 |
Viewer Response The broadcasts received unprecedented response; in the first two days alone, viewers submitted over 4,000 responses — overwhelmingly positive — to P.O.V. in the form of voicemail, E-mail, letters, and web postings. Following is just a sampling of viewer comments. Sample Positive Talking Back Comments:
"...it was very good to see both sides & see what both races thought about what happened. And it's also pretty amazing that...it happened so recently & so close-I mean it seems so far away-but it's like in our country. And I thought that this whole thing was just over. But it's still happening."
"I just finished viewing the Two Towns of Jasper documentary. I thought it was extremely well done, riveting, yet gut wrenching. Often, the faces of hate don't look like we would like them to. We want them to look demented, evil, almost abstract. Instead, they look like our next door neighbors, the mailman, or the deacon passing the collection plate. I find it hard to comprehend a hatred so deep, so permeated and intertwined with sinew and soul, that it could inspire such acts..."
"I watched the show tonight. At times I was crying, mad, and sad. We have to realize no matter how mad we are at the three men that killed James Byrd, their families are feeling the pain also... I am a black man but first I am a man. That was a great story you guys put together and I hope it opens up they eyes of every one of this great nation. After 9/11 I thought we were there as one nation... We have to find a way to make 9/11 stick in the hearts of every living body of this nation and then reach out to other nations. Start here first."
"The movie touched me in many different ways, as an African-American female, and...it made me think, and it made me question myself... students are made to watch documentaries on subjects that we cannot connect with, things that happened hundreds of years ago; things that don't necessarily affect our present lives. This documentary, I believe, would be an excellent tool in a classroom, because it is something that students can connect with. Something that does affect our present lives, and something that did happen within the time that we have existed... It was wonderfully shot, and the idea of the split camera crews was ingenious. Thank you to Mr. Williams and Mr. Dow for opening my eyes to the hatred, misconceptions, ignorance, and misunderstanding that can be bred in a million other Jaspers."
"Allow me to congratulate you on a superb program. It was a thoroughly researched documentary that fairly presented all sides of the racial problem, not just in Jasper, Texas, but throughout all America. (And, for that matter, throughout most of the world.)...Your program showed the horror of that murder without overdoing it. You showed the grief and suffering of all the families involved, (both Black and White), with great feeling and compassion. I have been to Jasper, Texas many times. The people there are just like the people all across America, especially all across the Deep South. I think you showed that, too. You are to be commended. I look forward to seeing tomorrow night's program, Black and White..."
Sample Negative Talking Back Responses:
"... I've never been so aware of how afraid many of us are of conflict and anger... The program reflected those fears. Ted, you frequently minimized strong convictions being expressed and tried to paint "nice" on the whole group experience. You said we've been hearing "little scattered cries of pain." I was hearing suppressed rage, tempered bitterness . . .. I was especially sad as you essentially dismissed a young woman's story of being banned from white homes...by saying something like, "I don't want you watching at home to think that one person's experience of being shut out was a common experience." Were you aware how you tried to temper the statements, translate them into more "polite" opinions? I am white, and I did not feel comfortable with my or your clear desire to keep it civil. I think there are some not so friendly things that need to be said. I loved the format, though. Loved hearing from people who spoke from their hearts, even when I strongly disagreed with their perceptions. Will you keep this up, and consider my comments above as positive feedback."
"...I was raised in Jasper... I don't consider myself 'prejudiced' in that I think blacks or Hispanics or Asians are inferior. I do, however, tire of the black population constantly harping on us...about the sins of our fathers to their fathers... Why should I, because my skin color is white, be held in disrespect because of what my ignorant ancestors did two hundred years ago? What happened to Mr. Byrd was an abomination. What happened to Rodney King was an abomination. And what happened with O.J. Simpson was an abomination.... I think it is pertinent that the three killers in Jasper were all convicted by predominantly white juries. This has to say that times are changing. The documentary 'Two Towns of Jasper' was very one sided... I for one, am tired of the REVERSE PREJUDICE that is running rampant in our country... Let us get on with our lives and the business of forgiveness and change. Let us heal. Let us learn to be color blind. We have to make an effort. So do the black people."
"On your program last night Ted Koppel asked a lady 'Who has it easier a white boy and a white girl or a black boy and a black girl?' In my opinion in this time we live in, the black boy and black girl have it easier. Reasons- 1) UNCF 2) NAACP 3) The New Black Panther Party. If white people had organizations like these that specify just for 'white people', the blacks, the media and the government would be all over them and they probably would be illegal. Look at the bias that is going on at the University of Michigan right now..."
|
Left: TWO TOWNS OF JASPER by Whitney Dow and Marco Williams (P.O.V. 2003)
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![[top]](i/icon_topofpage.gif){kind=icon}
TOP OF PAGE