A Letter to Rachel Jeantel - An Apology on Behalf of the Whole World

[K Gardner]

Powerful, beautiful, heart-wrenching blog by Khadijah Costley White

I want to write you an apology for this whole world, even if it’s not my place to apologize. I’m so sorry that you’re sitting on the stand right now, being interrogated like a criminal instead of another victim. I’m so sorry that people are judging you, fixated more on your beautiful brown skin, your carefully applied make-up, your body, your being, than your trauma and your pain. I’m sorry that you were born into a country where a man can pursue and kill a black boy, your friend, and go home the same night with the blessings of law enforcement officers. I’m sorry that you’ve been retraumatized, stigmatized, defamed, and attacked just because you were unlucky enough to love a black boy, to share time with him, to be the last one he ever called.

I’m so sorry for your loss.

This letter, I know, doesn’t make up for any of it. Not for the unimaginable grief and pain you’ve suffered in the last year. Not for the guilt or shame you’ve probably felt, which no doubt has affected your health and will continue to affect your life, your dreams, your faith. I can’t even fix the extreme likelihood that you and your children might soon find it impossible to vote in your home state. Or that you were never taught to read cursive, or that the school you grew up attending was probably more like a prison than a place of learning. I can’t promise that you, or another loved one (or mine) won’t, yet again, die too soon, too young, too black.

http://www.rolereboot.org/culture-and-politics/details/2013-06-a-letter-to-rachel-jeantel-the-prosecutions-key-witn?fb_action_ids=10200894296572610&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_ref=.UczAZ_s7uaU.like&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582

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[Awknid]

1. Hear hear!

[WhataKnight]

85. Could be the dumbest thing I have read

Seriously we should apologize to a young women who has no respect for authority, can hardly read or write, is going to be a 20 year old senior and thought it was normal enough for Trayvon to get into a fight at night in a strange city alone that she never called him back after the phone went dead.

Seriously, that is who you apologize to? Where do you think she will be in five years, ten years and will you still be apologizing to her than? To continue to make excuse for her failures is not helping her or anyone else.

[olegramps]

86. The dumbest thing written is your response.

It is little wonder that so many citizens refuse to come forward to testify. This young lady was questioned by the defense for two days in their deposition prior to the trial. She was questioned on the stand for over five hours in which the defense was allowed to badger her. The defense is very creative in asking the same question ten different times in hope that the witness will some how contradict their original testimony. I can't help from concluding that your response is basically driven by racism. You attack the young lady because she isn't as suave and as articulate as her detractors, totally ignoring the actual value of her testimony. Have you even entertained the notion that she may have a learning disability? What I saw was a savage attack in which Mr. West didn't even attempt to conceal his contempt.

I can only conclude that having watched her testimony that it is a prime example just why citizens increasingly don't trust the entire system. It seems that not a week goes by that yet another person, usually of African American heritage, is exonerated after languishing for years in prison. The abuse is not restricted to only police brutality, but extends to the entirety of system in which laboratory results are found to have been erroneous, some intentionally, that were used to convict innocent people.

[WhataKnight]

91. You have no idea who I am

My past husband was African American and the father to both my daughters. Spare me your racism comments, there are those of us that actually practice what we preach. This young lady changed her story several times before she ever walked into the court room, that is why the defense ripped her apart. She was rude and disrespectful to the court, I don't care what race or religion you are, if you do that in a court room it will only make thing harder on yourself. Now I have posted several times that I believe that Zimmerman deserves jail time but if the best the state has to offer is Rachael's testimony than as a citizen of Seminole County, I could not convict.

[obama2terms]

89. Have you ever thought that she had an untreated learning disability?

I had dyslexia as a kid lucky for me my mother had it as a kid and so did my uncle ( mom's younger brother). When my mom was a kid no one really knew what dyslexia is and she struggled through school. By the time my uncle started school, there was a better understanding of the disability and they were able to help my uncle. My mom knew the signs and realized I was showing signs of dyslexia when I was around 6 years old, and my family had the means to get me the help I needed, I had to repeat 2nd grade and later on I was able to get by much easier in school. Maybe the girl had a learning disability and her parents just didn't know what to look for or they couldn't afford to get her help. Or once her parents realized there was a problem, it was too late to help her. She probably flunked some grade levels and the school probably considered her a lost cause so they didn't help her either. There is also a possibility that she didn't have the transportation to travel to get help ( some schools don't offer any type of tutoring program, we had to drive 90 minutes to get to the place that helped me out) The bottom line is, you don't know her life, but you do know she is probably grieving for her friend, and through no choice of her own she is getting all of this attention. Trayvon's death isn't her fault so why all this anger towards the girl? Also, as someone who was able to get help for my learning disability, I am well aware not everyone gets that chance, I find your "20 year old senior" comments VERY offensive. You should be ashamed, this girl is going through more pain than most people can imagine and all you can do is trash talk her, disgusting!

[WhataKnight]

90. Please

I do have dyslexia and raising two young girls because their father died from a drunk driver I would think is very difficult. As I said, I live in Seminole County as well, both my daughters attend school five miles from Sanford, they know how tough live can be and guess what, I am never going to make excuses for not achieving the most they can. If we keep making excuses for people like Rachael, they will never be what they could be.

[obama2terms]

94. That's really sad, I'm so sorry that happened

But she may have something more serious, we never know, sometimes it's hard to find the right fit for someone with a learning disability. I'm not making excuses, I'm telling the truth, some people just don't have the means or the access to get the help they need. You surely know how hard it is after someone you love dies, well this girl is much younger than you and going through a similar situation, she needs a lot of sympathy, she's going through a rough time right now.

[SaveAmerica]

93. Your personal feelings about this young woman have nothing

to do with the apology. The apology is about the treatment of someone who is completely innocent of any crime or wrong-doing in this case. This is about speaking to her as though she is on trial for a crime and not as someone who has information by association.

I don't even care how many levels of connection you have to any race or anything that is similar to hers, you don't have the right to decide it's OK for her to be treated this way because of personal traits she has that you find distasteful. She could be 25, getting her GED tomorrow, and can't hold a pen, or she could have graduated from college at 18. None of that has any bearing as to how she was being spoken to and I hope all of that backfires on what I consider the worst lawyer the defense could have found.

Perhaps you're not reading your words the way that I did. Do you see the way you're looking down on her?

[hopemountain]

95. so, attacking the witness

is more helpful to her ("or anyone else&quot than apologizing?

[BeyondGeography]

2. Just thinking of the irony of what this young woman is going through

two days after the Voting Rights Act was kicked back to Congress because racism was so 45 years ago.

Thanks for posting.

[K Gardner]

5. It's just been tearing me up.. hard to watch. I wanted to go hug her, to somehow do exactly what

this blogger did - and apologize for this horrible, cruel, ugly, unfair world.

Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone.. I think many of us have a tender and hurting heart for Rachel ..

[Wait Wut]

11. That's exactly how I've felt.

She's being as brave as she can be. Every bit of my maternal instinct wants to grab her off that stand and shame the internet toughguys that couldn't be nearly as courageous as she has been.

I hope, when all this is over, she reads letters like this. That she knows how many of us were there with her, wanting to hug her, wanting this to be over for her. And, a few of us wanting to slap some people into oblivion for being the enormous racist, bigoted assholes that they are.

[Maraya1969]

80. I think it was Glen Beck who was on the radio making fun of her tweets. Like a little boy he was

making fun of her writing. He was bullying her on the radio. Like he was never a young kid just being a young kid.

He and the rest who have made fun and bullied this young girl should be ashamed of themselves.

[K Gardner]

81. Yes, they should. But they're not. And this tells you much about a person. n/t

[LittleGirl]

15. me too

I didn't get to watch today but I was glued to the set yesterday and I never watch tv during the day. I felt so bad for her. And I want someone to take that poor girl to the doctor to get that goiter on her neck checked. She has health issues that I hope are being looked at.

Big hug for Rachel.

[HangOnKids]

3. K&R

[Little Star]

4. k&r

[freshwest]

6. Tears! To the Greatest page of DU and read widely. Thanks for Khadijah's wisdom and clarity.

This cuts through all the lies and hatred.

To Rachel:

[OneGrassRoot]

7. Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing. K&R n/t

[kelliekat44]

8. Posting this all over FB. You can too. nt

[olddots]

9. thanks for writing this.

n.t.

[K Gardner]

25. Khadijah Costley White is the author. I just posted her eloquent and moving commentary..

Costley White is a faculty member in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Rutgers University in New Brunswick....

[southernyankeebelle]

10. Thanks for posting the letter. I feel she has been put on trial. It isn't right. She is

immature to say the least but she is still a young girl who didn't want to be there in the first place. I hope she doesn't get on the social media and read some of the terrible things that are said about her.

[Maximumnegro]

12. As a West Indian I understand all too well

what this is about. She (we) was raised from another perspective, one where we see BS for what it is - and some of us from marginalized/minority backgrounds simply find it too much to put up with. She has to learn multiple ways of communicating AND have to deal with a world of bigotry and prejudice AND just try and be a regular person and deal with her own stuff. Now she's got some BS lawyer in her face trying to play her AND it's about a devastating experience AND she in on the national stage where she KNOWS that people will judge her.

I know some of where she is coming from. Some of these issues pervade my own family. Some take to trying to integrate into the system (me) others have latched on to the 'ghetto' way of expressing themselves. The end result is the same. You feel judged all the time and constrained by perception no matter what you do.

And yes, most of my family is now in Florida. Which is a special hell unto itself.

[K Gardner]

16. What a perfect way of expressing how difficult it is for her to "play the part" so many of the

judgemental and crass 'media', lawyers and experts are expecting her to play. You've captured it so succinctly.. thank you. How and why is it we absolutely cannot tolerate "the other"..

Your last line cracked me up, though

[H2O Man]

13. Histrionics.

"for the whole world"? Get a grip.

[nolabear]

14. Literary license. But is that your entire commentary?

I haven't been following your own take on what Ms Jenteal was subjected to, but at the very least it's a complex look at cultural misunderstanding and the pillorying both in media, and for a distinct purpose on the stand, of a young woman who is, for various reasons, the victim of a terrible set of circumstances. Do you react to that in any way that adds, pro or con, to the dialogue that might make people understand one another better and create a better world, or is "get a grip" it?

Personally, I felt for her. She is a teenager and lives in a world vastly unlike ours, by virtue of her age (teenagers are distinct and separate by choice and development from all other age groups for complex reasons), her background, her experience with discrimination, her societal norms (trying to be polite to Trayvon's mother and so changing language in her presence), her at best second-hand experience with profiling, and a host of other things. Understanding who she is and where she is coming from, whether you think she is inventing a narrative in order to "help" her dead friend or not, would be kind and affirming for her. Instead she has been excoriated from behind the safe screen of social media, and if not the whole world a very loud, belligerent, smug and obnoxious part of it would do well to feel some real regret for the way they have treated her.

[K Gardner]

18. Beautiful, nolabear. Thank you. n/t

[nolabear]

19. You're welcome. But it is a real question. I'd like to know.

I might think I'm a bit too precious here, but I do have some advantages. As a therapist I talk, and sometimes as an authority figure fail magnificently to talk, to teens a lot. Perfectly normal teens are suspicious, irritated at, and have little interest in adult authority figures. It's part of breaking away and forming a peer identity. And as a woman raised in the New Orleans area I am very, very aware of distinct cultural norms within various African American communities. The idea that she would struggle to read cursive in a world filled with texting and an oral as opposed to a written tradition isn't indicative of low intelligence but she was treated that way. The idea that she would curse in front of her friend's mama might well be unthinkable (I have been told more than once "My mama would whip my ass if I didn't say 'Good morning' to Miss So-and-So on the street," when the very idea in the cool Northwest where I now reside is thought of as intrusive and icky). And I have the fairly certain, though uncomfortable, idea that were she pretty and a little submissive the exact same words could have come out of her mouth and she'd have been perceived entirely differently.

Oddly enough, she seemed to me to be trying very hard to be respectful in a situation in which she was being treated with the ultimate goal of being proven a liar. I'd be hostile too, but I'd be better at playing the attorney's game.

I suppose I'm on a tear, but I truly feel bad about the way that child is being treated.

[K Gardner]

23. Love your heart for what you do, and try to do every day. As an ER nurse, I

am fortunate enough to have been exposed to every possible culture across many different states; and count myself lucky to have learned to understand and speak bits and pieces of different languages; to have the opportunity to delve deeply into the parts of other cultures many do not get to see - how people deal with death, dying, fear, and authority, on what is usually the worst day in their lives.

When I see nurses or medical professionals around me making fun of, or referring to people as "illegals", or refusing to even TRY to learn enough Spanish to triage a patient.. it infuriates me. I've been infuriated for two days now, watching the Breaking Bad Mr. White Look-Alike so casually poking at her, pretending not to understand; and the media and twitterverse expounding on her in mean and cruel ways. What does a perfectly-coiffed bleached blond MSNBC law commentator REALLY have to tell us about Rachel Jeantel? More to the point, what does Rachel Jeantel have to tell us about ourselves?

As someone said above (Beyond Geography, I think) - to have this stunning example of a racial and educational and cultural divide come just 2 days after the Supreme Court ruling is fairly astounding.

I'm on a tear, as well, and I also feel bad for Rachel.

[nolabear]

28. Love you back. Mr. Bear has a heart issue and Youngest Bear abdominal migraines.

I spend more time than I like in ERs. And we are very, very lucky to be of the dominant language and class, and so feel entitled to and are generally granted at the very least the right to be taken seriously. A good ER person is a jewel beyond price!

[H2O Man]

36. My comment has

absolutely nothing to do with the young lady who testified at the trial. It was directed exclusively at the overly-emotional bullshit about "the world" and the author's pretentious attempt to apologize for everyone. If that is rooted in some "license," the author should have it suspended.

In regard to the witness, she did a very good job. I have no doubt that the jurors were positively impressed by her. The fact that some talking heads on television are attempting to pretend it was "controversial" etc is meaningless -- it's their job to try to make things controversial. That is what they get paid for. And anyone else who might discount her testimony, or attack her as a person, is not worth listening to, much less taking seriously.

Intelligent, thoughtful people appreciate what this young lady has been through. No one needs to engage in hand-wringing because a few jackasses don't.

[nolabear]

38. Well really nobody NEEDS to do anything. We just do.

Like I said, literary license. The writer had a hook, expressed an opinion and got some attention and we all gave a discussion. Obviously your mileage and mine vary somewhat. Though it appears we generally agree on the testimony.

[K Gardner]

17. What a perfect Assholian Example of why Rachel deserves an apology FROM THE WHOLE WORLD. Thank you.

[H2O Man]

35. Pathetic.

What a sad excuse for thinking: Rachel deserves an apology because I disagree with what some person wrote? Ha!

[EOTE]

62. So where's my apology FROM THE WHOLE WORLD for reading this post?

If Rachel deserves an apology for acting like a spoiled child and having no sense of decorum in court, then surely I deserve something even better for reading that pathetic excuse for rational discourse.

[jtuck004]

42. I agree with you (though you may not with me, lol). About the third "I'm sorry" it started to

sound condescending...

She is going through a trial, and this is what trials are. And she has grief, but she's alive and perfectly capable of learning to read cursive if she ever thinks it's important, I expect.

[H2O Man]

48. I found it condescending

well before that.

This young lady did well on the stand. And of course it was difficult. And more difficulties lay ahead. But I saw a strong person, who will become stronger -- not because of all this, but in spite of it.

[jtuck004]

49. I laughed when the defense attorney kept pressing her, and she let loose with a bit, and

followed it up with "You got that?". A couple times, I think. Shaking her head back and forth, a little cocky.

Of course they were hard on her. I guarantee if it was someone else on trial they would want the defense attorney to take a stick to the witness. It's their job.

I thought she did fairly well, what little bit I saw, so I'm not sure but that what all the concern is just people wishing she had been "their" idea of a better witness.

But I think the world has gone flippin' crazy, so who knows what's in people's heads?

[Sheldon Cooper]

51. Wow, this seems exceptionally harsh coming from you.

You have always struck me as pretty compassionate.

[H2O Man]

59. The author

strikes me as particularly offensive.

I have respect for the young lady who testified. And definitely feel compassion for her.

But for the author in the OP? No.

[K Gardner]

61. What i'm sensing is that you find it offensive that someone other than you has written something

extremely moving and compassionate; so you have responded in an extremely offensive way. Very juvenile and surprising.

[H2O Man]

66. Think what you want.

I re-read the OP, and still find it offensive. I will admit that my method of expressing my displeasure with it was equally offensive. Indeed, it fit a pattern yesterday, certainly not limited to DU. Hence, I've been apologizing to some friends & associates that I really insulted yesterday ....but who luckily understand exactly why I was Mr. Crabby Appleton yesterday (and it isn't due to being jealous of the OP), and are happy to look past it.

[flamingdem]

20. Travon was her best friend it seems, we should honor her

and her loss.

[Marie Marie]

33. She didn't ask for any of this and to hear the criticisms of her is indeed heartbreaking.

I think, given her age and her loss of a loved one, she is handling herself with as much grace as she can muster.

[onecent]

21. Very nice letter...Wish she could read it herself!!! n/t

[K Gardner]

24. I hope someone will make certain that she does.. :-) eom

[mimi85]

26. The most gratifying thing I've ever done

was to work with adults in a literacy program at a local library. I gained far more than the people I worked with. The joy when a man who was quite a success in business (that didn't require much reading), but couldn't read his son a bedtime story was another moving experience. When he first read a story to me at the library, I had to hold my tears back.

Another was a young girl who was just shoved through high school and graduated, but read at the level of a second-third grader. She ended up with a good job, moved to another state. I still get letters (handwritten no less) from her about her family and beautiful child.

If anyone is looking for a volunteer opportunity, I strongly suggest working with your library. I promise you will gain as much, if not more, as your "students" who had the courage to ask for help.

My heart went out to this young girl. And just think how many more there are like her. It's heartbreaking.

[K Gardner]

29. This is a wonderful idea, and as you say, you get back more than you give..

truly inspirational story

I taught for a bit at a junior college, and was absolutely stunned at the students who came to me who did not know how to construct a sentence, or spell, or even how to use a period. You are correct... so many more like her out there..

[WillyT]

22. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[DrewFlorida]

27. I'll add another voice to the apology!

[tblue]

30. Bless her heart!

We need to show her support somehow.

[TDale313]

31. Such a wonderful statement.

I have been really saddened and disturbed by some (much) of the reaction to this young woman. A young woman who has done nothing to seek the harsh spotlight she's now under and who appears to be just trying to do what's right as best she can. She found herself in an extremely difficult position, and unfortunately her own personal grief for her friend as well as her personal demeanor have been put under a national media microscope. And I'm sorry, but there is a tinge of rascism to the way Zimmerman's attorney dealt with her questioning, as well as much of the public criticism/ridicule of her. My heart goes out to her.

[Honeycombe8]

32. #1: the whole world isn't watching. #2: Most people aren't thinking what yu say they are.

#3: You don't have the right or authority to apologize for others.

I saw part of her testimony. I wasn't fixated on her race. I did notice she mumbled....I couldn't hear her clearly a couple of times. And her grammar was bad (I was an English major...this is a pet peeve with me....clearly communicating is the #1 thing a person can do to get ahead in the world, get a good job, make decent money, have a good relationship, etc.).

[K Gardner]

60. #1. Yu is not a word. YOU is a word. 2. 'Whole world' was probably meant to be a largely symbolic

reference, which, as an ENGLISH MAJOR, you should understand. #3. Your 'pet peeve' is not relevant here. This is not about you, even though you are "an English major", whatever that is supposed to mean.

and #4. I didn't write the article, so I am not apologizing. The author of the article is apologizing in a very moving and literal way, which, as an "English Major", you should be familiar with. Unless, as I suspect, you don't know jack about shinola, nor have you paid much attention to this ENTIRE discussion - and most likely didn't even read the ARTICLE REFERENCED - which is about cultural differences and tolerance and understanding. I'm extremely sorry you were bothered by what YOU <yu> perceived as her "mumbling".

You <YU>, and people like you, are the reason people feel the need to apologize to this young woman - who, even though she "mumbles" - speaks more languages than I'm fairly certain you do.

[Honeycombe8]

83. Whoa. You might want to see a therapist about your anger issues.

Read my post again. It was not insulting in any way to anyone (unlike your post to me, which was a personal attack). I merely pointed out that her race was not an issue to me or a lot of other people. Don't know why she thinks so.

I followed it to a natural progression and then gave what I DID think of when I saw her (which was not her race).

She did mumble, BTW. No, I don't think she was speaking a foreign language. Just mumbling.

("Yu" is indeed an electronic shorthand for "you." We are not writing essays here. It's acceptable to use internet shorthand in blogs.)

[olegramps]

87. You are not insulting, just sickingly condescending.

[noiretextatique]

69. you better believe that the whole world IS watching

the maori, for example, based their liberation movement on the us civil rights movement. when i visited italy, several italians asked me about the racism i faced in the united states. the world IS watching.

[bvar22]

78. For someone who claims to be an "English major",

you do not merit a passing grade for this:

[font size=3]"And her grammar was bad (I was an English major...this is a pet peeve with me....clearly communicating is the #1 thing a person can do to get ahead in the world, get a good job, make decent money, have a good relationship, etc.). "[/font]

You have failed at "clearly communicating".
I started to list the other errors in grammar, syntax, and construction,
but decided to leave that up to you.

[Beacool]

34. A lot of hyperbole.

The whole world is not watching. What I did see of her testimony, she didn't do the prosecution any favors. Poor grammar aside, she contradicted herself enough times to put in question the validity of her testimony. I would have thought that the prosecution had enough time to prepare her.

[John2]

52. Prepare her to

do what, lie on the stand? The Trial isn't over yet, if the prosecution treats Zimmerman's witnesses the same way. She did not lie to the jury, and admitted inconsistent statments, that she made. It is different when you get on that stand. When you know she lied to the Jury, then the Defense could charge her with perjury. She is consistant on the material facts. Zimmerman pursued Trayvon and he tried to escape him. She also was the last person speaking to Trayvon. Those are facts in evidence cannot be desputed. She is a problem for the defense.

There is no eye witness, claiming Trayvon attacked Zimmerman, hid or turned back. Every bit of that is speculation, and only Zimmerman's account. If Zimmerman's family is called to the stand, we will see if they are more truthful on the stand than this young lady people are trying to crucify. I would love to see what Mr Zimmerman claims about coaching his son about self defense and previous statements before Zimmerman obtained a lawyer. What goes around comes around. I would also like to see what his brother claims also.

[Beacool]

58. I did not say that she lied.

But she was a poor witness for the prosecution (and I'm being polite, some attorneys were calling her testimony a "train wreck&quot . And yes, they were supposed to prepare her. Any trial attorney or prosecutor knows this. They obviously either didn't work hard enough to get her ready or there was no coaching that would have helped. She couldn't read a letter? She was short, abrupt and repeated the word "retarded" twice when questioned by the defense attorney. There's a lot more.

Read this. It was written by Jeralyn Merritt, a criminal defense attorney.

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2013/6/26/223210/512/crimenews/-Rachel-Jeantel-Court-Antics-and-How-Martin-Profiled-Zimmerman

[John2]

84. If, you read an

earlier Post of mine, I claimed something similar to you. She acted like someone that wasn't co-operating for both sides and Martin's parents had to encourage or push her to get involved even though it was her friend that got killed. I made an earlier post and the poster disagreed with me and thought she was very co-operative.

Here is where I disagree with you and this attorney. The prosecutors seemed passive in letting West drill the witness with out many objections. West led her numerous times by interjecting things into her testimony. The prosecutors allowed it. They just sat passively and played footsie with West while he was drilling their star Witness. The Judge also allowed the defense to continue asking the same question a number of times and ways, until the witness began to slip on her earlier answers or just seemed to agree with West, after he kept badgering her. It appears that she would say or do anything just to get off the stand. It was more like an interrogation and the witness was on trial.

Compare that to another witness (Good), whom everybody is calling an idea witness for the Defense, which was supposedly a prosecuIion witness. both sides took a kid gloves with him. Here is a white guy from a total different background than Jenteal. I think Jenteal looked more authentic than he did. His answers and the way he carried himself was too perfect for the Defense's theme. The Prosecution called him as their witness and wasn't aggressive at all with him. He destroyed their theme about Zimmerman being the aggressor and wasn't the person calling for help. He saw and heard things all the other witnessses couldn't in the same environment. I would have saw a problem with that if I was an aggressive prosecutor.

As I understand, the first person that took his account was removed from the case and the first investigators were accused by witnesses by changing accounts to fit the Zimmerman accounts. So that is the background this case came from. Martin's family had to actually pressure them to prosecute.

I have a problem with Good's testimony. If he actually saw Martin beating up Zimmerman MMA style and calling for help, then why didn't Good help? That don't make any sense. If I would have seen someone getting beat to death and calling for help like Good claims, I would have helped. I would have immediately did the same to him, they did to Jenteal, but they gave him kid gloves on both sides. I definately would have asked him about his first affadavit to the police, and back tracking only to give his first accounts again. He calls it clarifying, not inconsistencies. I wouldn't let him get off. I also would like to know about his involvement in community watch or lack of it. It wasn't much of a communty thing since many of the actual people living there seems to don't know Zimmerman. It leaves to question if this was a lone wolf thing by him and people not helping him when called for help supposedly. The prosecution are the people bought the case and has to prove their cases beyond a reasonable doubt. I don't think they are being as aggressive as they can be.

[noiretextatique]

70. why don't some of you think this case is being watched all over the world?

american racism is a topic of interest and discussion all over the world.

[K Gardner]

72. Amen. n/t

[DallasNE]

37. I Would Like To Add One More Thing To The Apology

That you had to endure 5 hours at the hands of a buffoon who's only goal was to try and trip you up. Glad to see you not take the bait and corrected the buffoon not once but twice on dates and correcting his "very retarded" claim that Trayvon was deliberately lying to you. That was preposterous of him, to say the least. Trayvon is not here to defend himself but he was in good hands for those 5 grueling hours. You performed brilliantly, girl. You made yourself proud.

[mettamega]

39. thank you - beautifully said

[annm4peace]

40. Thank you

I can't believe how well this young woman is doing under all this pressure.
I think she has done an incredible job holding her emotions in check. I know i never could have done it at her age.

[Cha]

41. thank you, K Gardner and thanks to

Khadijah Costley White for writing such a compassionate apology to Rachel Jeantel.

[spanone]

43. k&r...

[JI7]

44. i didn't know that English was not her First Language

[King_Klonopin]

45. Cross-examination is a repulsive exercise, in general,

which is why I was not surprised by the way that she
was "interrogated".

I expected the defense counsel to try to discredit her
as a witness, by trying to portray her as:

A) Unintelligent
B) A liar
C) A racist (reverse discrimination)
D) All of the above

Of course, her grammar, appearance, tonality, attitude,
etc. are all irrelevant to the issues.

I wish she could have articulated the reality of her
experience a bit better, such as:
"Yes, I believe that race was the motivating factor -- that
my friend, Trayvon, was targeted for being 'someone in a
place he shouldn't be' (i.e. a young, black male in a hoody
walking through a white neighborhood) by a vigilante who
felt justified in attacking and killing him."

I hope the jury will be able to see through these tactics.

[reusrename]

46. beautiful and well-deserved

[lbrtbell]

47. WTF?

She lied multiple times under oath, even about her own age. That has nothing to do with culture or race, but a refusal to tell the truth. She's absolutely ruining the prosecution's efforts with her lies, and if Zimmerman walks or there's a mistrial, it will be her fault entirely.

It's not like she's a rape victim being badgered, the type of trauma so many women are subjected to in courtrooms. She's an important witness who wasn't on the scene to witness any horror, and doesn't even want to do her civil duty to testify. We are all human, no matter what our race or cultural origin, and part of that is standing up for what's right. What's right is not trying to shirk her duty, and telling the truth instead of lying about everything up to her real age. There is no culture in which lying is a virtue, and I'm tired of people making excuses for this girl's lies. She's not being mistreated, she's being called out (and rightfully so) for lying.

With friends like her--and parents who let him misbehave until he was expelled from school, then didn't even ground him after he was expelled--Trayvon truly didn't need any enemies. The poor kid never had a chance.

[John2]

54. Was she under Oath

when she lied about her age? She told the truth about her age on the stand and to the Jury. She also admitted that she lied about going to the hospital, because she didn't want to go to the funeral. She told the Truth about it all before the jury when it counted as material facts. The bottomline, you can't point out where she lied to the Jury intentionally or at all. It is none other than an attack on her character for being Truthful on the stand. We will see how truthful the defense witnesses are on the stand. Lets see if they lie about material facts on the stand and before the Jury, if you really think she lied on the stand under oath.

[Vattel]

96. Given her willingness to lie to the prosector who interviewed her in April 2012,

I can scarcely imagine a less credible witness. The state attorney asked her if Martin told her that the guy was going to hit him, and she replies "yeah," and then changed her story after she is twice reminded to tell the truth.

[sinkingfeeling]

65. Go away

[Nye Bevan]

50. I'm sorry that at age 19 she can barely put together a grammatical sentence.

Clearly the school system has failed her.

[MADem]

53. She speaks English way better than I can speak Creole. nt

[John2]

56. You mean that,

you really don't know even older people in American society can't either? You need to get around the country more. And the Republicans want to cut education.

[noiretextatique]

73. and what does that have to do with her testimony?

nothing.

[duhneece]

55. Amen nt

[sarge43]

57. Reminder. Someone was murdered

Ms Jeantel is a witness in a murder trial. She isn't there to conform to anyone's expectations.


http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/06/28/reminder-someone-was-murdered

[K Gardner]

64. Wow..unbelievable article. Posting this to FB, thank you for the link ! n/t

[sarge43]

67. You're welcome n/t

[grantcart]

68. Posts like this keeps me coming back here. It was agonizing watching that defense lawyer hassle her.

Thanks

[K Gardner]

71. I know what you mean, GC. I take breaks, sometimes for months, but usually come back to find

something wonderful and uplifting posted by the usual suspects - including you You're welcome.

[Crow73]

74. :)

[FloridaJudy]

75. Seeing and hearing her

I was reminded of my grandniece. In many ways, they are exactly alike. My grand is also somewhat immature for her age, overweight, and has a learning disability. She loves hanging out with her buddies, texting constantly, and talking about the latest popular television shows. She's also been known to lie or stretch the truth, but never in a mean-spirited way. Face it, all of us humans lie to our friends and family when not on the witness stand. We do it to feel accepted and important.

The difference is that my niece is white and middle class, and has grandparents who are financially comfortable enough to pay for intensive tutoring. She speaks "proper" English, because that's all she heard when growing up. She also attended an excellent school, where teachers weren't overwhelmed, and somewhere along the line one of them noticed that this kid was really, really gifted at Fixing Shit. She seems to have an intuitive grasp of mechanical systems.

She just won an award in competitive auto repair, so her future looks pretty bright. She may not get a PhD in immunology, or write the great American novel, but she could easily outearn a college professor, especially now when most are paid like peons.

Rachel will never get the same opportunity to find her gift. It makes me want to hug her, and tell it's going to be all right.

But it won't be.

[K Gardner]

76. One thing I noticed about Rachel was her seemingly keen memory of days and dates. On a couple of

occasions, she corrected the defense attorney. I thought that was rather uncanny, and it wasn't as if she was "coached", just that she had that sort of memory, that remembered dates and days. Half the time, I can't remember what today is. I love, love, love the story about your grandniece.. may her future be ever so bright!

And don't be so despondent about Rachel, just yet. I think she has garnered a lot of attention, and just maybe, someone will help her find her way in this world.. we can always hope

[TorchTheWitch]

92. I noticed that too

And I'm envious. I have nearly total recall of stupid trivia but can't remember important details like a person's name. For instance, I can't for the life of me remember the year that my dad died. I can remember the day, the time, what I was wearing when I found out, where I was exactly in my room and how I was sitting, the weather, which ear I had the phone against, etc., etc., but I can't remember the damn year though I do remember the month and the approximate date of the month. I constantly refresh my memory on the year, but I just can't pin it in my head. And right at this moment I admit I STILL don't know what the year was.

I feel so badly for Rachel. She did damn well on the stand. That git West wasn't able to confuse her by his constant twisting of her testimony to try and get her to misstate something she already said, and she knew exactly what he was doing and why. I can't say that I would have been able to keep from making a misstatement under such harassment, and I'm more than twice her age, educated and raised in middle class white privilege in a world where mass shootings didn't happen and one could feel safe without locking their doors even when no one was home or at night.

I can't even imagine how I'd feel being so ridiculed for damn near everything about me as though I'm so how at fault and on a national stage. I'm sickened that people even here on DU have done so.

[Skittles]

97. defending gun-humping vigilante cowards is hard work

[MotherPetrie]

77. K&R

[bvar22]

79. I Co-Sign this letter in my heart.

[BigD_95]

82. Are you sorry she thinks rascist talk is ok

[sevenseas]

88. Rachel Jeantel Should Be A Wake-Up Call To Black Parents

We need to use this embarassing Rachel Jeantel debaucle as a wake-up call to insist our kids be held back until they are properly educated.

If black people are just going to sit back and blame the white man for Rachel's ignorance, they are in denial... and we all lose.


Rachel can be the candle to light our way!