About the Author

author photo

Fredric is a web developer based in Chicago who hopes to one day start a foundation to support young, Black males in programming and computer science.

Other posts by Fredric

paris, texas. in plain view

March 13th, 2007 • Related • Filed Under

Shaquanda Cottonthe one thing i love most about reading online is the ability to find little nuggets of information or interesting stories without having to flip through a giant stack of recyclable paper with messy ink. yesterday was no exception when i stumbled upon a story in the tribe (may need free signup) about a small town in texas that seems to relish in its violent racial past.

paris, texas is the home of the Paris Fairgrounds, a stage where thousands of white ’spectators’ would gather to burn and lynch blacks as if at some sort of carnival. today, it is a highly segregated town that has implicity dared anyone to question how it chooses to treat blacks that live in the area.

the facts:

  1. “black parents have filed at least a 12 discrimination complaints against the school district with the federal Education Department, asserting that their children, who constitute 40 percent of the district’s nearly 4,000 students, were singled out for excessive discipline”
  2. the paris public schools are under investigation by the U.S. Education Department
  3. 19-year-old white man, convicted last july of criminally negligent homicide for killing a 54-year-old black woman and her 3-year-old grandson with his truck, was sentenced in Paris to probation
  4. judge chuck superville sentenced a 14-year-old white girl, convicted of arson for burning down her family’s house, to probation
  5. a 14-year-old black freshman, shaquanda cotton, shoved a 58-year-old teacher’s aide at paris high school in a dispute over entering the building before the school day had officially begun. she was tried in march 2006 in the town’s juvenile court, convicted of “assault on a public servant” and sentenced by the same judge chuck superville to prison for up to 7 years, until she turns 21

yes, you read that last part right. i’ll let it sink in for a second.

so its 2007, one state is drafting formal legislation to apologize for slavery, and another is trying to flex its ‘dont mess with texas’ ego. while i complained earlier of how dismayed i was that some black blogs tend to be angry, this type of reality justifies that sentiment, and rightfully so. while i’ve never been the most articulate when it comes to expressing the complete shock of ‘in plain view’ racism, i can honestly say that this type of white arrogance and hate needs to be called out and handled swiftly. but how? the article mentions that naacp is on the case (rolling eyes), but i feel like more, MUCH MORE needs to be done.

if you get to the end of the article, the turmoil suffered by shaquanda in juvenile prison, where 95% of the offenders are repeat and violent (read: real crimes), has caused her to attempt suicide on her life 3 times. 3 times! a 14-year old, my little sister, is trying to kill herself because a racist bigot of a judge put her in prison for shoving someone. SHOVING!

so what can be done? link to this article. publicize this story. let’s see what blogging black can really do. go to the governor’s page at http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact and let him know how you feel and how this is completely bullshit.

free shaquanda cotton. NOW!

i ask that some of my more articulate readers post a statement in the comments that we can all use on the contact form on the texas governor page.

[update 1]: looks like we’re getting the word spread. a fb group has started.

[update 2]: i started a thread over at topix. interesting pov’s, without question. i’ve also gotten word from a few friends that we have connections to ebony magazine and cnn that are being explored. keep spreading the word!

[update 3]: a site has been setup for her at http://freeshaquandacotton.blogspot.com/

[update 4]: thanks to everyone who gave their opinion and overwhelming support. we had to turn off the comments to save our servers, however. be sure to pingback if you want to keep up the discussion on your blogs!

[update 5]: the last, and probably best update, shaquanda cotton will go free.

Viewing 262 Comments

    • ^
    • v
    Here is what I wrote:

    I found a recent article in the Chicago Tribune about a young girl named Shaquanda Cotton. This young girl was sent to prison for 7 years by Lamar County Judge Chuck Superville for shoving a hall monitor in school. This is racist. It is wrong. Please investigate this case and free Shaquanda Cotton NOW. She has already expressed distress from her conditions and attempted to commit suicide. This is wrong for a 14 year old to have to go through this.

    Link to the article: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/...
    • ^
    • v
    Oh my God. This is unbelievable!

    Thanks for telling me about this.

    I've got to research more and write news reports about this today!

    Let's pray and act and get our voices heard over this misjustice until she is released!
    • ^
    • v
    That is just NUTS.
    Complete and total utter stupidity.

    Are her counsel appealing this? Have the NAACP gotten over back slapping Bono to give this their real attention?

    Its scary that in the 21st Century something like this could still happen?
    • ^
    • v
    The discriminatory sentencing in Paris, Texas happens all over Texas. Doesn't Texas hold the dubious title of putting the most black men to death in this country? The entire state needs to change and its going to be up to black people to force that change.
    • ^
    • v
    please don't forget to go to the governor's webpage and send a quick contact.
    • ^
    • v
    after these kinds of stories make their way on the evening news rounds and they aren't aired after a few nights, it's so easy to forget, because it may not be your (my) reality, but this is heartbreaking, demoralizing, harsh, inhumane, and not was the USA stands for... this is supposed to be our past! disgraceful! thanks for sharing! (and the picture speaks volumes, also)
    • ^
    • v
    Excellent article- thank you for spreading the word!
    • ^
    • v
    The Tom Joyner Morning Show and all of Tavis Smiley's venues. This young lady needs big media attention and serious legal aid.

    Why don't we all forward this link to those guys on their blogs? I'm going to search them out and get back to everyone on it.

    If anybody can get more details and give attention it's Tavis, Tom and crew.
    • ^
    • v
    I couldn't find a blog on Tavis' home page , http://www.tavistalks.com , but I sent an e-mail with this blog link to one of his producers, Denise Pines, at dpines@tavistalks.com . I asked her if Tavis could investigate and publicise. Why don't a few more of you try to jam up her in-box so Tavis definitely gets the word on this one?

    Tom Joyner's Express Yourself forum on Black America Web is offline at the moment but try again tomorrow sometime at http://www.tjms.com and see if we can get Tom and Sybil to give it some journalistic research and discussion on their end. This isn't one of J-Anthony's "hidden racism"s. It's out there all the way!
    • ^
    • v
    Thanks for the idea Martin. I think making sure Tavis and Tom know about this is definitely key to making progress in this case. I couldn’t get the 'Express Yourself' page up either, but your can email BAW at news@blackamericaweb.com.
    • ^
    • v
    I've emailed Tracy McGlover and Denise Pines at at TavisTalks.com.

    You can use the first comment as a cut and paste if you want.
    • ^
    • v
    I cant believe this! i mean; i can! But i hate to admit that this is in this day and age ( and in this part of the world where "justice" is said to prevail), there is a child sentenced to be imprisoned for 7 years simply because she had "shoved" someone.
    If that is right, then many more people adults and children alike, deserve to be in that prison with too!
    Please release this child before she succeeds at taking her own life! Please release this child and undo this flaw. Lets start to attempt to undo this curse thats been placed on her. this isnt right. this could have been anyone's child! This, could have been me. Please replenish her chances at a better life; free her.
    • ^
    • v
    This is not surprising to Blacks here in America. As Blacks, we have two choices.

    1. We can control our behavoir KNOWING that there is grave injustice here in America.

    2. We can stop complaining, attend law school; get involved in the political process -- and run/seek appointment for a judge seat. When we become a judges and legislators, we can judge our own people and protect them from draconian punishments.
    • ^
    • v
    Unfortunately, your rationale is flawed.

    First, you're assuming that:

    1.) Control of one's behavior is constitutionally allowable. The legislations in this country allows us certain unalienable rights to not have to 'fit in a box' or 'control ourselves' amidst a majority. This type of 'lets not make waves' thinking is exactly what this country is founded on. She did not harm the man. She simply acted like a teenager.

    2.) All people of this country, especially blacks, have the opportunities to go to law school and ascend into the political system. While you may enjoy the benefits of your parents and ancestors hard work, others are not as fortunate. Our country is also built on the premise that all should have an opportunity.

    This girl is being imprisoned and not only are her rights being stripped, she is being made example of to all blacks.

    I cannot accept this.
    • ^
    • v
    I read about this in the Trib, it's disturbing on so many different levels. I've passed it along to my contacts at Essence and Ebony.
    • ^
    • v
    This is sad but it is so true believe me I know seeing that I'm from Paris Texas also and I have witnessed first had the racism that goes on in Paris on a daily bases. In Paris the white kids are allowed to cruise the strip and park at the shopping center as long as they want but as soon as a group of black people gather at the park the police ride through and shut down the whole park. I still have family in Paris so any help that anybody can offer would be great. Not only do we have to deal with the judges we have to deal with the Police harassment.
    • ^
    • v
    my class talked about this. and she shoved the hall moniter to get riddilin. WTF she needed her medicine and the hall monitor wouldnt let her get it she had the right to move them out of the way and maybe if he let her get it this wouldnt have happened. But the real problem is the fact that she is in prison with people who have killed and she shouldnt even have to think about being in prison but because the Biggot of a judge cant see the truth and is blinded by blaitent ignorance he deserves to be in prison instead of her with his judge license revoked.
    • ^
    • v
    Fredric, thanks for bringing this to my attention. I wrote a post yesterday, "Black Child Lynched in Paris, Texas"
    http://motherfac.blogspot.com/2007/03/black-chi...

    This evening I talked to Ms. Cotton, Shaquanda's mother and Brenda Cherry a local civil rights leader.

    Ms. Cotton is concerned because Shaquanda says she is tired. She also said the child loves to receive cards and letters. Send them to: Ron Jackson Correctional Complex, Unit 2, Dorm 4, P.O. Box 872, Brownwood, Texas 76804.

    Ms. Cotton will be setting up a trust fund at a local bank for Shaquanda. I'll pass the information along to everybody as soon as I get it.

    One more thing--I suggested a Shaquanda blog so her mother could keep the world updated. Ms. Cherry has a computer. Anybody out there in the blogosphere willing to design a blog and set it up for her?
    • ^
    • v
    • ^
    • v
    I can't believe that I'm reading this! My heart is so sadden to know that this type of treatment is allowed. It just makes no sense that a 14 year old child should have to serve 7 years for "SHOVING" someone. How is this allowed can this judge be investigated?
    • ^
    • v
    This is an outrage! Everyone please click on the link above to write the governor. Remember this could be your child, this is such an injustice.
    • ^
    • v
    I am speachless after reading about this! This is complete BS and they know it. That poor child is going to be damaged for the rest of her life all because of a judge with racist ways has done this to her. I am definitely going to send her some cards telling her to be strong and hang in there!
    Thanks for the address and the blog.
    • ^
    • v
    Here is what I wrote to the gov...

    Dear Gov. Perry,

    I am deeply saddened by a story that I just read about a 14yr old child that has been sentenced to 7yrs in prison for shoving someone? :-( I am sure I am not the first or the last citizen to inform you of this incident, but I just wanted to express my extreme frustration and disappointment with the whole situation! I just can not think of any reason (besides hatred and/or racism) that would influence such a harsh and unjustified punishment. I am aware that I may not know all the fact surrounding the case. However, what it boils down to is a child was sent to prison for something that should have been handled by the child's parents, principal of the school, and the victim (person that was shoved). To take it to court and to convict the child is down right uncalled for and ridiculous. :-(

    Thank you for taking the time to read this.

    Respectfully,
    Lukresa D. Williams, MBA