Many people will never learn the lessons the death of Trayvon Martin could teach them. Lessons about racial profiling, rushing too quick to judgment, and what happens when you take the law into your own hands.
But I’ve heard the lesson it taught me loud and clear: The world is more dangerous for my son than I ever imagined.
Being white carries a certain amount of inherent obliviousness. I’ve never been followed home because someone thought I looked suspicious. Old women don’t clutch their purses or lock their doors when I pass. I go into stores and shop freely with no one hovering over me. If a cop stops me, he or she is usually fairly courteous to me, even if I’m openly rude to them.
Life won’t be the same for my son, who inherited my smart mouth and his father’s complexion. I never fully realized this until the first photo of Trayvon Martin surfaced – the one where he was a bit younger than 17, wearing a red T-shirt and smiling the simple smile of a child who was loved and content with his world. When I looked at it, I saw my son’s face staring back at me and understood in an instant this could have been him. My baby. Suddenly, it became my duty to understand just how different America is for those with more melanin, especially young men.
Even if you believe George Zimmerman’s version of events, the entire situation began because he assumed the young black guy in his neighborhood was up to no good. He believed so wholeheartedly that this young man couldn’t possibly be in his gated community for any other purpose than something illegal, he thought it necessary to get out of his car and follow him.
When the not-guilty verdict was read, I sobbed uncontrollably. My tears weren’t just for Trayvon and his family. They came because the case had been my last bastion of hope that things weren’t as bad as they seemed. I knew a guilty verdict couldn’t bring Trayvon back, but at least it would send a strong message that America no longer accepts this kind of behavior. These hopes were me being oblivious, of course. Equality isn’t mainstream in America. As Geraldo put it: “If [the jurors] were armed, they would’ve shot and killed Trayvon Martin, too.”
As the last bit of blissful ignorance to racial injustice left my mind, I grieved for its comfort. I felt like Neo waking up from life in the Matrix and realizing the real world was shit and he’d been manipulated to believe otherwise his entire life.
My grief turned to frustration. What do I teach my son to help him survive in a world this hostile to someone who looks like him, I thought? Before the case I would’ve taught him to fight if he felt his life was in danger and he couldn’t get away, but now that didn’t appear to be the right answer. “Trayvon shouldn’t have ATTACKED,” the pro-Zimmerman crowd would say. Because a 17-year-old black kid fighting a man who was stalking him in the night is considered an attack.
I could have taught him to run, but if he’s shot in the back, the narrative would be “he shouldn’t have ran if he wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
So I was at a loss. What prevents you from being shot erroneously if you’re a brown young man in America? Is it strictly a game of chance?
I sought answers from the community Sunday night at the rally for Trayvon Martin in Marshall Park, organized by the Charlotte Solidarity Project. I went hoping for any insight about what my next move as the parent of a brown boy should be. The event featured poets and speakers who eloquently reminded us of events past in which justice was never served, whose lessons, like those of Amadou Diallo, Oscar Grant, Emmett Till, were also never learned by those who needed to heed them most. Speakers read quotes from Ghandi and offered hugs to help calm and soothe the 400 people in attendance. Almost everyone who grabbed the microphone spoke of the need to educate our children. Though their words and performances were beautiful, oftentimes giving me chills and causing my eyes to fill with tears, they never told me exactly what I’m supposed to tell my child. They didn’t have the answers. I suspect no one does.
The rain fell over all of us in the park, just as it did the night Trayvon was killed. My son pulled his hoodie over his head to avoid the rain, just like Trayvon did the night he was killed. He held high the “Justice for Trayvon” poster he’d made, despite the rain soaking it and practically turning it to mush. In that moment I knew one thing I could tell him. That I was proud of him.
A video of Sunday’s rally shot by Kendrea Mekkah:
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This article appears in Jul 10-16, 2013.
There have been 11,000 black Americans killed by other black Americans between the day that GZ shot TM and the day the jury reached its verdict.
Since I know for a fact that you can’t name one of them, I suggest you STFU with your fake sympathy for murder victims.
I couldn’t find a legitimate source to back up the 11,106 figure being shot across the fringe right wing and white supremacy blogs, but I know at least one of your “facts” to be inaccurate. Not only do I know names, I know families. And there is nothing fake about my sympathy or empathy. Your detector seems to be malfunctioning. You might wanna get that checked.
It is not illegal to follow someone. “where is he now? Can you still see him? Are you following him? We don’t need you to do that” is not a police order. GZ was going back to his car when TM confronted him and broke his nose. This was the first law that was broken than night. This assault and battery continued for over 40 seconds. GZ thought he was gonna die. After a fair trial, the jury believed GZ reasonably acted in self-defense. Can we please move on.
Zimmerman did not criminally stalk Martin, he was in his right. He did nothing wrong criminally, maybe bad judgement, but not a criminal. Martin was the criminal here, there are hard facts and evidence in this case, you just can’t cherry pick facts to prove yourself right or bring racist motives when there is no proof of any.
Where, exactly, did Zimmerman get the authority to stalk and confront a person peacefully conducting himself in a residential neighborhood? A neighborhood watch is not a police force. It conveys no authority. You have to be really gullible to believe that Zimmerman was just peacefully walking back to his car when he was attacked.
There is no doubt in my mind that if Zimmerman had not been armed he would not have been harassing Martin. There is no doubt in my mind that if the races were reversed that there would have been a conviction, and probably a call for the death penalty.
The author is the true racist.
The only time the black community and liberals care about young black men being shot and killed is when a non-black or a Police officer does it.. Where are all the tears of outrage and rallies for all the black men being killed by other black men? Why doesnt Reverend Sharpton and Jesse Jackson start doing something to eradicate violent black street gangs – instead of taking every single opportunity like this one to racebait. Most people our insanely-politically correct society screams “RACIST!” at, really aren’t. They don’t condemn the entire black race – just the cornrowed, thugged out urban gang members. We are finally getting tired of the BS, and those young black boys who like to throw up gang signs, gold teef, and worship rappers, drugs and guns should consider themselves put on notice – Look out and start living like human beings. Since the Government wont do anything, the Citizenry has to. We are sick of it, and finally starting to fight back. STAY IN SCHOOL HOMIES! ACTUALLY RAISE YOUR CHILDREN! DONT SUCK THE SYSTEM DRY BY RELYING ON FOOD STAMPS AND WELFARE FOR HALF YOUR LIFE.
This author/woman is truly vile. I pray for her son who is obviously being taught hate.
A comment using a racial slur was removed from this story. We encourage dialogue in our comment section. We do not, however, encourage racially charged, derogatory language. Ana McKenzie, news editor (ana.mckenzie@creativeloafing.com)
The article is still racist and offensive. The woman needs DSS to come for her children.
It has been submitted to national news for racist remarks.
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Takeitdown, how is this racist?
When black people kill other black people, one if then is going to jail. Everyone knows that, so we’re not on the edge of our seats wondering about it. When a white kills a black, we’re never quite sure and the possibility that the white person gets off is overwhelming. That’s the difference. More apples. Less oranges.
I can’t believe the comments I am reading. What the hell is wrong with you people? The author is racist? You are “praying” for her children? Where were the racist remarks in this story? Seriously, the FEAR you have of the negative STEREOTYPE of black men fuels your hatred. I will not even try to argue details of the case with you people because you are all out of touch with reality.
I know what the real problem is though. You look outside your windows and see black people. You turn on the TV and see black people. Your white daughters are dating our black men and your sons listen to rap music. “Oh my God! Look…there’s a black family moving in next door. And another down the street…and another.” You watch the news and see a black President. You are terrified that the precious White Bubble that you have existed in for so long is about to be popped and flooded with “…cornrowed, thugged out urban gang members.”
You are terrified of the changes happening around you because of your inability to control this situation. The uncertainty of your future makes you afraid, and in an attempt to triumph your fear you hate that which scares you. Professor X (from the X-Men) said it best, “Mankind has always feared what it doesn’t understand.” In short, ignorance gives birth to fear, which gives birth to hate. Knowledge is the cure to this poison. We want the same basic things you want. To live free, to love our family, to be able to provide, and to feel safe. IDK what else to say beyond that.
The special kind of hatred that oozes out of people when they have complete anonymity. What would the “stand your ground” rallyers be shouting if Trayvon was a ginger freckle faced kid named Travis? Would he then be just defending himself against some weirdo following him around? Would Zimmerman then be called unstable?
I dont hate all black people. I just hate the ones I see running dey mouf on da corner on dey sailfone, riding da city bus, the ones our jails are filled with, the ones that dont know what condoms are, the ones who dont raise their children correctly, and the ones who are loud, stupid, illiterate – and smehow seem proud to make a huge nuisance out of themselves. We should get rid of them. The rest, Im fine with.
Here’s the truth. The liberal media picked the wrong case to pimp as a racial issue. Nothing, absolutely nothing, supports that race had anything to do with what happened. If you believe that, then you are extremely gullible. Educate yourself and listen to the testimony and watch the trial and view/listen to the evidence. Note that the FBI investigated the case and found that Zimmerman might have had a hero complex but definitely wasn’t motivated by race. Also note that Zimmerman is hispanic, though the media wanted to portray him as white to sow discord.
The media and liberals now have enormous egg on their face, and that’s why you see them continuing to puppeteer the young and ignorant to avoid having to own up to what they did.
As for African Americans, look at your own community. Zimmerman didn’t profile anyone, but most people profile others on an everyday basis. How about the African American community cleaning up it’s male youth who commit the majority of crimes in the country even though they constitute a relatively small part of the population. Profiling is normal and protects people. If a lot of young black males are committing crimes, then it’s normal to view them with suspicion if they seem out of place and doing something suspicious. Don’t want that stigma? Clean up your community and raise your children not to commit crimes.
To the Black Panther under the guise of a marine. You are welcome in any community, but keep the crime out. Everyone is happy to live with law abiding black citizens, but when the facts show that when African Americans move into an area and crime goes up, well, obviously the previous residents are going to be wary. I don’t think anyone minds you dating white women, generally we see you with obese unappealing women we wouldn’t associate with anyway, and wonder why you choose them when we see so many beautiful black women who are single.
As for the author of this article, where was the father? Why isn’t he around? That’s another big problem that needs to be addressed in the black community.
My child has an excellent father, but of course you’d assume he’s not around. It sounds like you also assume every other stereotype that can worm its way into your mind, which is probably closed even tighter than the grip hatred has on your heart.
I’d like to thank you, “Voice of Reason.” I’d also like to thank “Susan Fritz”, “Da troof” and especially the coward who hurled a racial slur at my young son from behind their keyboard.
With your disgusting comments, you’ve all proven true my observations about racism, prejudice and the lack of willingness to learn lessons from this tragedy.
You haven’t proven anything other than your own ignorance.
omg..Zimmermans testimony is not a fact. You can’t prove with science that Trayvon hit him first. it is a fact that the neighborhood watch does not want you to be armed. it is a fact that Zim was told not to follow. it is a fact that the gun was loaded, it is a fact that he killed someone,
omg..Zimmermans testimony is not a fact.
Correct, but his testimony was believable and the credible witnesses testified that Martin was on top and thus the aggressor. The prosecution’s sole “witness” in Jeantel could barely speak English, had numerous inconsistencies in her account, and appeared hostile to everyone but the prosecution. Martin’s own father changed his testimony to help the case. Simply put, it should have never gone to trial based on the evidence.
You can’t prove with science that Trayvon hit him first.
No you can’t, but witnesses testified that Martin was on top hitting Zimmerman, and appeared to be the aggressor. Also, Martin had no visible wounds other than the gunshot, so it’s also unlikely Zimmerman threw a first punch.
it is a fact that the neighborhood watch does not want you to be armed.
It’s not the jurisdiction of a neighborhood watch to tell you what to do or not do. He was perfectly within the law to be carrying a firearm. And perfectly within the law to use in self defense.
it is a fact that Zim was told not to follow.
True, but also fact that he stopped. It is also true that the dispatcher asked him where the suspect was going, and what he looked like, which implies that he wanted him to get that information. After he did and was told to stop, he did, and then was communicating with police where to meet him.
it is a fact that the gun was loaded,
True, and there is nothing illegal about that. In fact, carrying a gun without it being loaded is idiocy.
it is a fact that he killed someone,
He did—and a jury cleared him based on self defense.
Get over it. Move on. And quit race baiting.
Race based penis envy. That’s the real reason these dickless , racist , oxygen pirates, are hating on this article.
Justin Teal, clearly another racist.
Let me see if I understand this. Mr. Zimmerman saw a black teenager walking in his neighborhood so he called 911 to report it. But race was not a factor? How many white pedestrians did he report to the police via 911?
If someone was following me at night, I’d likely approach them and if I felt threatened, I would attack. If said person had a gun, I would attempt to disarm before my stalker killed me. I fail to see how Zimmerman is a victim. He shot and killed an unarmed child. I don’t care what he looked like or that he was walking through yards. Children do things like that. Too bad for Trayvon that he didn’t conduct himself in a way Zimmerman saw fit, so he pursued and harassed him until a fight ensued – armed man vs unarmed child, and surprise!
And why does everyone fail to note that whites are not the only “race” who target blacks. “Hispanics” like Zimmerman can be racist as well.
ETB,
Just because “you couldn’t find” a source for the 11,000 number doesn’t mean it’s not true. It just means you’re lazy or incompetent.
The numbers are from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the FBI (both .gov entities).
To be exact, the shameful truth is that 93% of African-American murders are committed by other African-Americans. That is breathtakingly awful when you consider how incensed the African-American community is about the Trayvon tragedy, no matter what you believe about Zimmerman’s guilt.
Let’s do the gruesome math, not out of morbidity, but because it manifests the incredible self-centered insanity of people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.
8,000-9,000 African-Americans are murdered each year.
93% of them by other African-Americans.
That’s 7,905 (from average)
That’s 21.65 murdered each day by other African-Americans.
Now if you want to repeat your “white supremacist” slur to me, I’d like to invite you to do it in person. Name the time and place.
Detector- I agree black on black crime is a huge problem that needs the attention of national leaders and American communities. I do not agree that this fact somehow negates anything I wrote in my article.
I won’t call you incompetent, but if you actually read my comment, you (may) notice I said I could only find the statistics you cite on fringe right and white supremacy blogs. I didn’t call YOU a white supremacist. Perhaps you took the time to comb through government murder statistics and piece together this info yourself. I have no idea.
And how interesting you’d invite me to a meeting in person when you won’t even stand behind your comments here with your own name.
Thank you for sharing some important lessons with your son. It think you are seeing even in this forum that there is much to do when it comes to even beginning an open dialogue about race relations in this country.
It is unfortunate someone hurled the N word at your son but being a young man of color it seems it is an unfortunate rite of passage. I know the first time someone called me that when I was even younger than him.
Stay encouraged!
Apparently the author is fine with racism as long as it isn’t white on black racism.
I think this is great! Now if the black community would get as agitated about the drugs, violence, and mayhem in their own neighborhoods….and actually do something about it rather than stand on the street with signs….something positive would come out of all this. When these folks start confronting the Gangs and other Thugs in their own neighborhood….I will be much more supportive of them. But….for them to take the position they are over the Zimmerman Prosecution…..it is just plain silly. That they continue to tolerate the likes of Al Sharpton and the other Race Baiters who profit from stirring up the young and impressionable….is the real tragedy here. One would think they would be smarter than to fall for the same old tired line spread by Sharpton…..but then perhaps not.
E T-B,
Ooh, the “you’re not using your real name” card. Real classy. Ever use that one on “DLP”? Yeah, didn’t think so. Ever heard of the Federalist Papers, written under a pseudonym?
Perhaps you only found those stats on “right wing” blogs because the media outlets you frequent are in the tank with your fellow race baiters (Recall NBC’s disgraceful splicing of the 911 call? How about suppression of the photographs of injuries to Zimmerman?). How many of the media outlets you follow reported on the killings of four children in Chicago during the Zimmerman trial?* Why is five-year-old Sterling Sims less important than Trayvon Martin?* Why isn’t Al Sharpton consoling fourteen-year-old Damani Henard’s family?*
* Not rhetorical questions.
Two years ago in Charlotte, a young, (illegally) armed black male decided he “wanted some money” and stalked an innocent older white male, approached and attempted to rob him. The older male, a retired Colonel, defender of our country, decided he didn’t want to be a victim. A struggle ensued and he was shot dead on his morning walk from the local coffee shop, leaving a widow, children and grandchildren behind. The scum who shot him was eventually caught and convicted of the murder. I don’t know of one single person, black or white who protested, started a rally, or purposefully attacked anyone else because of this killing by a young, black male.
Perhaps if a legally armed citizen (neighborhood watch or not) had taken notice of this scum, ignored that fleeting feeling of “am I suspicious of him because he’s black?” and made themselves apparent to him, the story would have had a completely different ending.
A 17 year old kid has no concept of mortality, and those who are taught it’s ok to not show respect to authority, to react violently, to do whatever they feel in the name of protected race status are becoming more of a rule than an exception. Take a bus or train to downtown and see who it is who is yelling, acting stupidly, mouthing off, throwing trash on the ground, running in groups of 3 or more, nearly daring anyone to call them on their raucous, ridiculous behavior.
If I were to guess, I would say those who agree with this article are the same ones who cheered when O.J. (remember him?) was acquitted. Most of those probably knew in their hearts he was guilty, yet couldn’t stand the thought of a black hero going to jail just for killing some skanky white girl and her white boyfriend. Again, no riots in the streets from the white folk. They just shook their heads, somewhat afraid they would be attacked if they spoke their minds.
Admit to yourselves and others that this wanna-be gangsta punk made a stupid mistake like so many others like him. Unable to stop and say “yes, sir, my dad lives near here, thank you for keeping the neighborhood safe”, he showed no respect for an authority figure, became stupidly defensive, attacked Zimmerman physically, overpowered him and became a deadly threat, which cost him his life.
Teach your children love and respect. Teach them to ignore and to feel sorry for ignorant, bigoted, racist As**oles, and teach them to act right in public and private. Teach them that Trayvon had no right to physically assault anyone. Teach them they need to work hard to EARN respect from others.
Teach them.
P.S. If it’s any consolation, I voted for Obama, twice. I also carry a gun.
“”yes, sir, my dad lives near here, thank you for keeping the neighborhood safe”
That’s funny. That’s how some people think a black person should respond when a white person he doesn’t know confronts him and demands he account for his actions.
That is not what I would have said if Mr. Zimmerman had confronted me. But then, I’m white so he would not have assumed I am a criminal.
Incidentally, Hispanic is not a race, it is an ethnic origin.
Sorry, I missed a point in my last post.
MR. ZIMMERMAN IS NOT AN AUTHORITY FIGURE! He is just using his membership in a neighborhood watch to boost his ego. Membership in a neighborhood watch conveys no authority.
Why make it black and white? Again, had nothing to do with that. If he is some innocent kid like the baiters are trying to make him out to be, then he would have either ran or he would have asked what was going on and either way everything would have been avoided. He chose to attack and fight, which led to his death.
Zimmerman is not an authority figure, but that also has nothing to do with anything.
“That’s funny. That’s how some people think a black person should respond when a white person he doesn’t know confronts him and demands he account for his actions.”
I think that’s how ANY youth should be expected to respond to anyone older than them. If you, report, had been wearing a hoodie and looking in windows, MANY of us would have wondered if you might be a criminal, black or white. There’s actually no proof anywhere that trayvon hadn’t broken into houses there before. Often, it’s people from the same area who take advantage of their neighbors.
Wow! Now we are digging down to “There’s actually no proof anywhere that trayvon hadn’t broken into houses there before.”
Well, there is also no proof that YOU haven’t broken into houses before either.
The only evidence that Trayvon was looking into windows is a statement from the guy who was desperately trying to justify why he killed him. Hardly a reliable source.
Just jumped onto the CL website to see what’s been going on and to read the latest works from some of my favorite writers, like Erin Tracy-Blackwood and Ailen Arreaza. One thing I do NOT miss about working at CL is the incessant hatefulness of racist commenters who don’t even have the courage to use their own names — nor do they have any concept of what the word racism means.
Beautiful piece, Erin — as usual.