Jena Six

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/jena-six

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location of events?Jena, Louisiana
2. What is the year of primary incident?2006
3. What happened to the Jena Six in 2006?Six Black teenagers were charged with attempted second‑degree murder after an alleged assault on a white student, and the case sparked a big protest about fairness.
4. Why were there protests in Jena?People felt the charges were too harsh and that the justice system treated Black and white youths differently, so they marched to ask for fairness and an end to racial bias.

Systemic Racial Bias: Unfair treatment of racial groups embedded within laws, policies, and practices.
Prosecutorial Discretion: The power of prosecutors to decide whether to bring criminal charges and what charges to file.
Civil Rights Demonstration: A public gathering organized to advocate for or protest against issues related to civil rights and equality.