It is indeed speculative and we don't have all the facts, but that doesn't preclude it from being a useful discussion and you raise some very good points - and I'm inclined to agree.
My issue with the first point is that it creates an inescapable position. A form of secondary and more benign form of coercive control. Whilst it may be true that young black people (such as these students) don't have agency or the freedom to choose, it may also be true that they do - or that there is a roadmap for them to be able to exercise free choice in the fullness of time.
I think what is in danger of happening is that we don't respect the agency of young Black people when what they do doesn't align with what is considered the 'correct' response. In short, if young black (men in particular) don't behave in a set way then we presume it must be 'whiteness' at work and can disregard their actions. I don't know what that does to the psychology of young Black people who don't subscribe to the same world view. It's one of the reason I try to read both Allison and Steve QJ. Her view would be that he has been corrupted by whiteness, his view is that she is trying to put him into a victim-box for her own ends. I don't know who is morally correct but I am often more swayed by Steve QJ's reasoning.
And yes, the psychology of peer pressure and conformity is quite complicated. However, I would argue sustained hostage situations often with threat to life, create a different psychological set-up from what may have transpired here. Conformity is one to watch - but I frequently argue that once people are adults, they should be held responsible for their actions and their choices. The 'power' argument is a tricky one because it leads to semantic games with endless variables - and I appreciate this fits into that one.
I often stick to a position that people make mistakes - and if those people are adults they should be able to look at and see their part in the mistake however big or small it happens to be. Often with power games there's an attempt to assert victimhood and let people off the hook. So, I agree with you.... the 'willingly' bit is debatable and should be debated... because choices were made by complicated humans of all skin colours involved and until we can dig down past the crust of heroes and villains, we don't know what that looks like.
Always good to chat and plenty to think about here. :o)
