Janefinch.com Interviews Jordan Manners' Cousin

I'm not sure what media outlets he was watching but I heard no mention of gang violence or fireworks (I watched CTV) I only heard positive things about Jordan. The mainstream media does hype things up and sensationalize some things, but so far not this time. Someone was shot and killed in a school, I think that's a pretty important story that deserves coverage. If the mainstream media didn't give enough coverage then people would say they are racist because it's a black boy that was killed in a bad area. Some members of the black community say that if Jane Creba was a male black youth that her murder would not get the attention it did. Well, a young black male has been killed, and it's getting attention and still it seems it's not pleasing the black community or family. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Speaking as someone who lives about a block away from C.W. Jeffries, I think the media did over-cover the event... at least after it became clear that this wasn't a "school shooting" (i.e. a spree shooting) in the vein of the others, but rather "just" a shooting that occurred at a school.

For most shootings, do news choppers hover on scene for hours on end? They were in the air outside my apartment building until nightfally, way after the incident had finished unfolding. I guess they were hoping for 'dramatic' footage of students spilling out of the school.

Does anyone else think it was tasteless for TV news (I saw it on CityTV) to run footage of the victim's family members screaming and collapsing outside Sunnybrook when they were told he had died?

i never condemned the media attention and i agree that it is one way broadcasting the public outcry. my problem with the media coverage is that, universally, they all seem to be missing the point. and i can't help but wonder if it's not deliberate.

imho, the problem can be summed up w/ the saying, "idle hands are the devil's workshop." kids from middle and upper-income echelons are enrolled in after school programs like soccer, art classes, horse riding lessons. in the summer they take swimming lessons, go to camp.

the problem is, as mark simms and paul nguyen try to tell cbc tv, there are no outlets for kids growing up in the poor neighbourhoods of TO to develop their skills; find good mentors; become maybe somewhat self-reflective and hopefully more positive about the future. social programs would be a start. co-op programs; raising the minimum wage; etc; etc - there's a lot that needs to be done. but notice none of the media attention addresses this Core problem- this video from jane-finch is the first.

this talk about cameras in schools. what kind of a solution is that? i wish the cops and politicians would stop thinking after the fact. it costs society so much in the long run.

poor Jordan Manners - see people, there are a lot of talented and gifted youths - we need to give them opportunities. Not make them live in a stricter police state.

Jane Creba; Chantal Dunn; Jordan Manners;...and how many more have there been? and how many more is it going to take...

finally, i dare say, yes, we would've paid attention even without the footage of his poor mother when she first found out the news. undoubtedly.

a 15 yr old boy is shot, apparently deliberately, in his school by, apparently, another youth.


and this isn't the first time a student from CW has been shot and killed. but this is the first time a toronto student was shot in his school and see how beloved he was by hundreds of people. not to mention, it is a reflection of the larger endemic problem. we would've finally paid attention with or without the footage of people trying cope with the tragedy.

blame the police for not "knowing how to talk to people" (hard to talk when everyone's wearing a stop snitchin t-shirt).
blame society for not giving you more opportunities
blame the media
blame everyone except your own messed-up community and it's culture of gansta-ism where thugs and criminals are viewed as celebrities.

I'd definitely have to agree with dm's comment (posted on May 24th 2007, at 8:22pm). I'm a young black male (early 20's) who's grown up in North West Toronto and have lived in the area all my life. The good news here is that the Murderer has finally been caught (supposedly turned himself in). Mentioning his name and showing his picture via the media brought extremely quick results. This should actually be enforced more. The police should still need permission from a judge to do so, but no matter what age the suspect is, if they are armed and dangerous their info should be broadcast to the general public so we can rat out these deviants. Black people (never mind Afro American) used to be strong, our parents, grand parents, and great grand parents have over-come so much. Unfortunately todays Youth and even many adults have forgotten so much. Why in gods name should we hide a murderer among ourselves??? That's exactly what we're doing when we don't speak up. There is no stigma if you snitch, you might be saving someone elses life. I don't believe the cops are out to get us, I think that most of them see it as it is, why should they trust a group of people who very well don't trust themselves? This doesn't go for all black people, but it does apply to the groups who do live in fear when our fathers and theirs before them fought so that we wouldn't have to live in fear only now the only fear we live in is that of each other. It's time to wake up and speak up. The majority of people (no matter the color of their skin) are not hateful, violent, and corrupt, in fact I truly believe that most people would rather just go about their business and not be bothered or stressed out and would much rather live without anger and worry in their hearts, but the minority (in the true meaning of the word... meaning regardless of color) don't care who they hurt or hold back. This is the reason why, and one of the most important reasons, we need to stand up for each other, speak up, and start communicating and respecting one-another. It doesn't matter if you're black, white, east asian, indian, male, female, etc, etc... Things have to change, WE have to change. Those that aren't willing to change give up their right to complain. Speak up, stop hiding and start doing. We're allowed to have dignity and if that means I have to rat out some idiot in my neighborhood who is a violent, delinquent criminal, then so be it, it might save someone's life, maybe a friend or relative, or maybe even yourself. Murder is never an accident, and defense may mean speaking up.

I just watched BN's interview and an astounded that he states that the media said this tragic incident was a Crips and Bloods gang issue. I never once heard this and for this individual to state that the media is perpetuating this image of the area is so incorrect - he is perpetuating that image and the stigma of the area by spreading such a lie.
Stop blaming the media, stop blaming police, stop blaming society and clean up your neighbourhood - other people can only do so much - it starts within. And then for him to state that there are good "thugs" not all are instigators is sick - why are you even saying that there is anything positive about being a "thug"....
Take responsibility people and rat each other out and start being contributing members of society....rid the streets of evil and clean up your community - you need to provide your own opportunities or at least have your youth see the intrinsic value of being responsible. Quit blaming others and perhaps once you start within - others will come to assist.

Frickin ridiculous. Of course the media should report this shit. Man I don't get it. If it went unreported we'd be screaming about that. It IS a huge problem, noone is shooting each other at my kid's school, but then again, do I live up there? No. So if it takes media attention to get it solved, so be it. Black people wake the fuck up.

The whole situation is terrible, but I rather there be another family member speaking instead of this Blacus goof. I know who Blacus is, he is a compulsive liar and out to get attention.He is basically riding off his cousins death, just to advertise his ugly monkey self. I pray for Jordan and his Momma. Jordan will go to heaven. Blacus will go to hell. Blacus is the Biggest Hypocrite, and is so uneducated. Jordan I will see you in heaven sweet boy, unlike ur cousin he will rot in hell, such a loser.

I really just wanted to say that I am sorry a child got shot and killed. What makes me angry is his mother. I am SICK of seeing mothers crying on T.V about loosing their kids. PArents, especially this parent, BE A PARENT. Didn't her daughter get arrested a week later for having drugs and guns. YES SHE DID. This mother needs to stop "helping" others and focus on the rotten kids she still has.