Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, age 14, identified in 1957 Little Rock High School segregation Photo

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones identified in troubling 1957 segregation photo
The NFL mogul has not apologized, but gave his version of events as to what occurred in the disturbing photograph.


Jones has been identified in a troubling Sept. 9, 1957 photograph in North Little Rock High School in Arkansas. The scene is chilling: a group of young white males stand in front of a school and harrass six black students from entering and desgregating the school.

The Cowboys owner, who was one month from turning 15 at the time, is not at the front of the pack, but was present at the scene. He has admitted to being the boy in the photo, but has not apologized.

He assures he was there just as a curious bystander: "I don't know that I or anybody anticipated or had a background of knowing what was involved. It was more a curious thing."

The present-day billionaire said he was a "mischevious little burrhead" back then, and defied his coach's orders to stay away from the scenes. Jones also admits he had no knowledge that photographers would be present.

https://www.marca.com/en/nfl/dallas-cowboys/2022/11/24/637ef2d8ca47413f298b45e2.html

[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. Not that big a deal, he's a 15 yo white kid in Arkansas in 1957

And all you know is he's standing there, and doesn't appear to be any kind of 'leader' in the situation (that would be more troubling if so).

I mean I always root against the Cowboys and I'm not a Jones fan in particular, but this is not worthy of cancellation, IMHO.

If there was a further troubling history of him making racist comments, that'd be different, but I'm not aware of any offhand.

[Solomon]

2. Nope. No big deal at all.

Good whitewashing there.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

8. What's amusing to me is if the story was a 30 yo priest had sex with him at that time

... every single person here would be like OMFG he was ONLY 15, a tiny little innocent child, incapable of consent, and our collective heads would explode in rage at that priest.

But put the same 15 yo standing in a crowd of others doing something we disapprove of, and suddenly he's a fully-formed adult, totally responsible for everything he does, thinks, and everywhere he physically appears, and needs to be held accountable for all of it, the entire rest of his life.

He's friggin 15 and it's 1957. Show me a pic of doing something like that in, say, 1965, and then I'll have a big problem right along with you.

I was doing and thinking a lot of stupid shit when I was 15, a hell of a lot of it I outgrew pretty quickly.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

11. +100. nt

[Solomon]

18. Like I said. Good whitewashing. Excellent.

White people thought it was okay because 1957. Okay. We get it.

[Buckeyeblue]

31. The picture is a reminder of a deplorable time in our countries history

It's a further reminder that this history was really not that long ago. While there is no one alive that was a witness to slavery, there are people alive who were a witness of and party to segregation in the south.

To me it's an indictment of an entire generation (my parents generation) who modtly did nothing as they witnessed this atrocity.

Jones was 15. An apology from him about being in the picture would be weird. But what's sad is instead of taking the time to say that this is a sad reminder of a troubling time when people were denied access because the color of their skin, he talked about himself. That tells us all we need to know about Jerry Jones.

[StormKing]

41. They had to speak over you twice

They had to speak over you twice and not once did they realize how horrid that is...

[Lochloosa]

32. +100

[Polybius]

40. I wouldn't even have a big problem with it if it was 1965

I would just say that he was 22, and the mistake he made 57 years ago shouldn't be held against him forever. At some point we should honor the statute of limitations.

[Jack the Greater]

46. What mistake?!!

Being a student at his high school who was photographed at the entrance being blocked from entering by a crowd gathered for the TV cameras??

[Polybius]

48. You are 100% correct

After I posted I realized that he likely was just in the background.

[Jack the Greater]

44. Right on, man. The rush to vilify Jones over this photo stinks

He is one face in a crowd of students who gathered around a gaggle of TV cameras at the front entrance of the high school. Yesterday, one DUer posted this photo with the claim that Jones was the kid with the cigarette dangling from his mouth. Lies should have no place here.

[Treefrog]

66. So true.

Nailed that one.

Hypocrisy seems to thrive here on certain subjects.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

69. LOL, you don't say?

Seriously though, I agree, the rank hypocrisy on some issues here is astounding.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

75. do you feel the same about the guy with the cigarette standing in front? Just curious

the guy clearly blocking their path

[Trenzalore]

3. Jones has always been trash

The fact that he was trash when he was a kid isn't surprising.

[Srkdqltr]

4. Something 65 years ago?? Apologize? For what? People are insane.

[AllyCat]

5. Yes. Be truthful and apologize.

He didn’t know there would be cameras? Is that his defense?

[Srkdqltr]

9. He was there it was 65 years ago. He has nothing to apologize for.

He said he was there, told why. He doesn't need a defense.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

12. +100. nt

[Demsrule86]

23. He was there like the rest of them...filled with hate...and all the whitewashing won't change that.

He was a racist jerk then and still is if you ask me.

[jrthin]

29. Amen!

Had he turned into a decent man, then "maybe" we could say he has nothing to apologize for. But he's a grown man with the same hateful thoughts as that
15yr old boy.

[Demsrule86]

51. Exactly, guy like him make me sick.

[LenaBaby61]

36. REALLY THIS 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

[Demsrule86]

52. Thank you Lena!

[AllyCat]

30. Yes he does. he should apologize.

What does that hurt?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

15. How do you know he's not being truthful?

What evidence is there that he was or still is a racist?
And why would he need to apologize if he is telling the truth?

[AllyCat]

56. I didn't say he wasn't being truthful about the incident.

But to defend himself saying he didn’t know there would be cameras is, um, not exactly the excuse one would expect from a guy who isn’t racist now.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

60. That's fair, and I hope that I didn't come across as hostile,

if I did, then I apologize and have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

[Goodheart]

28. Come on now... he was 14 in Arkansas

Let's get real.

[LenaBaby61]

39. He didn't know there would be cameras? Is that his defense?

Yes he's a rich, white, male, right-winged racist piece of trash.

Of course this is a defense.


I mean, look at the fat, crazy, racist, white son of a bitch destroying our country and whose now spouting Q spiracies. He's becoming more and more unhinged,and threatening the people who are invevstigating his guilty, treasonous crazy ass. Yet, the so-called liberal media whose really reich-winged, mostly corporate, greedy for money, clicks, views and ad dollars, is comparing what Pres. Biden did or having his grand daughter's wedding at the White House to what tRump has and is still doing to our country? You're damn right he didn't invite the so-called liberal media, because it's a private affair that assholes like Ashley Parker didn't need to be at or see, and so now she's comparing what Biden did to what tRump did and is still doing to destroy our country and what little democracy we have left? Really? As I always say we have very few good people in the media in our country. Most are bothsids do it like Parker and Todd and other reich-winged, corporate media assholes.

Anyway they'll be no apology. No reflection. No NOTHING. He's white, rich, reich-winged and male. I mean you know


The late Sen. Robert Byrd Jones is NOT.

[AllyCat]

55. And folks I wouldn't expect defending him because it was a long time ago.

[Treefrog]

67. Why does he need a defense?

He was 14. I remember people gathering like that as soon as they saw any kind of commotion.

It was high school for crying out loud.

[Oneironaut]

74. Beg for the internet's forgiveness so that we can feel powerful!

[AllyCat]

79. No. He can do better.

[TheBeam19]

76. I don't know what people get

out of a forced apology. Demanding an apology is like demanding a thank-you. The person either means it or they don’t. If they don’t, why would anyone want to simply hear them say words?

[Arkansas Granny]

6. My ex had a similar experience at his high school in Arkansas. He learned and he changed.

It took some time to overcome the old prejudices and bigotry, but he did it.

I don't know if Jerry Jones is still a racist or not, but people can change and grow.

[NCDem47]

7. You can take the boy out of 1957 Arkansas...

But you can’t take the 1957 Arkansas out of the boy.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

13. So you're suggesting that he's still a racist?

if so, any proof of your innuendo?

[Solomon]

19. Coincidence. Washington Post printed front page article today featuring Jerry Jones and how he's

never hired a black head coach despite years of pretending he's all for diversity.

[Solomon]

21. No. I did not say that. You asked for evidence. I said it's a coincidence that today

the Post printed a front page article about Jones and the fact that he's never hired a black head coach despite the fact that the NFL is fueled largely by black players. (Post's words, not mine)

I guess all those people we see in the lynching photos were also just innocent curious bystanders too. Didn't know what was happening. Just showed up for no reason at all. Even the youngsters in those photos. So innocent.

You say who gives a fuck but you sure are giving a lot of fucks on this asshole's behalf.

I got no beef with you Marine Combat Engineer I enjoy and respect your posts but why you taking it so hard? Head banging against wall and all that?

You believe he just happened to walk by and be there. I believe he was there because he was racist. The fact that he won't say like so many others have done, that he has evolved suggests to me that yes, the fucker is racist. He's still in denial.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

24. My apologies for misreading your posts,

I just got off the road yesterday, still recovering from road lag, as I call it.

I'll delete my misunderstanding of your post.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

[Demsrule86]

27. Yeah, he is still racist...misogynistic and homophobic...the trifecta.

Please note there was other racist, homophobic and myogenic content that was not released and as the Raiders coach complained, there was no written report...

“I know everybody you’ve been reading about. They’re outstanding proponents of our game,” Jones said during an appearance with "Shan & RJ'' on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday morning. “We all continue to recognize what a spotlight you’re in and the way we should express ourselves.”

On Monday night, Gruden informed his staff, and the Raiders, that he will be stepping down. (Click here for more on the former Cowboys coach who will replace him.) His decision comes in the wake of a report from the New York Times, which uncovered emails in which Gruden used racist, homophobic and misogynistic language in a series of emails he sent several years ago to former Washington general manager Bruce Allen and others around the league.

Jones was asked if Gruden deserved to lose his job because of his past emails.

“I don’t have anything I would want to express there one way or the other,” Jones said. “I know that from the standpoint of contribution, I know that we are all accountable to even a, if you will, a fleeting or minor part of our actions. We are all accountable to those. But that’s about all I want to comment on it.”

Decades after standing on the frontlines of one of Little Rock’s darkest segregation clashes, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has led the league toward new revenue models but has yet to hire a Black head coach.

https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/jon-gruden-scandal-reaction-dallas-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-raiders-news

Link to tweet

[Hugh_Lebowski]

35. I can almost guarantee you that his comments about Gruden were terse because of his relationship

With Al Davis and his family.

It's been known a long time that Jerry was close with Al Davis ... who was Jewish, as an aside.

And I'd point out that the Raiders, more than probably any other NFL team, are known for providing opportunities to minorities and women (Art Shell, first black HC, Tom Flores, first Latino HC, and Amy Trask, first high-level female NFL executive, for example).

I'm not saying I know one way or the other 'how he feels about black people', but it's not only possible, it's LIKELY that Jones declined to make a strong statement in the wake of the news of Gruden's past comments ... out of a sense of decorum and deference to the Davis family, who were, at the time, dealing with a PR nightmare, esp. in light of how the Raiders as an organization had been historically viewed in this regard.

Mark Davis almost immediately fired Gruden when he learned of the racist shit Gruden had said. And Jones certainly did not denigrate him for doing so.

Again, I don't know his heart, but afa actual evidence goes, his statement on Gruden is a weak piece in your case.

[Demsrule86]

53. He and his cohorts made sure there was no report...he even refused to say if the 'punishment'

was fair. Sorry, this is still a f'ing racist, a mysogenist, and a homophobe...hate rich guys like that. They make the world a worse place. And I would bet money that this guy funds MAGA too.

[Demsrule86]

80. And Jerry pushed for no report why? Face facts, the guy may have a (some of my best friends

are Jewish) but he is intolerant.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

47. Here's the simple truth from me,

I don't give a fuck what Jerry Jones did or didn't do in '57 nor today, it has no bearing on today's problems with the world, if you want to rehash what he did or didn't do, that's certainly your right, me, I just don't fucking care.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

[Demsrule86]

50. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours...One wonders why you posted since you er don't

give a damn. But I don't care really.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

57. +100. nt

[MarineCombatEngineer]

10. Over 60 years ago?

Who gives a fuck?
Is there any evidence that he's continued this behavior?
Aren't there more important issues in the country?
Or the rest of the world for that matter than what Jerry Jones did back in '57?

I swear this place sometimes!

Oh and BTW, welcome to DU.
Enjoy.

[The Grand Illuminist]

26. Agree on that

14 year olds are still adolescents. Who knows, he may be working for the school paper at the time if he did.

[Lucinda]

14. FFS... n/t

[Raine]

16. Geesh! 🙄 nt

[Paladin]

17. If it makes Jerry Jones look bad, I'm pleased. (nt)

[Tarc]

22. I think there's more pressing racial issues of the day

Chasing explanations about what an 80 year-old was doing 65 years ago does not seem like a fruitful pursuit. We've long known about the character of Jones, or lack thereof.

[AkFemDem]

25. Give me a break

A 14 year old kid is pictured standing at the back of a crowd at his own school, watching a major event, 60+ years ago and…? So?

Like we don’t have real problems today to deal with??

[Sneederbunk]

33. I want to know the names of all in the photo, for hounding purposes.

[Paladin]

34. Now, now. Take a hint from Jerry's supporters on this thread.

It's a safe bet that none of the other racist punks in that photo grew up to own and mismanage a pro football team.

[Sneederbunk]

37. If he was doing this at 14, you can only imagine what he was doing at 10.

[Trenzalore]

38. As an Eagles fan I hope Jerry lives forever.

[BannonsLiver]

42. Nice, even 15 year old JJ was an insufferable weasel

And MCE, I don’t care what you think. Fuck Jerry Jones and the horse he rode in on. And the Cowboys, too.

[Polybius]

43. So what did he do wrong for 1957?

It looks like he was in the background. Was it a protest that he was at for segregation? Was he simply trying to see what was going on? Was it school standard? Either way he was 14 and it was 65 years ago, so I don't care.

[Demsrule86]

54. The question is 'what did he do recently' and I posted the answer that shows clearly that he

is a racist, a misogynist, and a homophobe. It is on this thread. I am sure Daddy and Mommy yanked him out of public school so he would not be 'damaged' by having Black kids in his school.

[Sympthsical]

58. You know you could've looked it up before fabricating things

He graduated from the school in 1960. Third sentence on his wiki page. Required ten seconds to confirm.

Disliking someone shouldn't be license to just make things up for narrative purposes. People are good or bad enough on their own.

[Treefrog]

68. Oh boom!

Very good!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

70. +100. nt

[jalan48]

45. A big shame fail.

[Wednesdays]

49. And this proves...nothing

Except that he was eyewitness to a historical event.
Trashing this thread.

[Takket]

59. I can't believe what I'm reading in this thread........

We're going to condemn and shame someone because they were caught in a photo at an event at 14 years old in 1957??????

Are we for real here? Are we Democrats or are we the type that see a photo and think we know everything about what is in a person's heart when they are 14, and how NONE of that can possibly change 65 years later?

Well, you got him. Racism is over now I guess. We have exposed Jerry Jones presence in Little Rock in 1957. I guess we can all sleep well tonight. Well maybe not tonight, but maybe after he's burned at the stake, then we can all sleep.

Unless someone wants to come forward with proof that Jones is really the racist some are saying he is, I suggest you all acknowledge that kids do stupid shit sometimes, and move on.

[MichMan]

61. Sadly, I'm not surprised at all. Pretty much par for the course too often, it seems

[Jedi Guy]

62. But... but...

If we acknowledge that kids do stupid shit sometimes and move on, we can't be outraged and pillory him in the public square over this. Where's the fun in that?

[Zeitghost]

63. Well said

But I'm not sure we can even chalk it up to kids doing stupid shit.

He was in a crowd at his own HS during a noteworthy event being covered by media. That's all the facts the photo gives us.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

64. +100. nt

[Abolishinist]

65. Agreed, much ado about not much.

And there's another thread on this topic where the OP identifies Jones as the guy with the cigarette. Several posters brought this to their attention yesterday, yet as of now, it hasn't been updated.

I will add that Jones HAS changed. He was brought up in a working-class, Democratic family.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

73. People do change,

case in point, I was a solid Repub. when I enlisted in the Marines, I was still a solid Repub when I received orders for combat duty in Vietnam, about halfway through my first tour, I realized that the Repukes were lying through their teeth about the reasons we were in Vietnam and the progress of our combat missions and body counts, that's when I knew that they were lying to us and I became a dedicated Dem. and have voted that way since.

Peace out
Dan.

[Treefrog]

72. No shit. Especially when you see some of these same posters

excusing politicians we like for appearing in blackface (while adults) or any other transgressions.

[TheBeam19]

77. That, and sometimes the forced apology

delivered upon demand doesn’t work. Then it’s “too late,” “not good enough,” etc.

If a person is truly sorry, that’s when an apology means something. If they’re not, why demand that they say it?

[UnderThisLaw]

71. Must be a

uneventful Thanksgiving for the usual suspects. I guess trolling knows no holidays

[Vinca]

78. He could have just been there wondering what was going on. He was a kid. Now he's an old

man. Haven't "journalists" got anything better to investigate? Glad I'm not famous. I'd hate all the dumb teenage things I did becoming the talk of lazy media.