For those that don't know, Marcus Dixon was an 18-year-old high school student athlete in 2003, living in Rome, Georgia. He had a 3.96 GPA and a full football scholarship to Vanderbilt University. However, in February of '03, he had consensual sex on school grounds with a almost 16 year-old white female. Her father found out and decided to bring rape charges against him. The jury acquitted Dixon of
all rape charges, but due to a statutory rape law in Georgia, he was sentenced to an automatic 10 years in prison without parole. His case received national attention and he even completed an interview from prison with Oprah. Fortunately, after spending about 14 months in jail, his case went to the supreme court and was overturned.
I was very happy for Marcus, but unfortunately, another black male athlete has fallen victim to this terrible law in Georgia: Genarlow Wilson. Wilson, who was a 17-year-old high school football player, had consensual sex and oral sex with a 15 year old white female, who later claimed she was raped. The case went to trial and the defense attorney proved that "everyone, including the girl and the prosecution, agreed she initiated the act. But because of an archaic Georgia law, it was a misdemeanor for teenagers less than three years apart to have sexual intercourse, but a felony for t
he same kids to have oral sex." What?Now this young athlete is sitting in jail for a 10 year sentence without parole. When will the madness stop? This is crazy! How many more black males are in jail for this same thing? Where is the justice? What can we do to help not only his situation, but the bigger societal issues revealed through the two cases mentioned here?
Free Genarlow Wilson!!!!
