Trayvon Martin Protest – Sanford (Photo credit: werthmedia)
At first glance, that seems like a really pointless question. We know without a doubt that George Zimmerman pulled the trigger and shot Trayvon Martin. But the question isn’t about a trial verdict. It’s about racial profiling. Was Zimmerman profiling Martin? Of course he was. The question is why?
In spite of how white people are portrayed in the ratings starved media, and by race baiting politicians, I was never taught at any time in my childhood that I was to fear or hate black men. No white person I know in my circle of friends or acquaintances was ever taught this. I cannot name a single person who honestly believes, whether in public or private, that black people, simply by virtue of the color of their skin, are intellectually or morally inferior to whites. Yet, I have to admit, that when I see a black man in baggy pants, and hip hop chains, arrogantly swaggering through the parking lot, I hold my purse closer and quicken my steps to my car or store entrance. If I ask myself why this is, if I truly examine my feelings and ask my self is it only because he is black, I can honestly and without reservation answer no. Why? Because if I saw a white or hispanic kid dressed the same way and displaying the same attitude, I would react the same way because both would seem to be punks looking for trouble. If a saw a black man taking his toddler by the hand and walking across that same parking lot, or a wearing a suit standing on the sidewalk, or walking out of a church, I would have no fear of these men. When my black neighbor, who happens to be a successful business man, has a barbecue in his back yard, I don’t give the black people coming to and from his house a second look, because none of these people look or act threatening in any way. Did I profile these people? Of course I did. Whether we want to admit it or not, all of us, regardless of our race, profile. We all observe the people around us and determine whether or not they are a threat to our safety. George Zimmerman was profiling when he, based on the fact that several crimes in the area had been committed by young black men, felt Trayvon, someone he didn’t recognize as living in the area, was suspicious. Trayvon was profiling when he was suspicious of a “creepy ass cracker” following him. In both cases, both men viewing each other as suspicious, was a reasonable reaction.
Why are young black males so often perceived as a threat? It’s the elephant in the room that nobody wants to name or talk about. It’s the culture of violence so many of them choose to live in. Every Rapper who has ever sung the praises of killing cops, beating women, and stealing from “whitey”, shares the responsibility for Trayvon’s death. Every young black man who thinks raping a woman is “just having a little fun”, and killing someone for his expensive clothes isn’t wrong, it’s evening the score, shares the guilt. Every gang-banger who has ever participated in a drive by shooting, or armed robbery has Trayvon’s blood on his hands. For it wasn’t the color of their skin, it was the words and actions of these people who caused George Zimmerman to view a young black man, his head covered with a hoodie, who was doing nothing wrong and had every right to be there, with suspicion.
We are longing to welcome young black men into society. They are free to become, whatever they dream to be. There are black businessmen, lawyers, and teachers. There are black astronauts, scientists, and neurosurgeons. We have a black President. But are these men, who became successful because they valued education, and hard work, the role models for many young black men? No, they are seen as sellouts and “Uncle Toms”. Instead, many young black men look to gang leaders and drug dealers, people who attain their wealth from committing crimes, as their source of inspiration. This is a truth that the black community has to come to terms with. If they want to protect their sons from being perceived as dangerous, they can no longer ignore it. And no amount of governmental aid, political correctness or white guilt will change it. It is a cultural shift, the black community must achieve for itself. The black community needs to listen to the white perspective without the filter of perceived racism, just as much as the white community needs to listen to them.
In this light, I am proud of the reaction of the Sanford community. Their anger and disappointment at the verdict is understandable, their restraint commendable. The grace and dignity of Trayvon’s parents is an example for us all. Let the healing begin.
Related articles
- Did Zimmerman Profile Martin – or the Other Way Around? (conservativeread.com)
- It’s Not Just About Trayvon (blogher.com)
Observations and Opinions of a Middle Aged Housewife 
You will actually find very few, if any, successful Black males outside of the entertainment industry and/or Blacktivist industry. Simple put, those men of negro descent who are successful aren’t “Black” anymore, if they ever were so in the first place.
This is quite fine because Americans’ goal should be the total, complete, and utter eradication of the “Blacks.” After centuries they need to be either removed from our society through either expulsion, containment, extermination, or….THE RIGHT WAY…getting them to finally, willingly or not, immigrate to America in a meaningful way.
LikeLike
I am afraid I’m going to have to disagree that there are very few successful black males. In my own neighborhood, there is a very successful black businessman, and a black professor. I truly believe there are a lot more Dr. Ben Carsons, Alan Wests, and Herman Cains, out there, we just never hear about them because it doesn’t fit the progressive agenda. The one thing one thing that sets most successful blacks apart, is not their abandonment of their “blackness”, but an intact family unit. Strong families used to be the moral foundation of the black community. They’re what taught young black men the self-reliance and personal responsibility that gave them the courage and determination to fight against the tyranny of slavery and the injustice of Jim Crow. The black family was deliberately destroyed by politicians and replaced with welfare programs, not in the name of eradicating poverty, but to buy votes. Now we have an entire generation of black males left purposeless by the Progressive movement. Men who have been taught by our own government, that successful blacks are traitors who are going to take their entitlements away. The only way blacks can “meaningfully immigrate” as you put it, into society, is for them to realize that they have been used and exploited by politicians and race baiters for their own power and recognition. We must support those in the black community who are trying to expose this, and the black family must be restored.
LikeLike
Actually, what I believe you disagree again with me upon is nature of “Blackness” and the scope of what makes up that culture’s problems.
I cannot believe, however, that you disagree with the statement that successful Blacks are rarely stilled considered “Black” by their more normative and unsuccessful brethren.
LikeLike
Actually I do agree with that part of your comment. Regarding successful black men as sell outs or “Uncle Toms” is a huge impediment to the black community’s ability to move forward. I still stand by my statement that the backward attitudes among blacks stem from the Government’s turning them into a dependent class to exploit votes from them. I think what we really disagree on is our faith in the black community to rise above their situation and “meaningfully immigrate”as you say. (I think that is a really insightful phrase). I believe they can (or at least many of them can). But the change has to come from within the black community itself. Race-baiting hucksters, like Al Sharpton, more government handouts, and fomenting white guilt are not the answer.
LikeLike
I think our disagreement on the future of the “Black Community” is based more upon your seeing it as the Blacks and my seeing it as a deliberately foreign and enemy culture within America’s borders.
While I have some hope and faith that people of African tribal descent ca rise above their situation and “meaningfully immigrate” to America, I cannot see where the “Black Community” can do so because every Black who immigrates to America leaves that culture behind, often through being exiled by it.
This is not a bad thing. I looked forward to the extinction of the “Black Community” in favor of Americans of differing genetic background.
LikeLike
That culture may indeed be hostile to our American way of life, but it is not foreign. Unlike some other nationalities who have purposefully immigrated here to share in the “American dream” then demanded concessions to their culture, the decedents of today’s blacks did not willingly immigrate here. The violent culture among today’s black males is home grown. It’s the direct result of the Liberal Progressive agenda to create a dependent class that they could exploit for votes and power.
LikeLike
Since they rant about Two Americas, Black and White, and deliberately act both differently and antithetically to normative American culture, and because they have always been segregrated, I consider them foreigners for these purposes.
LikeLike