Posted on 03/23/2012 8:49:52 AM PDT by Beaten Valve
(SNIP)
Posing like a hip hop mogul when the holes in your pants are real is ultimately self-defeating.
But leave the subject of self-destructive pretense for another time, let’s talk hoodies.
His hoodie killed Trayvon Martin as surely as George Zimmerman did.
Remember when my friend and colleague the estimable Juan Williams got fired from NPR for saying that Muslims formally garbed freaked him out at airports? Juan is among America's sharpest commentators. He wasn't justifying his reaction, he was copping to it. Maybe shock therapy or a semester of sensitivity training could change it, otherwise It is what it is.
No one black, brown or white can honestly tell me that seeing a kid of color with a hood pulled over his head doesn’t generate a certain reaction, sometimes scorn, often menace.
When you see that kid coming your way, unless you specifically recognize him you are thinking ghetto or ghetto wannabe high-style or low-brow wise-ass. Pedestrians cross the street to avoid black or brown hoodie wearers coming their way.
Because this is a teachable moment let me speak plainly.
Whatever Reverends Sharpton and Jackson say in Florida Friday, after listening to the 911 tapes and hearing the witness’ testimonials, I believe Trayvon Martin would be alive today but for his hoodie.
(Excerpt) Read more at latino.foxnews.com ...
Yeah, I hate to agree with Geraldo, but I think what he is saying is: “if you dress like a thug, people might think you are a thug, even if you’re only trying to be “cool”.” Sad situation that.
I don’t think we are wrong in assuming that it would have been the right thing to do. Not too long ago there was a knock on our front door, and it was a police officer with my son and his friend. They were walking home from school and thought someone was following them. They called 911 and the police officer brought them home.
I thought that maybe Treyvon could have done the same thing. I wonder how much a culturally-motivated distrust of law enforcement prevented him from doing that.
Here comes his buddy Jose Baez to represent the family.
Geraldo-the-Whore makes streetwalkers look like nuns.
Thanks - I’ve lived in Florida too long - totally missed winter this year. The Gulf of Mexico didn’t cool off much either - a bad sign for summer Hurricanes.
On the ‘hoodie thing - isn’t part of it ‘how’ it’s worn? Men wear pants too - but usually not hanging down around the ankles. Hoodie - slouched over - ghetto shuffle... there is ‘a look’.
Trayvon would be alive if he had not jumped Zimmerman. Hoodies don’t have anything to do with it.
No matter what Zimmerman did, right or wrong, Trayvon had the option of NOT fighting with him. Choosing that option would have left the little (6’2”) moron alive.
Likewise, if Zimmerman had left Trayvon alone, he wouldn’t be facing bankruptcy from lawyer fees.
The morgue is short of customers!
I almost never wear the hood up unless its windy and I’m outside for a while. I usually wear my black (Non Raiders) baseball cap.
It was quite a feat to achieve this title, what with Jimmuh Catah and Maxine Waters in the running.
“No one black, brown or white can honestly tell me that seeing a kid of color with a hood pulled over his head doesn’t generate a certain reaction, sometimes scorn, often menace.
When you see that kid coming your way, unless you specifically recognize him you are thinking ghetto or ghetto wannabe high-style or low-brow wise-ass. Pedestrians cross the street to avoid black or brown hoodie wearers coming their way.”
Really? It’s such a common piece of clothing, honestly, the thought hadn’t occurred to me. Maybe it’s an east coast thing?
If somebody is wearing a hoodie when it’s 80 degrees outside, damn right I’m suspicious.
They are trying to blame Whitey for this, but as long as we are going to focus on race then we might notice that the guy is a “minority.”
I work at a high school and everyone wears them including the staff and teachers.
“I wonder how much a culturally-motivated distrust of law enforcement prevented him from doing that.”
True. I also wonder what sort of criminal behavior he might have been trying to hide and didn’t want questions asked?
My son was in DC last week. He observed Black “pan-handlers” (wearing hoodies, imagine that) that would by-pass well-dressed Black people and only approached White people. He and his (Black) friend observed this when sitting in a restaurant window seat. Then when they left, they left separately to test the observation and, indeed, they did not approach his friend but approached my son.
They were aggressive and threatening in their “request” for cash. Even demanded his debit card when my son said he didn’t have cash, and when refused the thugs began to holler all sorts of racial slurs, apparently trying intimidate my son into “giving” up his cash/card.
A “soft” robbery attempt, as I am sure the thugs saw my son a some sort of “rich” white-boy that goes to Georgetown and easily scared, when in fact, he is a rather young-looking Border Patrol Agent and not intimidated, and he verbally pushed back.
Thank you Geraldo. I wanted to say the same thing but didn’t want to be attacked for being an insensitive white person. Will Geraldo be called a racist now? Maybe, but less likely to face that public humiliation than a white man.
He is right. This guy put on his hoodie (people assume you do that to hide your face) and tried to lose the guy.
He should have worn a hoodie on his woodie.
(MEMO to Jerry Rivers)- you’re supposed to be taking the side of the HISPANIC in this dispute. Otherwise your continued status as a faux-Hispanic may be in jeopardy.
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