research. So, while, they may not necessarily commit more crimes, they sure do get caught more. As for you deciding the Judge is racist from two cases, that’s just unreasonable. Why don’t you look up his record and see what other cases he has done. And even if he is racist, he was voted into his position, by people like you and me. He’s probably a judge that was already in the position when he got re-elected. People knew he was racist when they voted for him. So, perhaps, in that county, everyone is racist? As for fitting in with this Alice Shannon, yes, I think that they should have moved elsewhere. You cannot fix racism. You just can’t do it, anyone who thinks that you can FIX any other person is disillusioned. I may go so far as to even say, the desire to “fix” someone else is in itself racist. Why can’t you just accept someone else for who they are, whether it be racist, or stupid, or criminal. Personally I believe that black people are the MOST racist of all. Just because of the fact that, any time something happens to one, it’s always because they are black. To hear them tell it. We get channels devoted to being black, we get black power, black pride bullshit all the time, but if anything like that comes out of a white persons mouth, they are racist. What is wrong with being proud of being white? When is white history month?? I don’t believe in white power, but I don’t believe in black power either, so anyone white or black who chooses to say either of those things is fine with me. Anyway, I don’t care if you’re black, white, purple, brown, yellow, or fucking magenta, just get over yourself. If you assault someone, you should go to jail. So, it was 7 years, yeah, maybe a little steep, but I’m sure there was a reason for it, other than she was black. If you think someone shouldn’t go to jail for assault, then next time someone, mugs you, or robs you, or anything of the sort, don’t bother to report it, because that would be racist. You don’t want other people to think you’re racist, do you. Or you could not care what other people think about you and speak your mind. There you go, feel free to continue attacking me.
She is out, due to people complaining about this. She is also collecting money for herself on her website. So, if you want to send her some money along with a note of love, feel free. I’m sure she won’t appreciate it. But I’m sure she’ll be happy to spend your money.
http://freeshaquandacotton.blogspot.com/
There you go, because I’m sure you’d love to send her some money and some love, just because she committed a crime and got out of it. By the way, can you send me some money too. I mean when I committed crimes, I served my whole sentence, but don’t be racist over that. Just mail me some money for it and I’ll be happy. Oh, what’s that? I don’t deserve any money for that, yeah, you’re right, and neither does she. Also, the teacher’s aide she shoved was 58 years old. Anyone else doing that would get an injury or assault to the elderly, which is a felony in Texas, so it sounds like she got off kind of easy to me.
scerwup: This is blatant racism. Whether she deserves to be punished isn’t the issue; the issue is that the punishment is way too harsh. How can anyone in their right mind think that pushing someone without injuring them is “assault” that should lead to seven years in jail?
I did. Read my entire post before commenting, please.
Texas is a state, not a country, and what makes you think people knew he was racist?
I’m being racist because I’m not respecting your right to be racist? You just blew my mind, dude.
I disagree (anyone who reads your sentence can see that you just generalized “black people” as if they were all the same), but I find it interesting that you brought this up all by yourself. Who are you trying to convince?
The problem is that there is no inherent difference between black and white people other than appearance. They’re the same.
A 14 year old girl pushed an adult, and the adult didn’t even get hurt. Please, tell me how that’s “assault.”
Ok, probabilityZero, let me respond. Putting your hands on someone else without their consent is the laws definition of assault. The story on this page says the aide was not hurt, however, all the other posts, the news I watched (I live in the same area), and Shaquanda’s own blog don’t say that. Everything else says the teachers aide was not “seriously injured”. That implies to me that he\she was indeed injured in some way. Also, the aide was 58 years old, a 14 year old should not be shoving someone 44 years older than them, we have no idea what medical conditions this person had. That is why assault and injury to the elderly are so harsh of a charge. As for reading your entire post, I did indeed, the only other case you seem to think exists was the one with the other white girl who got off easy for arson. Oddly enough, that is the only other case that even Shaquanda herself states/did any research on. I said research his whole record, not just one other case fed to you by the people who want you to feel sorry for them. I do actually know that Texas is a state, and that is why I said county, not country. Why don’t you actually read MY post before commenting. Judges are appointed by county in Texas, I don’t know about anywhere else, because I do not live anywhere else, but that is the way it is here. County, not country. If I’m to believe all the things I’m being told about that city/county, they did know he was racist, because according to everything I’ve read, they seem to be having a lot of those kind of problems around there. However, that changes very little, as a matter of fact, it proves my point. Why live somewhere where you are hated and then try to raise a child there?? That is just stupid. I’m sorry I said you were racist for not respecting someone else’s right to be racist. I was wrong about that, that’s just prejudice, not racism. This is America, where anyone has the right to hate anyone else, I don’t necessarily agree with it, but that’s the way our country is set up. As for you calling me racist, I’m the furthest thing from racist there is, I grew up with a black father and a white mother, and have been through all the racism you could handle. People finding out in school and harassing me or beating me up. Our family couldn’t get a mortgage when we first moved to Dallas, due to the fact of my parents mixed race marriage. As a matter of fact, I hate racism, when I’m around it I don’t get violent, which is what a 14 year old Shaquanda did. Egged on by her mother by the way. Go read her blog, it said her mother has been protesting and being a pain in the school districts ass for a while. You think that doesn’t rub off on children you’re wrong. So, you know what I do when I’m around racism? I get away, the logical thing to do. You also have to think about where you’re going to live in the first place. Paris, TX is not a good place for black people. Neither are a lot of cities around the DFW metroplex. People out here named their towns things like White Settlement because they hate black people. There are places to live out here where that is not a problem. I’m not trying to convince anyone about black people being racist, I’m just telling you how real life is. The problem is, when black people do something racist, it’s not considered racist, because then the person who says that gets turned into the “racist”. It’s a double standard that I’m tired of and I don’t believe in it or stand for it. The problem is that there is a difference between white and black people, hell, there’s a difference between white and white people. There’s a difference between everyone and everyone else, Noone is the same as anyone else. Finally, A 14 year old girl shoved an adult, a 58 year old adult, that didn’t want to be pushed. Once again, that is the laws definition of assault, as well as 58 being the laws definition of elderly. She is lucky she didn’t get charged with injury to the elderly, that’s a whole ‘nother can o worms. And think about it this way, if that same 58 year old man\woman shoved that same 14 year old girl, you think the adult would not get charged with assault. You are disillusioned. You say, hey that’s not the same, but, fortunately it is. Think about it like this, you come home and your 14 year old daughter tells you she was pushed by a 58 year old man at school today. If you don’t call the police, the principal, the news stations, anyone and everyone, you’re pretty irresponsible. However, the 58 year old goes home and tells their son or daughter that he/she was pushed by a kid, younger, faster, stronger, than they were and the son/daughter is supposed to do nothing. Oh, well you weren’t hurt, the fact that you were just attacked by a child is alright. Sure, sounds reasonable to me. One last thing, everything else I’ve looked at about this, including Shaquanda’s own blog, said that she had numerous disciplinary problems at the school, which are also blamed on racism. And while disciplinary problems at school aren’t taken into account in an adult criminal court, they are in a juvenile criminal court. As a matter of fact, they make a big difference in juvenile court. So, just because she didn’t have a criminal record before doesn’t mean she was being a good kid. So, this time she actually got into trouble, and the judge decided that he wanted to make sure she never pushes (potentially injuring greatly) and elderly person again. Or anyone else for that matter, whatever happened to respecting your elders? So, I still think it was assault, and obviously so did the law, hmmmm, I may not like all the laws we have, or agree with them, but funny enough, I DO have to follow them or I get punished. Seems simple enough, and just because someone is 14 does NOT make them exempt from the law. Also, 14 is old enough to know better than assault an adult, she knew what she was doing was wrong and did it anyway. Ok, your turn.
probabilityZero, you’re very well spoken for someone that’s 17 years old, I applaud you for actually being able to defend the things you say, and am looking forward to hearing more from you on the subject. I also want you to know that I am not attacking you and hope that you do not feel attacked, I just want to have this discussion because I feel strongly about it.
Like I’ve stated before, I’m not saying what the girl did was okay, I’m saying that the strict verdict was motivated by racism.
I was using “you” in a general sense, I didn’t mean for it to specifically refer to you.
I understand, but that’s no excuse to ignore what’s happening.
hehe, sorry
Whether it was wrong or not isn’t the issue here. The issue is that she was given a ridiculously harsh sentence.
Here in suburban California, a student who gets in a fight and seriously injures another student rarely gets more than a few months in juvenile hall. A friend of a friend built a bomb and blew up a car, and he only got a few years.
In addition, Shaquanda didn’t just push the aid for no reason. The aid wasn’t letting her enter school to take her medication; she even claims the aid pushed her first.
I quoted your original statement about this because I find it irrelevant to the debate here and almost a sort of excuse for the issue at hand. I don’t care “who’s more racist.”
I like it when people start discussions on my blog. At least you didn’t accuse me of being a secular progressive trying to censor Christmas.
You could go drunk driving and kill someone and still get a lesser sentence than 7 years. Good thing she got out, even if it did take a whole year.
“Oh, well you weren’t hurt, the fact that you were just attacked by a child is alright.”
Oh come on, no one said it was alright. When I was in middle school, a mean boy pushed me and I fell over and scraped my knee. He was put in detention. Why didn’t he get charged with assault?
“Why live somewhere where you are hated and then try to raise a child there?? That is just stupid.”
Maybe, but if everyone ran away from problems then nothing would ever be fixed. They chose to stand up for themselves instead, and given the response this issue has gotten they may be able to improve the situation.
Why didn’t she take her medication before going to school, she herself states that she was on school property before the school day even started. As for the sentence being harsh, perhaps so, but, once again, this is Texas, not exactly known for a lenient legal system. Black people being racist is part of the issue at hand. Example, a 14 year old black girl gets sent to jail for 7 years for assault, it must be racism, because the sentence is harsh. However if the same 14 year old girl were white and was sent to jail for 7 years for the exact same crime, you would never hear anything about it. Also, if said white girl tried to claim it was racist, she would be laughed at or worse. As for the fact that she was given a harsh sentence, some people get harsh sentences, some people don’t. Alot of it has to do with, the lawyer you have to defend/help you, the way you present yourself in court (going back to not speaking english correctly), anything else you’ve done in the past (including numerous disciplinary problems at school). Her mom always throwing a fit and protesting things probably didn’t help either. Especially since juvenile courts have to look at the parents and other aspects of the childs life that are not even considered in adult courts.
Unknowable, in Texas if you go drunk driving and kill someone, you do not get a lesser sentence than 7 years. As a matter of fact there are people who have sentences larger than 7 years just for drunk driving by itself. This is Texas, prison is an industry, that’s just how it is. Also, juveniles are sentenced differently. She was not sentenced to 7 years, she was sentenced to stay in juvenile until she was an adult, hopefully she could learn to control herself by then. Big difference in my opinion. It was an attempt to teach her a lesson and allow her to grow up in a controlled environment. So when she did grow up, she doesn’t attack someone, seriously injure or kill them, and find out what a real prison sentence is all about. It’s not all fun and games, not in Texas. There is no internet access, which there obviously was where she was, otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to set up a website where she can beg for money and for people to write to her and make her feel better. Likewise, there is no nice air conditioning in the adult corrections system. And when it’s 110 for a month straight (which is normal in Texas) it’s 130 plus inside a prison dormitory, I tell you this from experience. It’s nothing nice, and it sounds like it was an attempt to help turn her life around, which was foiled because people were worried about the fact that she was black so they complained and complained, and oddly enough, she got out just 6 days ago. After only serving 1/7th of her sentence. Nice for her, until she commits another crime, then she’s screwed. And noone will help her then. Hopefully all the money she solicits from her website will help her pay for her future legal costs. I believe that there will be future legal problems for her, look what she was taught, commit a crime, disagree with the sentence, make up story about it being racist that you have to serve a sentence for commiting a crime, get out of jail free. Good lesson for all kids that think they can do anything they want. Might as well tell them that they can.
nicely saik
I was just watching a story on the news about her release. They said that she was offered probation, but her mother refused to accept the conditions of it, so they were forced to sentence her to jail time. Puts a whole new spin on the story. Evidently, that wasn’t reported anywhere until now, or was conveniently left out. Hmmmmm.
The white girl convicted of arson violated her probation twice before being put in jail, yet the black girl who shoves a hall monitor gets a prison sentence. It’s a good thing she’s out. Despite all the people trying to say 7 years is a fair sentence or that it’s the mothers fault for bringing on the racism, things worked out in the end thanks to blogs like this that spred the word.
Yeah, it’s a great thing that someone who assaults people is allowed out of jail before her sentence was up, yay I’m so happy for her. Maths, why don’t you go to her blog and donate some money to her for committing a crime and then getting away with it. You can do that by going to the link in one of my earlier comments.
scerwup where born under a rock? Black and white alike yeah we all commit crimes. I will say that the crimes that blacks commit arent the F***** up ones like child molesting, killing our loved ones and hiding them in bedrooms for years. How likely is a black person to be a serial killer. Check out those statics. I agree that she should have been punished but seven years in jail. If she collecting money hip hip F****** hooray. She should sue the bastards that put her there. Guess what? Im not BLACK either.
I’ve read all the comments listed on this bullentin and it gives an overview of the mindset of our generation. Scerwup you mentioned earlier in your response that you should not believe everything you read at firsthand, but then you contradicted yourself by conveying the inappropriate grammar used by the young lady. Could it have been that the editor misquoted or supposedly it was a misprint. (Remember out of your mouth you said you can’t believe everything you read). Let me ask you a question have you ever pushed one of your friends and went to jail for seven years for pushing your friend. I don’t think so (Remember you stated a push is a push whether its an adult to adult or child to adult its all the same). You wanted to know why didn’t the mother move. No matter where you go there will always be problems, so does that mean everytime someone looks at me wrong, I must move? Would you move? I know not. You talk about this was only to teach her a lesson about self-control as if neither one of us have never acted out in anger at one time or another. Are we not sounding Holier than thou??? I’m so amazed at all the perfect people talking here???? Do you know what this lesson taught her–nothing, but a distrust in the jurisdical system of our government. You brought up that if a white girl did the same we would never hear about it. You are right because she would have never received a seven (7) year sentence–as a matter of fact she would have never been reported for pushing…. You brought the statement up as to why didn’t she take her medicine earlier–Again ignorance comes out-have you ever heard of a time schedule for medication? example take every four hours–Does this rings a bell or does your medicine states take whenever you want? This is sad. We speak before thinking.
Screwup is related to the Judge and I bet is all for Paris Hilton not going to jail !!!
WOAH!!! Now screwup or however you wrote it, you need help. Obviously you are still upset about being in jail twice. Did you not get therapy when you got out? Well, if not you need it. One thing that bothered me was way earlier in the post you said why didn’t she just move out. Do you seriously think it is that easy to leave a job not having another guareenteed one somewhere else do you think people can get money that easily to move away. Anyway just do us all a favor build a bridge and GET OVER IT!!
good day
screw up……. i agree…. you are
a sick indivual. your heartless and obviously care nothing about black ppl, ur comments alone tells a great deal about u.. black ppl have been going through hell for years hundreds n hundreds of years… a white person could kill a ten black ppl and get off on a technicality where as if a black person commit the same crime and they have no evidence they’ll make something up because they think were not good enough to live on the street… im so ashame of u n what u said… “black ppl commit more crimes than whte” WOW where did u get that from… tell me i would love to know… white ppl invade our country and commit nasty crimes and get away with with it… the WHITE girl that burn her parents house could of killed hundreds of ppl… n whomever she is thought about doing b4 she n got out on probation not even a minute in prison and then ur talking about the man is elderly.. r her parents young??? n because u live in a town thats filled with racism doesnt mean that u have to move, if they hate black ppl so much why dont they leave… u no what ur name really suit u ur ass is screwed the hell up… pissed off at screw up
n no im not a racist im just sick and tired of these BULLSHIT u guys throw at us
Screwup,
I was reading your posts on this subject and I just wanted to comment. I respect your values and mindset, however, understand that if a 14 year old white girl were sentenced to prison for 7 years for the same offense there would worldwide round the clock coverage. Yes, I will be the first to admit that young blacks make the huge mistake of living up to the stereotypes and prejudgements made my whites. Whites immediately look at blacks and assume they are stupid which is why proving them wrong is my sole purpose in life. This young lady was wrong but young people make mistakes. She’s a kid. Yes she is old enough to know right from wrong but she’s still a kid. Most teenagers do irrational things. She should be punished, no doubt. However, 7 years in prison is crazy. This small city is setting an example for every other black in the community. I guarantee you if it had been a white girl that did this that she would not have been punished that severely. I think you know that also. She shouldn’t be given a slap on the wrist either. People are convicted of manslaughter and selling drugs and get less time than this. Let’s been real here. This city has a history of racial problems. Being openminded is key to this particular case. When I was a teenager I did some stupid things but when you grow up and mature you realize things and see things in a nother light. This girl was wrong but the punishment is too harsh. If I were the teacher involved I would have done everything in my power to stop it because she mad a bad decision. Her entire life should not be ruined because of it. Everyone had made mistakes at that age. This city with their history of racism, is determined to show what they stand for. No, they should not move away because they are surrounded by people with hatred in their hearts. Blacks have come too far to start that now. Stand up for what you believe in and refuse to be moved. Hope, Integrity and faith are things that can’t be taken away. They have brought blacks a long way. It’s sad to see how parts of the world still act this way.
I was typing fast….excuse the errors.
as a young female african american i feel like the whole world should hear this……its just ridiculous how they did my young sista. They had little Ms. Caucasion on a GOD DAMN probation…….i just heard about this today and i have “0″ tollerance for it. In causacoids eyes…..were still considered as a nigga……i just want them to know and understand what they are doing. But they wouldnt care…..so as a YOUNG INDIVIDUAL, I WILL STAND UP FOR WHAT IS MINE.
You don’t PUSH teachers
that is a shame how they do i blacks
Successful troll is successful.