I
figured I would share a few words about the findings in the Trayvon Martin
case. After the decision was made on this Trayvon Martin case and the result of
the verdict was that George Zimmerman was not guilty I must admit my first
emotion was just blank anger. I was just
upset that once again the system failed us. I was mad that once again it feels
like the work we have done to be considered the same have been all in vain. I
was furious that a young boy at the age of 17 could lose his life with no
consequence to the person who made the decision which ended this young boy’s
life. To think that the law in the State of Florida would legally support such
an act was disgusting to me. It was disgusting to the point where I felt like I
wanted to throw up. My sister and my cousin called to discuss findings of the
court and I couldn’t even hold a conversation with them because verbally
speaking about it was making me nauseous. I had to take some time for myself
and just really think about this for myself and reflect upon what was actually
occurring.
I
thought about the poor parents of that young boy who before this series of
unfortunate events had his whole life ahead of him. My heart broke for them
over and over again to the point where all I could do is pray and ask God to
give them comfort in this time. I also thought about the negative portrayal of
this young man in the media. They made
this young man out to be some type of aspiring street thug who may have done something to deserve the bullet which led to his fate. It is safe to say that I
was ashamed of the American Justice System and the different level of institutional
racism which is deeply rooted in the fabric of the country.
I
began to ask myself a question which I am sure millions of Americans were
asking themselves over and over and that question was…..why? Why would God let
this boy die and not allow him and his family the justice which he deserved?
Why is it that “we” always have to leave everything in God’s hands and other people
get away with murder literally and we can do nothing about it? Why is it that “we”
have to be the ones to turn the other cheek even though we’ve been slapped on
both cheeks so much we are starting to lose feeling on both sides? Why?
To
be honest with you I may never get the answer to that question of why certain
things happen the way that they do or why God allowed this to happen in such a
tragic fashion, but what I can say is that after thinking and talking to God
and talking to people a voice inside me said very clearly “What have you done?”
I think my life has been changed by those four words. “What have you done?” I
do not believe in chance and I do believe that in every situation that God is
showing a way to better ourselves and improve ourselves and our ways of
thinking and this situation is no different. What have you done to improve the
image of mankind and improve your community as a whole. What have we done to
strengthen our community and create unity so that neighbors are not preying on
neighbors? That’s the craziest part about this whole situation to me is that
they were neighbors. They stayed in the same neighborhood within the confines
of the same gates.
I’m
still trying to figure out how to deal with this whole situation in my head and
I’m wrestling with myself on what actions I should take personally to improve myself
which can in turn improve others. I just urge everyone to not let this situation
pass as if it was just another court case, but use it as a chance to be the
change that you wish to see.
