"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin
The havoc wreaked in the immediate aftermath following the George Zimmerman acquittal in the death of Trayvon Martin may be more damaging to race relations than the acquittal itself. Since the acquittal, many have denied of the existence of racism in America, have discounted racism as a contributory factor in Martin's death leading to the extraordinary increase in blatant, inflammatory, race baiting rhetoric. It is almost as if the acquittal gave every racist license to state their mind with no fear of societal reprisal.
When Zimmerman was acquitted, I was stunned. I didn't expect much from a Florida jury. It wasn't the verdict that caused vertigo, it was the public reaction and ensuing conversation. Glee, gloating, rampant racial rhetoric and the elevation of armed George Zimmerman to hero status for killing an unarmed, young, black man. What have we become?
Zimmerman's defense claimed George found Martin to be suspicious. Suspicious for what? For walking in the rain and wearing a hoodie or did Zimmerman arrive at the foregone conclusion that young, black men are "up to no good". The assumption Martin was involved in wrongdoing was based on a racial stereotype. It was based on the presumption that young black men are a crime just waiting to happen. All things flowed from that moment on. To suggest that race had no place in the murder of Trayvon Martin is not only ludicrous, but also dangerous. If we continue to deny the existence of racism in America, we further polarize a racially divided populace, losing yet another opportunity to engage into honest, meaningful discussion.
When I read comments posted on various media outlets or public forums that elevate Zimmerman to exalted hero, I find myself physically ill. A boy is dead. A boy that had parents who loved him, grandparents, and friends had his life extinguished solely because George Zimmerman believed him to be suspicious, not for what he was doing, but for what he represented, a young black man. When hero status is granted for killing a fellow unarmed human being, no matter what prompted it, with crazed, hysterical glee, I clearly understand racism still permeates the very fabric of our society, we are a lost nation.
Please join Fred and Marg on Lies My Country Told Me, "Fallen Nation: Trayvon Martin Case, Justice Denied" on Saturday, July 20th at 2:00 pm EST (1:00 pm Central, 12:00 pm Mountain, 11:00 am Pacific and 3:00 pm Atlantic, 3:30 pm NL time). You can call 347-677-1618 with your opinion or join us in the chatroom. As always, you can email us with thoughts at liesmycountrytoldme@gmail.com.