10 year old commits suiside?

TFC,

Anyone who thinks that because we have an African-Ameican president the country "...has changed and (taken) a great step forward..." is delusional, agreed.

In terms of teaching kids about predators, its not just on the net that they are learning, but in the schools and, hopefully, at home.  Its a thin line in terms of protecting our childrens' innocence in that you want to spare them...however, the world is very very different from when we were growing up. 

Bringing Emmit Till into this is like comparing apples and oranges, for it was widely acknowledged even THEN that he was murdered. No suicide even suggested.   The matter then was in finding and convicting the guys who did that to Till. 

While I don't believe that the election of a black President is going to make America utopia, I can't agree that this situation is even close to Emmit Till's.  This is 2009.  It's a different time than 1955 and while a lot of things haven't changed, many have.

In 1955, it would have been illegal for me to even have my child or marry a man that looked like my son's father.

It was widely known because he was bruised and beaten to a pulp.  No one could lie then.

Even if he wasn't bruised OR beaten to a pulp, I would think it would be easier to hang oneself than to shoot onself, tie himself to an engine block AND throw himself in the river, as was the case with Emmit Till. 
so, really, the comparison is invalid.

The comparison is not invalid.  Clearly this is not the 1950's but the attitudes still exist although hidden.  There's more than one way to skin a cat.

Black people want to be loved and accepted by everybody!   That just doesn't happen.   People often say one thing and smile when they do and really mean something totally different.  Just take a look at what's still going on in Paris, TX. 
http://www.newsweek.com/id/182654

Is it 1950 down there?  This situation is not about who you can marry, have sex with or birth a child from.  The African Diaspora is strong throughout the world. 

When tragedies like these happen people want to protect the organization or institution they love and feel loyal too and will say anything to protect its reputation.   If any child states they are contemplating suicide at school, the counselor should have immediately been notified along with the principle & parents to get that kid some help. 

I have to admit that I am not surprised that some Black people are adamantly defending the position that he indeed committed suicide without question.  

I was picked on while in grade school by rotten teachers/educators and although I complained to the principle there was always another Black teacher or employee there that belonged to some Black sorority or fraternity or was related to somebody to pretend that they "knew" me or my family and nothing would be done.   People think educators are above reproach but they are not and they make serious mistakes in judgment like everyone else, whether purposely or not to protect themselves or some stupid oath/pledge they took.   Most parents have no idea what is going on at their kids school or who works there.    And totally trust the school district employees.

You can flame me if you want but, what happened at that school and what they are saying is bull**** 

thafatchick, please don't be fooled by this kid's youth.  we had a case here a couple of years ago where a kid (10 years old) had some emotional issues that his mother could attest to.  anywho, he got mad at his mother because she wouldn't let him go outside to play.  he vowed to kill himself and she found him in his closet hanging with a belt. 

sad, but that's the state that we are in...

Shontay,

To take as step further, when my ex-wife and I had just divorced, one day she read our daughter's journal (she was about 10 at the time).  We had noticed some behavioral changes, the school had reported some things, so we decided to read what she wrote.

She mentioned several times in her journals that she was unhappy with what was going on with her parents and made references to wanting to hurt herself.   We decided to have her see a therapist, whom she ended up seeing for nearly two years. 

Today, nearly five years later, she's doing the typical teenaged girl thing (getting on my daggone nerves with her Sidekick-sheesh), but I'm glad we decided to intercede, rather than risk coming home and finding her successful in an attempt to hurt herself.

Kids TODAY are not the kids we were.  They are exposed to so much more, so early.  The knowledge they have both good and bad is amazing. 

When I worked in the school in a class of children that had diagnosed mental illness we had all races...

The kids were in 7th grade and were off the chain.  That was the most mentally and physically exhausting job I've ever had.  I was in court more than the classroom.

We had a child that had twice tried to kill his mother and he wasn't even 13 yet, a child that had burned his little sister with an iron...

I could go on and on.

this is very sad...my heart goes out to his family and friends...

My condolences to the family of this child......something definately dosent sound right.