Trayvon Martin
There are multiple lessons to be learned from the Trayvon Martin – George Zimmerman trial.
- In spite of the Supreme Court’s decision on voting rights, it is clear that race continues to play a major role in American society
- If this crime had happened 20 or 30 years ago, there would not have been a trial. There wouldn’t have been an arrest. So, I guess this is progress.
- It is important for us to understand what truly happened in Sanford, Florida. If we sit back and look at the role that the police played, the role that our justice system played, it is clear that the life of Trayvon Martin was/is undervalued in our society. A young black man is dead. He was unarmed. He was minding his own business. Somehow, Trayvon Martin became the aggressor and George Zimmerman, the man with the gun, became the victim.
- Sanford, Florida has a population of around 50,000. Thirty percent of the population of Sanford is Black. How is it that there wasn’t one Black in the jury? Not one. There is a 20% Hispanic population. There was one Hispanic juror. There wasn’t a Black lawyer in the courtroom, nor a minority judge. What are the odds?
- I find it extremely curious that one of the most-watched trials in years concluded on a Saturday evening, when media scrutiny is probably at its lowest point in the week.
- For some reason, a lot of people thought, knew, that there was going to be not just a little violence, but a lot of violence in Black neighborhoods if George Zimmerman was found not guilty.
- I wish that I had something new or insightful to say about this trial and this verdict. I really don’t.
- I’m hopeful that the progressive movement can come together to elect truly progressive candidates who can change laws and make this a much fairer society.
I really don’t have much more to say.
Well said indeed
I am sickened by this verdict not only for Trayvon’s family but for this country. Conservatives cheering that a killer walks free and denying their racism while displaying it openly.
I think that it is interesting that conservatives talk about freedom yet can’t see that Trayvon was minding his own business. Simply walking home when he is confronted by someone with no authority to do anything.
Sigh…. The fact that you and the other media have cont’d to cover this local incident stuns me. Imagine the horror of the media when riots didnt break out. Race race race race RACE. I guess the only hope that America has to evolve is when our “bigoted” generation dies out. There’s still too much animosity ON BOTH SIDES to have a civil conversation. I don’t really know about the deceased and frankly it means nothing to me(Florida’s a different world), I’m saddened that a young American is dead, but where is all the outrage about the same race killings. You along with the rest of the media seem to turn a blind eye to body counts that if they were happening in aforeign land would bring about calls to end the action and bring our guys home. Progress… I’m rather flabbergasted that you would say “I guess this is progress”, imagine back 50 years ago, he’ll 25 years ago, think things haven’t changed? I mean the President is a black man, some of our biggest celebrities are black,black cuture, dress and music has made into all facets of our society and you guess this is progress? This was a local incident, this was not a jab at the black race as the media would have you believe. Aaahh me, I scream and scream that the divisiveness in this country will bring us down and people keep screaming to make it happen. SMH pearls…. Nothing but pearls.
I appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.
Ken –
First, thanks for your thoughts. I really appreciate it.
Secondly, I have never said that we haven’t made any progress. It is clear that we have made progress. Since you brought up Obama, let’s look at how Obama has been treated. Obama was clearly born in the US but for some reason there is a faction of the Republican party that swears he was born in Kenya or somewhere in Asia. Why? Senator John McCain was born in Panama and there is a real question on whether he would qualify to be president or not. Yet, that discussion and it should have been a discussion about rather or not he was eligible. We never had that discussion. Why? If you really want to bend your mind around some of the biggest differences between the Black and White community try to understand what happened to Reverend Jeremiah Wright. (I won’t even get into how he could be a Muslim and responsible for everything that Rev. Wright said.)
Look, are things better. Yep. Are they were they should be no.
We need to have this discussion. We need to talk to each other and not at each other.
Again, I appreciate your thoughts.
Ken Sawyer – Ken –
First, thanks for your thoughts. I really appreciate it.
Secondly, I have never said that we haven’t made any progress. It is clear that we have made progress. Since you brought up Obama, let’s look at how Obama has been treated. Obama was clearly born in the US but for some reason there is a faction of the Republican party that swears he was born in Kenya or somewhere in Asia. Why? Senator John McCain was born in Panama and there is a real question on whether he would qualify to be president or not. Yet, that discussion and it should have been a discussion about rather or not he was eligible. We never had that discussion. Why? If you really want to bend your mind around some of the biggest differences between the Black and White community try to understand what happened to Reverend Jeremiah Wright. (I won’t even get into how he could be a Muslim and responsible for everything that Rev. Wright said.)
Look, are things better. Yep. Are they were they should be no.
We need to have this discussion. We need to talk to each other and not at each other.
Again, I appreciate your thoughts.
Amazing.
Jeff stated – I think that it is
interesting that conservatives talk about freedom yet can’t see that Trayvon
was minding his own business. Simply walking home when he is confronted by
someone with no authority to do anything.
I wish there was something that was insightful that I could say but there isn’t. This is simply the truth. If we really and totally believe in freedom then you should be free to walk home from a store without being shot!