I read this primarily because Olivia wrote it. She seems like the youngest reporter on staff, but she has become my favorite, because her reporting is so clearly nonpartisan and she even manages to excise the linguistic and social heuristics she was steeped in. I disagree with comments that critique how she writes about skin color. It is…
I read this primarily because Olivia wrote it. She seems like the youngest reporter on staff, but she has become my favorite, because her reporting is so clearly nonpartisan and she even manages to excise the linguistic and social heuristics she was steeped in. I disagree with comments that critique how she writes about skin color. It is clear that is part of the story and part of what Olivia is writing about: many people in the nation judge stories, peoples, events by skin color. The article presents all known relevant facts, is fair to Neely and Penny and allows the reader to think about the implications. This is what journalism should look and feel like. It is just so damn rare.
It is a good piece of writing, and it is thought provoking. But any one fact is just that, one fact. This case is not, and should not be based on one fact, race. Those who are calling for Penny's head because Neely was black are looking at only one fact. Would we be here is they had both been black or both been white? I don't know. Race is but one fact here, not necessarily the only fact. Rather than accusations and assumptions by those who were not there, I suggest we let the system do its job. It is highly unlikely that the jury will be all black or all white.
I read this primarily because Olivia wrote it. She seems like the youngest reporter on staff, but she has become my favorite, because her reporting is so clearly nonpartisan and she even manages to excise the linguistic and social heuristics she was steeped in. I disagree with comments that critique how she writes about skin color. It is clear that is part of the story and part of what Olivia is writing about: many people in the nation judge stories, peoples, events by skin color. The article presents all known relevant facts, is fair to Neely and Penny and allows the reader to think about the implications. This is what journalism should look and feel like. It is just so damn rare.
It is a good piece of writing, and it is thought provoking. But any one fact is just that, one fact. This case is not, and should not be based on one fact, race. Those who are calling for Penny's head because Neely was black are looking at only one fact. Would we be here is they had both been black or both been white? I don't know. Race is but one fact here, not necessarily the only fact. Rather than accusations and assumptions by those who were not there, I suggest we let the system do its job. It is highly unlikely that the jury will be all black or all white.