I wish to respond to the comment by Rurik. Rurik seems to dwell on a superficial element of the author’s intention in the phrase ‘All White Jury’, and while his insight might have potential for elaboration on a metaphysical level, (who would resist delving into the multi-faceted possibilites of the notion of cultural whiteness?) it is quite innane in this case to distract oneself from the very presseing subject at hand. The author notes that the jury was comprised of white members to emphasize the hypocrisy surrounding this case. If a trial that acquits an authority figure instructing his subjects to actively hate other human beings, (officer Robertson told Rick Knouse of 16 to “kill as many niggers” as he could) and whose involvement with a brutal murder of a defenseless civilian has already been shown, (there is no doubt that Robertson was directly involved with arming and instructing his gang to commit the shooting of Ms. Allen) - if this scenario does not reek of hypocrisy, in the same way that the assasination plot against the Kennedy family smells of conspiracy, then my senses are blunt and my insights are mute. The mention of the white jury only points out to this shameful humanitary decay. It is a matter of fact that this entire episode, springing in a county that boasts the most kinds of hate-groups per capita in the nation, is motorized by white prejudice and priviledge. These events are a shameful part of our cultural heritage, and the denial of this shame points to a stagnation of the integrity of our national awareness.

Adam Alalouf
University of Michigan
Alalouf 2003