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Trayvon’s Story Made Famous for the Wrong Reasons
Afro ^ | 5/16/12 | Jerome Hudson

Posted on 05/18/2012 8:05:57 AM PDT by YourAdHere

Trayvon Martin became a household name for all the wrong reasons.

Martin’s death created an international firestorm because George Zimmerman, the person at fault, was not immediately taken into custody by Sanford, Florida authorities.

What made things worse is that Martin is black, Zimmerman is part-Hispanic/part-white and the Sanford police chief is white.

It is a somber event that has unfortunately become an angry racial mess.

The level of pain Martin’s parents must be feeling is unimaginable. Parents should never have to bury their children — especially under such tragic circumstances. And to be thrust into the national spotlight over such a horrible event must make things even worse.

It’s a terrible truth that caskets are increasingly being filled with the bodies of America’s young. While the focus is on Trayvon Martin, little attention seems to be paid to the disproportionate number of other young blacks who are still being put in those caskets by black assailants.

Since Martin’s death, the homicidal headlines continue:

* Over St. Patrick’s Day weekend in Chicago, 49 people were shot and ten died — including 6-year-old Aliyah Shell.

* Gang-related tension at a North Miami funeral in mid-March led to violence in which 14 were shot and two killed. Among those wounded was a 5-year-old girl.

* Tonawanda Thompson was shot to death in her car in Richmond, Calif., in late April. Her unborn child died with her.

Our nation’s checkered past of slavery and racial discrimination causes lingering anxiety. But an apparent inability to embrace a post-racial mindset appears to render too many people ill-prepared to accept the epidemic of black-on-black murder. Trayvon Martin’s circumstances were more the exception than the norm.

And searching for a cause for skyrocketing black-on-black homicide rates is a topic too few people are willing to discuss — perhaps on purpose. With a disproportionate number of blacks killed by other blacks followed by relatively little outrage, those perpetrating the narrative of racial hatred lack moral authority.

But why not do just that? Why are too many people heeding the suggestion of a recent headline on websites such as NewsOne and the Huffington Post that read, “Stop Using Trayvon Martin’s Murder to Discuss Black-on-Black Crime.”

There is a culture of death in the black community that must be confronted. With the advent of the “stop snitching” era, things are worse because blacks are dying and the police can’t make arrests.

So why is Trayvon Martin’s death different?

Trayvon’s mother says “this is not about a black and white thing; this is about a right and wrong thing.” I could not agree more, but I fear she and I are in the minority.

On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” for example, co-host Mika Birzinsky asked: “What decade are we in?” She further suggested: “This has everything to do with race.” Agitators call Martin the new Emmett Till.

It’s not that Martin’s death doesn’t deserve attention. For his death to not be in vain, we must have that long overdue conversation about other deaths of black youth that are routinely played out across America.

I hold no brief for George Zimmerman. I am not indicting Sanford Police Department. My views on “stand your ground” laws are irrelevant. I mourn for the Martin family with a heavy heart.

I am also a son who learned about the horrible dangers of my own neighborhood from the middle school classmate who pointed a single-barreled shotgun at me.

Sadly, my story is not unique. But, unlike so many others, my life was spared.

Trayvon Martin’s death is still in the headlines. In the future, however, the parameters of the discussion must change.

And the leaders must lead. There’s something to be said about the fact that, since the election of the first black president, we still seem to lack the ability to have an intellectually honest discussion about race in America.

Maybe all of this is by design.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: clueless; georgezimmerman; trayvon; trayvonmartin; zimmerman
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1 posted on 05/18/2012 8:06:01 AM PDT by YourAdHere
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To: YourAdHere

Treyvon was a thug poking around where he had no business being. Treyvon was at fault; had he not attacked Zimmerman, he would not have been shot at that time. Had the parents of Treyvon paid more attention and instilled discipline and values, Treyvon would not have been where he was. As it is there is one less thug on the street. My soul weeps for George Zimmerman.


2 posted on 05/18/2012 8:13:15 AM PDT by Lion Den Dan
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To: YourAdHere
Let's get back to the school system that lets criminals like Tray off the hook despite traces of marijuana and stolen jewelry in his backpack.

Suspension is NOT the answer.

3 posted on 05/18/2012 8:13:49 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: YourAdHere

“What made things worse is that Martin is black, Zimmerman is part-Hispanic/part-white and the Sanford police chief is white.””


WOW a trifecta of race cards played in one sentence.

I guess it would be OK if this were a NORMAL, ABOVE AVERAGE, killing of a black by another black.

It must suck to get out of bed every morning and look at your skin color in the mirror and KNOW for certain not only might there be the occasional white or hispanic who might want to kill you, but a huge portion of those who look like you want to do you in.

I on the other hand, just look in the mirror and wonder how I go so old so fast and know for a fact there is nobody I can pass the blame to.


4 posted on 05/18/2012 8:13:56 AM PDT by Wurlitzer (Nothing says "ignorance" like Islam!)
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To: YourAdHere
Maybe,just maybe, poor Travons parents shoulda parented when they were spoda parent and their poor baby wouldent be 6 feet under.
5 posted on 05/18/2012 8:13:56 AM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: YourAdHere; ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas; stephenjohnbanker; DoughtyOne; Gilbo_3; NFHale; Impy; ...
RE :”It is a somber event that has unfortunately become an angry racial mess. The level of pain Martin’s parents must be feeling is unimaginable. Parents should never have to bury their children — especially under such tragic circumstances. And to be thrust into the national spotlight over such a horrible event must make things even worse.

Obviously Martin's parents want to believe that their child was an innocent victim, most parents do.

So in-come the race baiting con-men Sharpton and Jackson to once again stir up trouble, and Martin's parents see them as their last hope saviors.

But now they will see their dead son put on public trial as part of the defense, something they ironically demanded in charges against Zimmerman, and it's exactly what they don't want and will no doubt complain about.

6 posted on 05/18/2012 8:15:57 AM PDT by sickoflibs (Romney is a liberal. Just watch him closely try to screw us.)
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To: YourAdHere
because George Zimmerman, the person at fault, was not immediately taken into custody by Sanford, Florida authorities. What made things worse is that Martin is black, Zimmerman is part-Hispanic/part-white

Horse crap! Zimmerman was arrested and taken into custody, questioned along with witnesses, EMT's at the scene and released. Zimmerman is black as well as hispanic also.

7 posted on 05/18/2012 8:16:24 AM PDT by BerryDingle (I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
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To: Lion Den Dan
Treyvon was a thug poking around where he had no business being.

Just playing devil's advocate here but, doesn't his father (or father's girlfriend) live in the complex?

8 posted on 05/18/2012 8:18:32 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: YourAdHere
...George Zimmerman, the person at fault,...

LOL, this is comedy, right? The Afro Onion!

9 posted on 05/18/2012 8:19:31 AM PDT by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it and the law is what WE say it is.)
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To: Puppage
The little angel really belonged in school didn't he...

And I got the impression the kid was ducking between buildings or Zimmerman would not have lost him...

10 posted on 05/18/2012 8:22:43 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: YourAdHere

Two words: Bruised knuckles.


11 posted on 05/18/2012 8:23:24 AM PDT by GeorgeWashingtonsGhost
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To: YourAdHere
Zimmerman is part-Hispanic/part-white and the Sanford police chief is white.

I have a correction for the Sanford police chief. Zimmerman is part Hispanic, part white and part BLACK.

12 posted on 05/18/2012 8:23:31 AM PDT by Eva
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To: Puppage

One of them lived in the complex but it sure was not their back yard where Trayvon was skulking and got shot.


13 posted on 05/18/2012 8:24:26 AM PDT by Lion Den Dan
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To: t1b8zs

Maybe, just maybe, a stunning lack of real parenting is behind all of the black crime, period.
The kind of parenting that teaches there is a huge difference between right and wrong and in this family we do what’s right, always.
The kind of parenting that teaches that education has always been the path out of poverty, the world over. It has nothing to do with race and everything to do with wisdom.
The kind of parenting that teaches that sex was meant for marriage and not an afternoon’s recreation. Just say no, it never fails.
The kind of parenting that teaches that having daily chores makes one a part of a co-operative and caring family unit and no, it does not entitle one to an “allowance”. Besides, it teaches a genuine work ethic. This isn’t a black thing either. My daughter married a man who is in the process of working his way out of a lower class birth. His two daughters, ages 21 and 22 still believe the world owes them a living because they are “poor”. Dad is setting the example with hard work. One is learning, the other isn’t, yet.
One final thought, a government check is not s suitable replacement for a father of character and integrity.


14 posted on 05/18/2012 8:29:17 AM PDT by Wiser now (Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
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To: Lion Den Dan
One of them lived in the complex but it sure was not their back yard where Trayvon was skulking and got shot.

Fair enough.

15 posted on 05/18/2012 8:31:15 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: YourAdHere

“Parents should never have to bury their children”

They said the same thing about Hussein’s evil sons. Bull. It’s a happy day when any evil scum is buried, whether by the parents or not.


16 posted on 05/18/2012 8:33:03 AM PDT by chuck_the_tv_out
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To: YourAdHere

The race hustler is struggling to accept the truth about what the truth about what the welfare state has done to “his people.” All the facts are there right before him, but he can’t figure out what they mean because he’s still blinded by his rhetoric.


17 posted on 05/18/2012 8:33:52 AM PDT by henkster (Wanted: Politicians willing to say "No" to people. No experience required.)
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To: GeorgeWashingtonsGhost

“Two words: Bruised knuckles.”
**********************************
Two more words: Battered Zimmerman.


18 posted on 05/18/2012 8:43:31 AM PDT by House Atreides
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To: sickoflibs

“the race baiting con-men Sharpton and Jackson”

“Ren” Jackson, and “Stimpy” Sharpton.


19 posted on 05/18/2012 8:50:12 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: YourAdHere

Treyvon got his values from the cesspool of hip-hop and black radicalism, and the only crime that was committed that night was justified (in his mind, and in the mind of all radical blacks, including Obama and Holder). That crime was black on white. Even though it was nothing but mindless brutality, ignorance and hate, it was heroism to millions of blacks and other minorities who feel cheated by the white establishment. In the heat of the moment, trying to survive the attack, George had no way of knowing he was martyring a black hero, a symbol of what millions of black children want to be. And now George must become a symbol of what happens to people who resist the angry, brutal, mindless black man and his sense of justice. George took away Trayvon’s power, and by extension the power of all angry blacks. They are out to get that power back. ...Black on black crime doesn’t matter. It’s just a byproduct of the greater cause, the hate of white America. It’s leftist religion.


20 posted on 05/18/2012 9:09:49 AM PDT by pallis
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