Comments on: Rachel Jeantel’s Attorney: She Was Never Prepped by the Prosecution

By: TiffJ

TiffJ — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 01:54:00 +0000

As a Rachel Jeantel supporter, I think there’s definitely space to have the conversation about the education system Rachel is a product of, particularly since she *was* born and raised in the U.S., despite her heritage. The commentary about her *looks* is indefensible, and I refuse to abide that. But I think what concerns me somewhat, is that Rachel’s dialect– Kreyole/Spanish– is permissible because of her heritage; whereas, if she here a Black-American speaking AAVE, people wouldn’t be so forgiving, I don’t think. And would write her off as “ratchet”.

Either way, it troubles me that she’s come under such heavy scrutiny and most of the dialogue her testimony has prompted, isn’t productive nor is it framed around Florida’s educational system or whatever learning disability Rachel may or MAY NOT have. Most of the discourse has been about her aesthetic… in the face of seeking justice for Trayvon Martin.

All other productive conversations (like, possibly, the one presented here) have gotten lost in translation, and I think this is why many of us feel compelled to root for her.

By: RiPPa

RiPPa — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 00:16:00 +0000

An interpreter for a person born and raised in the US who speaks English? Really? Speech impediment? I never heard a speech impediment. Did you even watch her testimony? Seriously, your entire comment and argument is poorly constructed. Fuck, I’m surprised that you didn’t type in in some ancient African language.

By: Pellinore

Pellinore — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 18:56:00 +0000

You seem to love victim blaming people, black women in particular. If you had been paying attention you would have realized how uncomfortable this girl was representing both herself and her DEAD friend in front of not only his murderer but his parents as well. You take a part a person’s character when she is doing her best to tell the truth in front of a bunch of unempathetic and unsympathetic white people. But all you can do is complain about is her perceived lack of education. Why does it matter that she’s in special education? Does that make her stupid to you? I’ll admit that sometimes it is hard to understand her but that’s what subtitles and interpreters are for. Why was she not provided an interpreter? I suppose that’s her fault, too? So according to you it’s her fault if George Zimmerman walks a free man? There’s only so much her testimony can do in this case. Even if she was fucking Kerry Washington it wouldn’t necessarily move the all WHITE jury. It’s already been determined by lengthy research that white people have a hard time seeing black people as people. And they have an even harder time recognizing that we feel pain. Poor them.

I can’t stand people like you. You see a person with a speech impediment and suddenly you cease to view that person as another human being. Suddenly she becomes a problem, a symbol of the failures of the US educational system. What does that have to do with a fucking murder trial? I wish you would people would just focus on the god damn problem. More than likely Zimmerman is going to walk a free man and then there will be riots.

As far as I’m concerned Rachel is extremely intelligent. She speaks more languages than most US citizens and her only flaw is her mishandling of English. B/c English is totes important, guise! The language that has led to the destruction of many native peoples and languages. The reason why the descendants of slaves in this country can barely remember anything reminiscent of African languages (mostly grammar). But no, let’s just bully this girl cause she can’t speak English good. Ignore her other languages b/c they are all less valuable than the almighty English. Girl, you live in ‘Merica so speak American!!!

English is a Germanic language, it’s incompatible with the Romance languages she’s more capable in. Had you considered that living as a Haitian woman in Florida is fucking hell? Maybe that had an impact on her learning? You know, things like racism, sexism, misogyny, colorism, fat-antagonism and ableism. Do you even know why she and Trayvon were friends in the first place? Perhaps the reason is lost on you but he was one of the few guys who never tore her down for being what she was. He liked her and did not bother her about her flaws.