CBS 2 Morning Show in Chicago interviewed a 4 year old black boy after he witnessed a drive by shooting which injured 2 young people in his neighborhood. The clip, with it's blatant racial undertones, has left me shaking with rage. The inexcusable, shoddy editing resulted in a complete misrepresentation of this adorable little boy's statement, portraying him as a hardened criminal in the making.
The anchorman prefaces the interview with the little boy by saying:
Anchorman - "And kids on the street as young as four were there to see it all unfold, and had disturbing reactions."
The next shot is of an adorable little boy, about 4 years old being interviewed:
Little Boy - No, I'm not scared of nothin'!
Reporter - When you get older, you gonna stay away from all these guns?
Little Boy - No, I'm...
Reporter - No?
Little Boy - No.
Reporter - What are you going to do when you get older?
Little Boy - I'm going to have me a gun!
Fade over to a young girl...
After the on-the-scene reporting ends, the morning anchorman remarks earnestly:
Anchorman - That is very scary indeed.
The only really scary part in this story is the complete misrepresentation of what this little boy actually SAID. In the raw, unedited version, we learn that he wants to have a gun because he dreams of being a POLICEMAN!!!! But that part was edited out. Scary indeed!
Watch the video for yourself:
What do you think of the editing? You may want to contact CBS2 in Chicago and tell them what you think:
CBS 2 Chicago
22 West Washington St
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 899-2222
cbs2chicago.com