Was Mississippi Killing a Hate Crime?

The FBI, police and citizens of the city of Jackson, Missippi  are debating whether the white teenagers who robbed and murdered James Craig Anderson, a black man, were motivated by racism. The case has prompted many to consider race relations in the state, and it’s troubled history with race. The suspects’ lawyers say it was just an act of teenage stupidity, but prosecutors say the killing was a premeditated racial killing. The U.S. Justice Department has begun an investigation into the case. Kim Severson  has been reporting on the case for our partner, The New York Times.