Racebaiting book by the discoverer of the ‘knockout game.’
The constant barrage of coverage of the “knockout” game, presented as a trending and popular game where predominantly black youths punch random strangers for thrills, got some pushback in late November when some (Patheos, 11/25/13; Slate, 11/25/13; Daily Beast, 11/25/13) began to examine not only the exaggerated coverage and validity of calling the game a “trend”–but also the racial aspects of such coverage.
“Knockout,” which had been an increasingly favored media topic as of late, evoked memories of the Central Park Jogger case, as the public was led by media to expect the unexpected from groups of black youths.
At the vanguard of the mainstream media coverage was the fear-mongering of one Colin Flaherty, an author popular in white nationalist circles, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center (10/23/12), who writes about “black mob violence” and “race wars.” Flaherty was interviewed on Sean Hannity’s radio show (11/22/13), but Flaherty has been writing about mob violence since at least 2011 and is seen as a “marginal” voice. It was recent more mainstream coverage that really pushed the “Knockout” game into the national imagination–sans the embarrassing racial rhetoric of Flaherty.
While the 24-hour news cycle might help to explain why media looks to pick up on supposed “trends” without waiting to see if they actually amount to such, the ease at which violent criminal tendencies can be attached to youth–particularly black youth–is a dangerous habit of media. The consequences can be very serious. Perhaps none more so than the 1989 case of the Central Park Five, a group of black and latino teens in New York that media helped to wrongly convict of a violent rape in both criminal court and the court of public opinion (Democracy Now!, 11/28/12).
Recently there has been a public pushback against casting suspicions on young people of color, whether it be by law enforcement policy (stop and frisk) or the racial profiling by vigilantes (George Zimmerman). But it apparently hasn’t stopped media from reporting on the self-evidence of black youth’s violent criminality so casually.
Newsweek (11/25/13) and The Grio (11/25/13) saw not only the parallels to the media treatment of the Central Park Five, with its descriptions of “wolf packs,” “wilding” and “thugs” (which is how media described players of the “knockout” game today–New York Post, 11/19/13), but also the racial components that factor into whether you see random attacks as simply random attacks, or as black youths on an deadly unchecked tear through America’s streets. Law enforcement isn’t even sure it exists as a real phenomenon (New York Times, 11/23/13), but that didn’t stop some media from reporting on its “spread” (CNN, 11/24/13), that cases are “piling up” (Today, 11/25/13), or that the game could be equated as “terrorism” (Inside Edition, 11/21/13
Largely lost in the debate over whether the “knockout” game is a “trend” or a “myth” is the possibility that media’s obsession with the game might actually be itself inspiring copycat cases, as someone cautioned in the Times article–which would undoubtedly be reported as further evidence.
“Roving Gangs of Corpress Reporters Force Feed Racial Fears on Flimsy Evidence”
No myth
Nothing random
Did FAIR have to go back to the 1980s for something to compare this to? If there really has been nothing else in the past quarter century like the current “knockout game” media nonsense, then that should be noted. Probably there’s been plenty, and FAIR could have put in the effort to cite more timely examples.
Note also that while the Central Park rape defendants were unjustly convicted of rape, I don’t think it is disputed that some or all of them were in fact in the park that night committing lesser, but still violent, crimes, which makes their example of questionable applicability here.
Racism based on color and religion has been part of Europe and America since the very begining. However, in recent years, it has become part of American politics – against Muslims, East Indian, Latinos and Afro-Americans.
In May 2013, Dick Harpootlian, South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman, took another cheap racist shot at the state Governor Nikki Haley, an East Indian-American.
“In about 18 months from now, hopefully he’ll have sent Nikki Haley back to wherever the hell she came from,” said Harpootlian while introducing the state’s Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner on Friday, shortly before Israel-Firster US Vice President Joe Biden took the stage.
http://rehmat1.com/2013/05/06/americas-political-racism/
So, it is OK for bunch of punks, to go around and knock people out just to get a laugh?
@ David G: I fail to see why FAIR should have cited more timely examples of media treatment of minorities than the Central Park Five, teenagers aged 14 to 16 who were falsely convicted of rape in August 1990, after confessions coerced during 30 continuous hours of interrogation by Linda Fairstein (sic) an Assistant District Attorney for Manhattan and detectives of Manhattan’s 20th Precinct.
In 2002, after twelve years in jail, they were released in their mid-twenties with scant educations, no male friends, no girlfriends, no wives, no children, no associates, no job experience, no jobs, and little hope for the future.
This FAIR posting, if you would bother to read it, points out that there are current parallels with the way the media presented that example of utter judicial incompetence.
You allege that “some or all of them were in fact in the park that night committing lesser, but still violent, crimes, which makes their example of questionable applicability here.” It has been clearly established that the five children had just entered the park when they were arrested.
In any case, your logic is non sequitur and your comment is nonsense.
Here is an important link that should be shared. I found this along with several other sites that encourage black on white hate crimes. It’s not that difficult for the government to sensor these sites and publicly address this serious issue in our society today. Our President addressed the Trevon Martin issue in a day, and that was one teenager of color who was high on drugs that died. We have already had over 7 deaths nationally reported due to the “Polar Bear Game” how many have gone under the radar?
Why is the media down playing the issue and the government not addressing it? It didn’t take me too long to find black on white hate sites, and I don’t have the national security’s technology.
These acts are terrorist attacks if one knows th definition of terrorist. Sites like the following perpetuate black on white terrorist attacks in the name of their holy beliefs that the white man is the devil. I kid you not… this is really happening and it is up to “white man” and those who are actually enlightened to spread the word to deffend yourself and be prepared:
http://blackfootsoldiernetwork.blogspot.com/2012_09_01_archive.html?m=1
Black people be scurry, yo.
Hide your business wimmins.
Media is not sure yet if it is a myth or a trend.So every time a camera catches some kids doing this it makes prime time.Yes all found so far show black youths pounding usually lighter skin folks.But imagine if it goes the other way.White kids pounding blacks.Then you will really see a press firestorm.Jesse Jackson and Sharpton will be out there screaming.Obama will point to racism.10x the coverage easy.As for me …..I see this as a hate crime where ever it happens.Or call it what you will.Just make sure you throw the book at them.Long terms in jail will stop this stupidity.Or hopefully we will have armed citizens able to use legal firearms to shoot these rabid animals down, saving society the expense of their care.This MMA mentality has got to stop.
This is a strange issue and it was very hard to find anything except what this Colin person had written about himself. Finding that the publisher, WND books, is connected to the “Obama is not a citizen hysteria” was very telling.
World Net Daily and its conservative contributors was a big clue as to why there seems to be lack of veracity in any of the “knock out” stories or with the Flaherty author..
However, FAIR is right in bringing up the “wilding” issues of so long ago, because those kids seem to have had their lives ruined by this kind of fear mongering.
The author, Colin ,should focus on something real and investigate the “knock out game” going on in our often strange and know nothing and do nothing Congress. Add to that the Constitution bashing NSA and also add that military which has never has a budget; then, Colin, you would have something real to write about!
These 3 areas alone: Congress,NSA, and the lack of a military budget are currently KNOCKING OUT the nation!
EVERYBODY Bleed!
So Gloriana the three things we have to worry about are the NSA,Congress, and the military not having a budget?Well two of those things are under the control of this president.The other (Congress),the peoples reps are in direct opposition to this president!As far as the military budget I can tell you that their readiness capabilities are down near 50 %since Obama came in.I can tell you that constitutionally Their budget is not regulated yet the fact that Obama must present a budget and never has ……IS unconstitutional.I can tell you that the NSAs buy up of billions of round of ammo without explanation is unprecedented.As well as buying hundreds of armored vehicles for crowd control.I can tell you that Congress should oppose EVERYTHING this president does until he stops lying and answers when asked a direct question by this congress.As far as WHAT is knocking out this nation you dont have to go far or search under any rocks.Obama Obama and again Obama.As far as this game goes among (what seems to be wholly)among urban black youths….It really is overblown, and in the end very controllable.Simply personaly protect yourself on the one end and if attacked ,and if possible, shoot the attacker.On the other end if apprehended throw the book at the perpetrator and his friends present.Done.The little animals will wise up.See we have everything on our side.They are cowards.They are not walking up to five cops or marines and taking their best shot.It is only those they think they can attack free of charge.Well lets raise that charge.If that means throwing them in a prison hole for a long tome or a real hole for eternity welll…..that is their choice.And dont you dare make excuses for th
em and their poor lives.
So once again we see the Sheeple moron troll bleat. So according to Micheal all the blacks are animals and should be locked up to stop them from injuring the poor white man, while totally ignoring the fact that the White on Black crimes of murder and mayhem are just poor white kids trying to have fun… Someone needs a large KKK tattooed on his head.
http://www.ask.com/wiki/Crime_in_the_United_States
In 2011, surveys indicated more than 5.8 million violent victimizations and 17.1 million property victimizations took place in the United States; according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, each property victimization corresponded to one household, while violent victimizations is the number of victims of a violent crime.[27]
Patterns are found within the victimology of crime in the United States. Overall, males, people with lower incomes, those younger than 25, and non-whites were more likely to report being the victim of crime.[27] Income, gender, and age had the most dramatic effect on the chances of a person being victimized by crime, while the characteristic of race depended upon the crime being committed.[27]
In terms of gender, males were more likely to become crime victims than were females,[28] with 79% percent of all murder victims being male. Males were twice as likely to be carjacked as females.[28] In terms of income, households with a 2008 income of less than $15,000 were significantly more likely to have their homes burgled.[28]
Concerning age, those younger than twenty-five were more likely to fall victim to crime, especially violent crime.[29] The chances of being victimized by violent crime decreased far more substantially with age than the chances of becoming the victim of property crime.[29] For example, 3.03% of crimes committed against a young person were theft, while 20% of crimes committed against an elderly person were theft.[29]
Bias motivation reports showed that of the 7,254 hate crimes reported in 2011, 47.7% (3,465) were motivated by race, with 72% (2,494) of race-motivated incidents being anti-black.[24] In addition, 20.8% (1,508) of hate crimes were motivated by sexual orientation, with 57.8% (871) of orientation-motivated incidents being anti-male homosexual.[24] The third largest motivation factor for hate crime was religion, representing 18.2% (1,318) incidents, with 62.2% (820) of religion-motivated incidents being anti-Jewish.[24]
Please find another news source, other than Fux Snooze Nitwork Channel.
Pad now you have taken the leap to tell others what I think?Hmmmmm.How about you worry about what you think.Ok mate?As far as killing black men and such nonsense lets be clear.I advocate using lethal force against anyone who attacks you with the possibility of inflicting serious injury or death upon your person.Read that word….ANYONE.You libs can throw the race card as much as you want.It is your bread and butter.You see race in everything.As far as jail time lets be clear.Throw the book at anyone who is involved in this behavior.Again ANYONE!!!!And did you notice that in your stats on who is suffering from having crimes committed upon them….you have no mirror stats revealing Who it is doing those crimes.Amazing omission yet telling.You cant say it can you?I know what you want to say.Those tea party guys are doing it.haha.And you really call me one of the sheeple?My good man….you are the one following those in control.Not me!