An Arlington County, Va. judge removed herself in the controversial case of an African- American woman on trial for booing at a high school play which depicted Blacks as inferior.
Jackie Carter, whose protests during a racially-offensive dance segment performance last year at her daughter’s school led to her arrest, received a three month legal reprieve on Jan. 26. Carter’s attorney, Lavonda Graham Williams interceded to have her court appearance postponed to April 24.
The attorney explained, “The matter was continued on our motion to change venue to avoid any influence the prosecutor’s witnesses may have on the proceedings as a result of their positions in the Arlington government.” For similar reasons she successfully sought a substitute judge to be assigned to the case.
Carter alleged she was assaulted on April 30, 2011 after booing the “Little Rabbit, Where’s Your Mammy?” segment of a Lucy Bowen McCauley dance production at Kenmore Middle School. Allegedly, the attack was made by a number of dance company employees and Mary Hynes, a Bowen McCauley board member and co-chair of the Arlington County Board.
Carter, angered by the school’s disregard for the sensitivities to Black parents inherent in the “mammy” portrayal, was then arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, which carries a maximum one year jail term. Carter’s attorney is convinced Arlington racial politics, at play behind the scenes, threatens a fair outcome.
The prosecution made no objection to the new judge assignment, but was concerned about changing jurisdictions.
“Ms. Carter’s matter turns on many issues and most of which will not and should not be resolved in the court but will bring to the forefront a growing concern for many African American parents,” said Graham Williams. The attorney called the presentation of the mammy segment “irresponsible and naïve.”
Although such portrayals are held by some to be legitimate depictions of American folklore, such prestigious African-American scholars as Dr. Molefi Kete Asante denounced any such presentations as deplorable reminders of the nation’s racist past.
“Race and the issues surrounding it continue to be a factor and cannot be overlooked or swept aside because we believe as a society we have moved beyond that,” Graham Williams maintained. ” History always remains.” ?Graham Williams said her client exercised her rights of free speech as an American. “My client acted in peaceful civil protest and was beaten and arrested as if she had no right to do so. An ignorance of the issues, a purposeful blocking of communication about the issues, and a denial of a right to express concern are all direct contributors to a situation that simply did not have to be. Ms. Carter intends to bring light to this problem in the way she always intended — peacefully, civilly, and under the full protection of the law,” Graham Williams said.
DeRutter Jones contributed to this story.
