General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWho would have thought it: The MSM is defending Rachel Jeantel
There are a lot of articles coming to her defense. Here are a few. The Salon article is particularly good.
Rachel Jeantel Explained, Linguistically
Trayvon Martin's friend and a key witness in the trial of George Zimmerman made a lot more sense than you think
Read more: http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/28/rachel-jeantel-explained-linguistically/#ixzz2XYF62ri9
Rachel Jeantel doesn't deserve cruelty in Trayvon Martin case
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-rachel-jeantel-doesnt-deserve-cruelty-in-trayvon-martin-case-20130628,0,47081.story
Dark-skinned and plus-sized: The real Rachel Jeantel story
Painting Rachel Jeantel as "combative" is a classic way to discredit the validity of black women's traumas
http://www.salon.com/2013/06/28/did_anyone_really_hear_rachel_jeantel/singleton/
JI7
(89,281 posts)attack her for her weight . what is up with that ?
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)3 languages. Both of her parents come from other countries. But people need to remember the way she talks is they way they talk in her community. She was a little disrespectful. But I think the defense was not kind to her.
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)was not only bilingual in Creole and English, but he was learning Spanish from his friends. He could write sentences on the board in Spanish. Accurately. Amazing kid.
JI7
(89,281 posts)it's because she is a black female that she needs to be polite ?
people make fun of lawyers all the time and if it someone like Chris Christie who responded the way she did they would be giving him credit for not taking shit, for being able to stand up to someone who is probably more than 3 times her age with experience in that situation.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)a very hard time hearing to me that's what made her a terrible witness. However, I do believe her. She has stuck by Trayvon and I just didn't think she explained well. I am not trying to say anything bad about her. She just came off terrible.
Squinch
(51,074 posts)Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Many on DU had really patronizing 'poor girl' attitudes toward her and also assumed the jury would hate her guts but that is about those posters, their own biases, and who knows what all.
I thought she was pretty great myself. Then I came here to read she was a 'child misused' when I saw a young adult doing her civic duty well in the face of an attorney who can not hide his basic assholishness.
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)But if I was a juror, her well-established willingness to lie, both under oath and otherwise, would lead me to discount her testimony completely.
all american girl
(1,788 posts)She lied about going to the hospital because she didn't want to see her dead friend, she her dead friend's mom and I think she was embarrassed...what's so hard to believe about that? She lied about her age because she didn't want to be bothered by everyone...maybe not a smart move, but, again understandable. I think she explained herself very well.
I could understand her fine, except when she mumbled....my husband does that sometimes, on the phone, and he is a middle aged white guy....some people just do that.