I just learned of the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial, and had been certain, given all I'd seen of it, and the intense discussions concerining it, that there would be at least a manslaughter decision, seeing that the murder 2 bar was set very high given the lack of evidence...
That he was acquitted left me speechless for two hours. Literally. I hadn't written about the case before now, because I thought it would be a slam dunk for the prosecution.
The verdict only proves that there is no justice for african-americans in 'Murka, and that the stand your ground laws only invite disaster.
It's disgraceful. But there's a lot of that going around these days, and not only in 'Murka.
One of the interesting things about msnbc is that they have really increased their hosts with racially diverse backgrounds, and from them I get to hear points of views that I normally wouldn't not having contact personally, and that enriches the discussions people have.
Like the incredibly handsome and intelligent Touré on The Cycle, who can sound off about what it is like to be a young black man who just by nature of the color of his skin is perceived as threatening , and he gets very vocal about how frustrating it is, or how he and his peers have to behave in ways that do not get them into life-threatening situations.
B ut it was the women who really drove home the results of what that verdict meant to the african-amercan community... what to say to their children. Melissa Harris Perry put it best... she said they have two choices... live in a predominantly black community where young people can die on the street, usually killed by other young blacks.. or live in a gated community, and even there... like Trayvon Martin, they can go out to the local store for a snack, and end up being profiled and killed without having been up to any sort of mischief. And her frustration was so palpable... ending with... there's no place you can go where your children will be safe.
That is a really damaging conclusion to have to come to. But didn't surprise me. The right will make George Zimmerman a He-ro... but Trayvon Martin is still dead and the justice system in the US failed their minorities.
Disgrazia! Disgraceful.
That he was acquitted left me speechless for two hours. Literally. I hadn't written about the case before now, because I thought it would be a slam dunk for the prosecution.
The verdict only proves that there is no justice for african-americans in 'Murka, and that the stand your ground laws only invite disaster.
It's disgraceful. But there's a lot of that going around these days, and not only in 'Murka.
One of the interesting things about msnbc is that they have really increased their hosts with racially diverse backgrounds, and from them I get to hear points of views that I normally wouldn't not having contact personally, and that enriches the discussions people have.
Like the incredibly handsome and intelligent Touré on The Cycle, who can sound off about what it is like to be a young black man who just by nature of the color of his skin is perceived as threatening , and he gets very vocal about how frustrating it is, or how he and his peers have to behave in ways that do not get them into life-threatening situations.
B ut it was the women who really drove home the results of what that verdict meant to the african-amercan community... what to say to their children. Melissa Harris Perry put it best... she said they have two choices... live in a predominantly black community where young people can die on the street, usually killed by other young blacks.. or live in a gated community, and even there... like Trayvon Martin, they can go out to the local store for a snack, and end up being profiled and killed without having been up to any sort of mischief. And her frustration was so palpable... ending with... there's no place you can go where your children will be safe.
That is a really damaging conclusion to have to come to. But didn't surprise me. The right will make George Zimmerman a He-ro... but Trayvon Martin is still dead and the justice system in the US failed their minorities.
Disgrazia! Disgraceful.
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