Teen gets probation for offering to sell Black classmate as 'slave' on Craigslist
Category: News & Politics
Via: john-russell • 3 years ago • 24 commentsBy: John Wright (Raw Story - Celebrating Years of Independent Journalism)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
An Illinois teenager has been sentenced to two years of probation for posting a Craiglist ad in which he offered to sell a Black classmate as a "slave."
The teen, who was a 14-year-old freshman at Naperville Central High School at the time of the incident in 2019, must also complete 100 hours of community service, after pleading guilty to two counts of felony hate crime and one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, Chicago's CBS affiliate reported Wednesday.
"The boy will also be required to undergo individual and family counseling as deemed necessary, and to submit a DNA sample to the State of Illinois," according to the station. "On Nov. 14, 2019, the boy took a photo of his classmate while at school and then posted an ad on Craigslist with the photo, and the caption, 'Slave for sale (Naperville)' along with an offensive racial slur, prosecutors said."
The teen's Craigslist post also referred to his Black classmate a "Hardworkin thick n*gger slave."
"Images of the listing, which has since been removed from Craigslist, sparked widespread outrage in recent days, reopening wounds for the community that is still recovering after a separate racist episode at a local Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in October made national headlines," the Washington Post reported in November 2019.
A defense attorney for the teen claimed that he was friends with the victim, who was also a freshman at the same high school. But the victim's mother disputed the attorney's statement.
"They used to be friends, they are not anymore," the mother told WGN, adding that their friendship soured when the white student began teasing her son, "calling him dumb, making fun of his skin color, saying 'Shut up slave.'"
According to his mother, the Black victim didn't know the Craigslist ad had been posted.
"He was the butt of jokes for days," she said, adding that her son was heckled by other students who told him, "I'll buy you for a dollar."
Watch WGN's report from 2019 below.
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Bad parenting.
For those who may not know, Naperville is one of the premier suburban communities in America.
Maybe as long as you're white.
Naperville is appx 5% African American
Naperville makes me think of what Canada's Prime Minister McKenzie King said at the end of WW2 when asked how many Jewish refugees he would allow to come to Canada, and his answer was: "None is too many." Those infamous words became the title of a book about the time.
"Detailing the country’s refusal to offer aid, let alone sanctuary, to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution between 1933 and 1948, it is an immensely bleak and discomfiting story – and one that was largely..."
This is EVERYDAY racism. These things happen all the time. Not specifically someone trying to "sell" a classmate as a slave, but actions, attitudes or words meant to demean people of color.
This kid just learned from the acceptance of racism by the adults that he sees.
Or..... This happens so infrequently that the story has made its way to a national "news" outlet.
Equating these two may just be a bit of an overreaction.
Never raised a teenage boy, have you?
Teenage boys go through this phase at about this kid's age where they do shit simply because they've been taught not to. It's all about the hormones.
Out of curiosity, what's your opinion of the punishment?
Will you ever run out of excuses?
3 plead outs. I'd say this is not teen 'hi jinks' or teen angst playing out - from the eyes of the law. Lines were crossed and the punishment meted out seems to fit (the crimes). The court could have been more lenient, instead it send a 'message.'
I will continue to advocate sanity and reasonable thought in the face of hysteria.
I'm sure you'll want to describe it as "excuses".
That was my first thought, as well.
It was incredibly stupid, well out of line, and the punishment seems reasonable.
Well, you can't fix 'stupid.' Just makes you want to stop, shake and wag your head, before moving on. What else can you say or do?
Yep, "stupid is as stupid does" and this was a prime example to prove that Forrest Gump was not so stupid.
100 hours of community service
I find this ironic. He wanted to sell someone a slave to becoming one himself when he starts his cs. For 100 hours, his every move will be controlled and he will have to do as told while hopefully doing something that is physically demanding (ie - schlepping cartons at a food charity distribution center where I hope the boss is black).
LOL. Thanks for my first laugh of the morning.
Why didn't they pursue attempted human trafficking charges and a hate crime enhancement for what he called the young man?
idn't they pursue attempted human trafficking charges and a hate crime enhancement for what he called the young man?
Maybe because he's a freshman in high school and two felonies is already punishment than you get for murdering someone in Chicago.
He will also be under a microscope for the rest of his life. Think they are going to let anyone forget what he did? Since these are felonies they will be on his permanent record. No college, or business, is going to want him.
You are correct, it is nice to know this is considered worse than a deadly shootout between gang members in Chicago.
You can't make this shit up.
Fulfilling his probation period without incident should help him have this childishly silly but significant incident remain sealed from the public record. There is no need to make comparisons to gangs (which we all agree are bad, dangerous, murderous, and stupid beyond belief - why do we tolerate them in our communities anyway?) which come with their own sets of court-ordered recommendations, programs, and decisions.
I think you may be wildly overestimating the attention span and memory of the American public.
No, just remembering the fun I had applying for college. I was bullied in junior high school and high school. I made the mistake of fighting back a few times on school grounds. Police were called 3 times. I was suspended all 3 times for losing fights I didn't start or want any part of. I was put both on scholastic probation, and probation by the court- Dad really loved me for that one.
Little things like that don't look good on permanent records when applying to college. I wasn't accepted at any of my top college choices. Despite having high grades and good extra curricular activities. That was 30 plus years ago. With today's woke leftists; marks on a permanent record like that won't be overlooked.
Good question
I missed the part about the charge of a hate crime he did get. But there is still the question of attempted human trafficking.
Wait til this kid runs for county judge.