3 Things Privileged Christians Can Learn from the Trayvon Martin Case (Here we go!)

Christianity Today ^ | July 13, 2013 | Ed Stetzer

[2ndDivisionVet]

Christena Cleveland Responds to the Zimmerman Trial.

Christena Cleveland is a social psychologist with a hopeful passion for overcoming cultural divisions in groups. Drawing from a vast body of research, she uncovers the underlying processes that affect relationships within and between groups and helps leaders understand how to promote an appreciation for diversity and build effective collaborations with diverse groups. She recently completed her first book Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep Us Apart.

Read other reactions to the George Zimmerman verdict: Bishop Gregory Brewer • Victor Montalvo

This is like déjà vu all over again.

With the acquittal of George Zimmerman, the response to the conclusion of the Trayvon Martin case is radically divided along racial lines. This seems to happen every time a nationally-publicized incident occurs between blacks and whites. It happened in 1991 when black parolee Rodney King was brutally beaten by white LAPD officers. It happened in 1999 when white NYPD officers fired 41 shots at African immigrant Amadou Diallo and killed him. And it happened in 2009 when white Cambridge, MA, police officer St. James Crowley arrested black Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., while Gates was breaking into his own home, just to name a few examples.

Based on my conversations with both blacks and whites, I've noticed a stark contrast in how the different groups tend to perceive these incidents. Blacks often perceive them as outrageously unjust, oppressive, critically important, and indicative of deep-rooted racial injustices in American society. On the other hand whites often perceive these incidents as relatively less important, as isolated events that aren't necessarily related to larger societal issues, and/or the result of blacks engaging in "race-baiting" or "playing the race card."(continued)

[A.A. Cunningham]

The real question is did Martin get buried with his burglary tools, dope and purple drank?

[boop]

Wow. I don’t remember what I said. Never had a post deleted before.

[Tax-chick]

Christena Cleveland is a social psychologist with a hopeful passion for overcoming cultural divisions in groups.

Oh, good gravy! I hope nobody ever pens such an idiotic description of me!

I'd rather see, "Tax-chick is a loud redneck breeder with a hopeless passion for cheap pink wine in really large boxes."

[GeronL]

lol. yep- thats a pantload.

[Tax-chick]

And that reminds me, I need to get the baby up and *changed*. ;-)

[GeronL]

lol

[AppyPappy]

200 black teens can die at the hands of other blacks and the black community just yawns. But let a perceived white guy kill one while defending himself and they wake up BUT only at the command of the media. The media creates the story to stampede the cattle, so to speak.

[HarleyD]

What a load. The majority of Christians today are not “privilege”. Rather they are poor, living in hiding or under poor conditions in third world countries. “Privilege” Christians support the work of Christ in the world today in these improvise countries. Albeit, wealthier Christians could give more but not to social causes when we have so many brethren in need.

[Sacajaweau]

I’ll bet Obama called the Martins. I’ll bet they’ll have a chance to stay at the Whitehouse.

[piusv]

I admit that I didn’t follow this case, but I’m going to guess that the verdict is more about Florida law than anything else. In the end, it’s not so much that Zimmerman is not guilty, but that the prosecution didn’t have a good enough case. I’m sure that jury had a very tough time.

[MHGinTN]

Oh, it's much more than just about Floriduh laws.

[Nifster]

I don’t remember either but I seemed to have liked it