On July 13 2013 two tragedies occurred almost simultaneously. The verdict in the George Zimmerman trial was announced and the death of Cory Monteith was reported. Regardless of what a jury of 6 white women decided and whether you believe Zimmerman was guilty of 2nd Degree murder or not, his acquittal was a tragedy and a miscarriage of justice. I believed that to be the case when the verdict was announced, I still believe it now with every fiber of my being and that belief has only been solidified as juror after juror has since admitted that George Zimmerman "went too far" in his conduct on the fateful night of February 26, 2012. Anybody with half a brain should be asking themselves how it's possible to come to the conclusion and then admit that an accused person "went too far" on one hand, but not be guilty on the other.
Most of the people I know didn't need confirmation from a juror to determine that Zimmerman went too far. We knew it as soon as the few initial details of the incident were revealed last year. We knew it because, like Trayvon Martin that night, many of us have been profiled, targeted, viewed as suspicious and subsequently confronted; by police, department/convenience store employees, white women in elevators or the average citizen on the street who clutches their purses a little more tightly, makes sure to lock their doors suddenly, or tries to shrink and disappear into the corner of the elevator as they pray to God to just "get them out of this situation (and by situation I mean merely being in the presence of a big, scary, suspicious black man) safely."
When the verdict was announced I was with my wife and two of our young people who were preparing to minister the next morning in church. We were on our way to have dinner at our hotel and saw the breaking news coverage on a television in the hotel lobby. As disappointing and heartbreaking as it was to see and hear, none of us was surprised. In fact we had anticipated Zimmerman's acquittal. But hearing my young people, who are 18 and 17 express their sadness and fear was gut wrenching. They asked questions like "why aren't our lives as valuable as other people's lives seem to be?" and they made statements like "that could easily have been me." And they were correct. It could have been them because like Trayvon Martin my young people wear hoodies. Like Trayvon Martin my young people often walk down the street either talking on a cell phone or with ear buds attached to an MP3 player. Like Trayvon Martin my young people are black and have been on the receiving end of racial profiling.
And on a fundamental level, for people of color, black men in particular, that's all this case really boils down to. At the end of the day, had a white male been walking in Zimmerman's neighborhood, had it been Cory Monteith, or someone who looked like him, Zimmerman would not have been compelled to call the police. Zimmerman wouldn't have been compelled to get out of his car and give chase. He wouldn't have been inclined to engage in any contact at all and there wouldn't have been any confrontation, much less a violent confrontation that ended in a young boy's death.
And speaking of Cory Monteith, I can't help but notice the public sympathy his death is receiving. "Gone too soon." "The tragic loss of the boy next door." These and similar expressions have dominated the headlines of almost every magazine and news paper in the last week. And his death, as any young man's death would be, is indeed tragic. But I also can't help but notice the striking differences in the perception and treatment of Cory and Trayvon. Trayvon has never been described as the "boy next door." In fact, just the opposite is true. Trayvon, who had traces of marijuana in his system has been criminalized, caricatured and demonized as everything from a smoked out thug to a ghetto hoodlum. His character has been assassinated not only in the courtroom but in the court of public opinion.
Cory on the other hand, who died from a lethal combination of alcohol and heroin, has not been caricatured. Cory has not been demonized. He has not been stereotyped. Cory's death has been lamented. Cory's life was cut down way too young at 31. But the tragic end of Trayvon's life at 17 was essentially justified by the acquittal of his killer on the same night that Cory's death snuffed out a "shining star".
The reality is that both young men's lives came to a needless end. Both deaths are tragic. But an even greater tragedy is that while the nation weeps and mourns for one of them and in fact has elevated him to almost martyr status, the other young man who died 17 months ago is still, even in his death, being portrayed as less than human, a problem that needed to be dealt with. And he was dealt with. Violently. And conclusively. And his killer is free. A grown man followed, confronted, and killed a BOY and got away with it. And that tragic reality should strike fear in the hearts of every parent, every aunt, uncle or surrogate who has a male, teenaged loved one; especially if that young male is black.
George Zimmerman's acquittal declared open season on young black males and sent a message that it's perfectly justifiable and excusable to kill a black boy as long as the perpetrator says it was done in self defense. If you think that's hyperbole or histrionics, look at the headlines of incidents that have happened since Trayvon was killed.
http://www.policymic.com/articles/54339/black-17-and-shot-dead-in-florida-why-isn-t-jordan-davis-getting-the-attention-travyon-martin-is
http://newsone.com/2028377/walter-henry-butler-port-st-joe-florida/
There have been no verdicts rendered in these two cases but regardless of what the juries declare, there is no denying that race, like it did in the Zimmerman/Martin case, played a role in these confrontations. And until we are ready to confront this reality instead of talking around it or attempting to sweep it under the rug, rumors of a post-racial America will continue to be greatly exaggerated.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
Race & Racism: The Inconvenient Truth of the George Zimmerman Trial.
The George Zimmerman trial, as predicted, has brought to the surface a lot of racial tension. People on both sides of the spectrum have over reacted and have made some pretty stupid remarks. On one hand, people who think Zimmerman is guilty are threatening to riot or worse, kill him if he doesn't get the justice they think he deserves. Regardless of how you feel about the case and the motives behind Zimmerman's actions, threats of that nature are despicable. But the rhetoric on the other side is just as ridiculous.
I've heard pro Zimmerman pundits proudly and stupidly declare that Zimmerman is a hero and they're going to go out and celebrate over a round of beers when he's acquitted." I don't care whether you think he's guilty or innocent, celebrating when a 17 year old is dead and his family is forced to accept the reality of life without their son is beyond despicable and speaks more of the character of the person/people who made/share the sentiment than it does about Zimmerman, Martin, or this trial.
What I have not heard however, is a plausible explanation for why this conflict ever occurred in the first place. The trial has done nothing to clarify that and to a large degree, the prosecution is to blame for that. Regardless of the verdict, Zimmerman appears to be nothing more than a wanna be cop who trailed a black kid he deemed to be suspicious, who happened to be minding his own business, doing absolutely nothing wrong. Against the advice of an emergency dispatcher an armed Zimmerman stalked an unarmed minor looking for a confrontation, found exactly what he was looking for, wound up on the losing end of the confrontation he went looking for, (did I mention he went looking for a confrontation?), pulled out his gun and killed him.
A lot of people are saying that race had nothing to do with it. To prove their point, they have conveniently labeled Zimmerman as a "Hispanic." Which is to say that there's no possible way a non-white man, which Zimmerman clearly is, could have been racially motivated in his actions. But if that's true, then can somebody, anybody, please explain to me what it was that made Trayvon Martin a suspect in his own neighborhood? Why did Zimmerman see Trayvon and immediately think "suspicious"? Was it the skittles? The iced tea? When did candy or a canned beverage equate to suspicious behavior? Oh wait, I know, it was the hoodie right? Yup, I'm sure that's it. In fact as I type this, I realize that's exactly what it was because everybody knows that anyone wearing a hoodie is a suspect and up to no good right? In fact, the next time I see Bill Belichick I'm going to run after him despite being told not to do so, and demand to know what he's doing in my neighborhood because clearly, dressed like that he's got no business on my block!
Sarcasm aside, we all know why Trayvon was suspicious in Zimmerman's mind. It wasn't what he was doing because despite the defense's attempts to paint Trayvon as a smoked out thug, he was not engaged in any thug like or suspicious behavior on February 26, 2012. It wasn't his height, or his weight or anything other than the color of his skin. Zimmerman saw a black male whom he hadn't seen before and immediately assumed that he didn't belong and that his mere presence was suspicious.
And that's the crux of the issue. In a nation that prides itself on the racial progress it's made, a young black male is still viewed by many as suspicious and out of place and there doesn't have to be any basis for the assumption. A young black man is dead and despite that reality, nobody has held Zimmerman's feet to the fire and demanded an explanation on that point. The trial has focused on the confrontation and its aftermath but without a racially motivated "suspicion" there wouldn't have been a confrontation in the first place. Zimmerman went after Trayvon Martin because he was black. He initiated a confrontation and then claimed self defense when he had to resort to using a gun while he was getting his behind kicked. Trayvon Martin didn't follow George Zimmerman, he did't provoke him, in fact, had Zimmerman followed orders and stayed in his car, Trayvon Martin may never have even noticed, let alone paid any attention to George Zimmerman.
The truth of the matter is that we live in a nation where a black man's identity automatically makes him a suspect, particularly when he finds himself in places he's "got no business" being in. Up until the 70's or 80's being in the wrong place at the wrong time meant you'd pay with your life if you were caught by the wrong people. Actually, in 2012 it cost Trayvon his life as well which means that the nation hasn't come nearly as far as it thinks it has as it relates to issues of race and racism.
The only difference between 2013 and 1953 is that at least Zimmerman was arrested and put on trial. 60 years ago the victim's family wouldn't even have that to hang their hat on. Whether Zimmerman's convicted or acquitted is up to the jury. I hope people don't riot. I also hope there are no celebrations of any kind because regardless of the verdict, a young man is dead. A family is torn apart and the wounds of America's racist past have been reopened and no matter what happens there are no winners in this case. We all have lost something simply by being exposed to the ugliness this case has produced.
I've heard pro Zimmerman pundits proudly and stupidly declare that Zimmerman is a hero and they're going to go out and celebrate over a round of beers when he's acquitted." I don't care whether you think he's guilty or innocent, celebrating when a 17 year old is dead and his family is forced to accept the reality of life without their son is beyond despicable and speaks more of the character of the person/people who made/share the sentiment than it does about Zimmerman, Martin, or this trial.
What I have not heard however, is a plausible explanation for why this conflict ever occurred in the first place. The trial has done nothing to clarify that and to a large degree, the prosecution is to blame for that. Regardless of the verdict, Zimmerman appears to be nothing more than a wanna be cop who trailed a black kid he deemed to be suspicious, who happened to be minding his own business, doing absolutely nothing wrong. Against the advice of an emergency dispatcher an armed Zimmerman stalked an unarmed minor looking for a confrontation, found exactly what he was looking for, wound up on the losing end of the confrontation he went looking for, (did I mention he went looking for a confrontation?), pulled out his gun and killed him.
A lot of people are saying that race had nothing to do with it. To prove their point, they have conveniently labeled Zimmerman as a "Hispanic." Which is to say that there's no possible way a non-white man, which Zimmerman clearly is, could have been racially motivated in his actions. But if that's true, then can somebody, anybody, please explain to me what it was that made Trayvon Martin a suspect in his own neighborhood? Why did Zimmerman see Trayvon and immediately think "suspicious"? Was it the skittles? The iced tea? When did candy or a canned beverage equate to suspicious behavior? Oh wait, I know, it was the hoodie right? Yup, I'm sure that's it. In fact as I type this, I realize that's exactly what it was because everybody knows that anyone wearing a hoodie is a suspect and up to no good right? In fact, the next time I see Bill Belichick I'm going to run after him despite being told not to do so, and demand to know what he's doing in my neighborhood because clearly, dressed like that he's got no business on my block!
Sarcasm aside, we all know why Trayvon was suspicious in Zimmerman's mind. It wasn't what he was doing because despite the defense's attempts to paint Trayvon as a smoked out thug, he was not engaged in any thug like or suspicious behavior on February 26, 2012. It wasn't his height, or his weight or anything other than the color of his skin. Zimmerman saw a black male whom he hadn't seen before and immediately assumed that he didn't belong and that his mere presence was suspicious.
And that's the crux of the issue. In a nation that prides itself on the racial progress it's made, a young black male is still viewed by many as suspicious and out of place and there doesn't have to be any basis for the assumption. A young black man is dead and despite that reality, nobody has held Zimmerman's feet to the fire and demanded an explanation on that point. The trial has focused on the confrontation and its aftermath but without a racially motivated "suspicion" there wouldn't have been a confrontation in the first place. Zimmerman went after Trayvon Martin because he was black. He initiated a confrontation and then claimed self defense when he had to resort to using a gun while he was getting his behind kicked. Trayvon Martin didn't follow George Zimmerman, he did't provoke him, in fact, had Zimmerman followed orders and stayed in his car, Trayvon Martin may never have even noticed, let alone paid any attention to George Zimmerman.
The truth of the matter is that we live in a nation where a black man's identity automatically makes him a suspect, particularly when he finds himself in places he's "got no business" being in. Up until the 70's or 80's being in the wrong place at the wrong time meant you'd pay with your life if you were caught by the wrong people. Actually, in 2012 it cost Trayvon his life as well which means that the nation hasn't come nearly as far as it thinks it has as it relates to issues of race and racism.
The only difference between 2013 and 1953 is that at least Zimmerman was arrested and put on trial. 60 years ago the victim's family wouldn't even have that to hang their hat on. Whether Zimmerman's convicted or acquitted is up to the jury. I hope people don't riot. I also hope there are no celebrations of any kind because regardless of the verdict, a young man is dead. A family is torn apart and the wounds of America's racist past have been reopened and no matter what happens there are no winners in this case. We all have lost something simply by being exposed to the ugliness this case has produced.
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