The Invasion of Jena

About the Book

On September 20, 2007 this country watched as over 100,000 supporters of 6 young men being unjustly tried and accused, marched through the small town of Jena, Louisiana demanding that all charges be dropped and that 17 year old Mychel Bell, who had been sentenced to 22 years in prison, for a school fight, be released. “The Invasion of Jena,” by Leigh A. Owens, contains a series of compelling, documentary style photos taken by the author during his trip to Jena, Louisiana. Each photo tells the story of a particular piece of this great day in history, which has been commemorated and remembered, by many as the birth of the modern day Civil Rights Movement. “The Invasion of Jena,” is a work which will stand out and cause the world to always remember the spirit of unity and solidarity which swept across this nation that day, a spirit which has never been experienced by this hip-hop generation and has not been experienced by others since the martyrdom of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Invasion of Jena contains a comprehensive, intuitive and very inspiring essay by the author, detailing his experiences in Jena as well as his experiences in black boyhood journeying into manhood, being influenced by hip-hop culture as well as the beauty of other manifestations of art and African American culture, history and politics. The essay explains how his journey, through incarceration and then activism, teaching and mentoring, relates to the current state of our black youth and the Jena 6. Owens’ passion, honesty and experiences along with the beauty and charm of his photography makes The Invasion of Jena a precious momentum of an extremely important, yet painfully underrated moment in American History.

About the Author

Leigh Owens is a Writer, Photographer and Videographer of 10 years. He has been published in magazines, newspapers and periodicals, using life experiences and a zeal for research to inspire and inform black youth while helping older generations understand this current hip-hop generation and its need for guidance. Owens, an avid Christian and political activist, uses his artistic abilities to impress upon his audience the