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.
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ReplyDeleteI am happy to hear that this event has inspired you or rather has called you to become a better person. I look forward to hearing events your progress with your non-profit Everybody Has A Birthday (EHAB). Since you have taken the time to share your thoughts and reflections regarding the case I find myself needing to also.
ReplyDeleteI am not at all surprised by the verdict. As an aspiring law student studying the LSAT the defense had a stronger case period. Yet there is outrage about the turnout of the case. But I am not sure if the case rather more so brings to a forefront the institutions that have set up minorities to lose.
First: From the jump, since February 26,2012, the day of Trayvon's death the medical examiner failed to properly collect evidence from Trayvon's body. The evidence that could have been collected could have been crucial to better determining the events that took place or a more balanced and truthful account of what took place that night. Instead the police department of Sanford took a partial approach which I believe those actions alone in itself is a crime.
During the trial the judge allowed for evidence from Trayvon's drug test permissible which revealed that Trayvon had some marijuana in his system at the time of the incident. Granted that the judge in her competency made a decision that I don't argue but I argue why did the prosecutor not have an opportunity to possibly bring up Zimmerman's drug test. Well the sad reality is that Zimmerman never had to take a drug test that night. He never took one so therefore we will just assume that he didn't have drugs in system. What's wrong with that? How can one, a minority, compete with an institution that breaks the rules to protect "privileged people"?
Although I know the legal institution has its problems that need to be addressed but what is causing and greatest divisions and greatest injustices is the people who are running the system. If we can change or better integrate the people then and only then can we see a change, equal justice for all. As I have mentioned before, if you don't have a seat at the table then you're on the menu. We need to get some seats at the table to make the change we seek.
I understand and respect why the it was agreed on to not to make the case about race but as it relates to the drug testing incident as a prosecutor it was an extremely relevant aspect that I would of mentioned. I wouldn't mentioned anything regarding racism but my statement would surely reek of it.
Furthermore, the Rachel Jeantel situation. She has been receiving a lot of flack for how she presented herself during the trial and some feel she failed to be a voice for her friend. Well before we get over excited or too complacent on how we view Jeantel allow me to connect the dots between the individuals in the institution who failed to give Zimmerman a drug test are the same ones who fail to to give our communities good schools but rather high tech prisons. We need a seat at this table!!!! How can we compete, articulate clearly, present ourselves well when you set up an educational systems that fails to educate.
In the end we have to do better and become more sensitive to these injustices so that when we do see it we can do something about it. And when I say "do" I mean volunteer in your neighborhoods, write letters to your representatives when needed, go to city council meetings, educate yourselves, etc.
What you do is important and may save a life in one way or another.