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Rodney King 2.0: Trayvon Martin Shows America Has Not Made Progress on Race
PolicyMic ^ | June 21, 2012 | Olivia Davis

Posted on 06/21/2012 8:18:24 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

“What people often forget in Rodney King's story is that it was not about race — it was about justice — just like the case of Trayvon Martin. Let's not miss another opportunity to progress.” So said Al Sharpton in a piece for BET.com.

Sadly, with the memories of Rodney King’s brutal beating by police and Trayvon Martin’s murder by a neighborhood watchman, it has been difficult to pinpoint what qualifies as progress. The horrific happenings indicated that America needed a wake up call or two.

First and foremost, the injustice that occurred should be a warning to all Americans that no one is safe. Regardless of how much we press for equal rights, as well as individual rights, there will be times when we will need to work out the kinks, and there will be times when we will mourn the causalities. However, the ultimate message is that no one should be safe from correction when they are wrong.

Problem: “Zimmerman Complex”

Simply, George Zimmerman is evil. The main tool which he used to violate Trayvon’s Martin’s personal freedoms was among the things upon which people really disagree: gun laws. Additionally, his “authority complex” also murdered Trayvon Martin; he believed that it was up to him to decide a punishment for a suspect, thus violating all premises of our American justice system.

As my mother would always express to me, “We will never be able to legislate an attitude.” With this reflection, looking at Trayvon Martin’s case is disheartening. Perhaps, even worse, the second message is the most difficult to swallow because it is one to the disproportionately oppressed, black people.

Take Off the Hoodie

Blacks have to cease giving the power to the majority and the satisfaction of keeping a minority down. The entire focus on race is pertinent, but to an extent, unnecessary. By automatically labeling negative instances as a product of racism, (even if the victimization was, in fact, prejudiced), we immediately put ourselves in a box. We put ourselves in a category titled, “subhuman.”

Certainly, racism has changed; the faces of racists have changed a bit; the number of racists have changed a lot. However, the victims of racism will always increase. Today, racism has been altered so much that it has taken the form of one of its infamous byproducts, minstrels—masked mockery.

I say take off the hoodie. This is not to be taken literally, but as a response to the marches done in memory of Trayvon Martin. Many across America, possibly some across the world, supported Trayvon Martin by wearing a hoodie or taking a picture with one. I am not arguing against this. I participated in his memory with deep sorrows for his family, friends, and country. I am bothered because of the reason why all us of wore hoodies. It is safe to say that our hearts wanted to convey, “I’m wearing a hoodie, are you going to shoot me too?” But there is something terribly wrong. We had intentions of mocking an alleged racist murderer, but did we accomplish anything by it? I understand that the hoodies were unifying pieces to a huge campaign against the injustice, but did we get a groundbreaking point across? Unfortunately, we did not completely.

Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative said in a TED talk that "[blacks’] identity is at risk" when referring to the overwhelming numbers of black inmates on death row. This is essentially the main cusp of what allows police brutality and backfires on racial justice. Our (America’s) job is to (constantly) re-level injustices against blacks (humanity)—to salvage our identity.

Trayvon’s Death Was One of America’s Many Moments to Shine

To allow Trayvon Martin, like Rodney King, to rest in peace, America needs to bring justice and judicial reform. Instead of focusing on race, Trayvon Martin’s case should be about making changes, such as the results from the injustice against Rodney King.

Rodney King changed Los Angeles; I think Trayvon Martin’s case has the potential bring about ways to mitigate the injustice in America. Our Constitution’s Preamble affirms, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice ...” America’s identity is at risk.

(VIDEO AT LINK)


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: banglist; blacks; georgezimmerman; racism; trayvon; trayvonmartin; zimmerman
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear
“Progress” = REPARATIONS

"Progress"? I've bought two houses, got married, four children and a BMW since Rodney King!

I would take the (REPARATIONS) free money and that would do wonders for my family, no Gucci or Prada!
21 posted on 06/21/2012 9:00:07 PM PDT by ForAmerica (Texas Conservative Christian Black Man!)
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Comment #22 Removed by Moderator

To: Boogieman

Misdirection!

Call the cops, try to leave, get nearly killed, THEN murder someone.
It’s the perfect crime!!


23 posted on 06/21/2012 9:01:14 PM PDT by TigerClaws (He)
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To: TigerClaws

It’s either that or food stamps.


24 posted on 06/21/2012 9:01:41 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (64% of Americans support amnesty and find the Wet DREAM Act "a big hit!" - New Bloomberg Poll)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

In Industrial and Labor Relations...I didn’t even know they HAD degrees in that !

What is she, a union thug-ette in training?


25 posted on 06/21/2012 9:02:17 PM PDT by Frank_2001
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To: Bryan24
Dear Olivia,

George Zimmerman is black. He may have had a white grandfather and a white grandmother, but so did Barack Obama. Is Hispanic ancestry so powerful that it obliterates his black ancestry? This is just black-on-black violence...

and Zimmerman is not evil, he was the victim of an unprovoked attack. If Martin had succeeded in killing him, as he was trying to do, you would have never heard of either of them.

Find some other case to get worked up over. In a country of over 300 million people, you will be able to find some examples of white-on-black violence.

26 posted on 06/21/2012 9:03:52 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: TigerClaws

Ah, I see now. Joining the Neighborhood Watch, mentoring black kids, protesting police brutality against a black guy, was all part of a clever set-up to build his “backstory” to throw off suspicion!

George Zimmerman isn’t just a racist, he’s a racist criminal genius! He probably committed all those burglaries himself just to give him an excuse to harass black people in his neighborhood!


27 posted on 06/21/2012 9:11:15 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I always wondered what happened to “Dee” from “What’s Happening?”


28 posted on 06/21/2012 9:18:55 PM PDT by massmike (The choice is clear in November: Romney or Caligula!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Racism will never end in America as long as racism remains a business such as it does for people like Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan , Jesse Jackson and this woman.


29 posted on 06/21/2012 9:20:01 PM PDT by jmacusa (Political correctness is cultural Marxism. I'm not a Marxist.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Olivia,

Darling, Geo Zimmerman is not evil.

Waco, Ruby Ridge, Fast and Furious, baby girl, that is Evil!


30 posted on 06/21/2012 9:26:26 PM PDT by urbanpovertylawcenter (where the law and poverty collide in an urban setting and sparks fly)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

As long as the Liberal Media live and rule we will always have blacks that think we “Whities” think of them as “Niggers”.

Once the people of the “Black” persuasion continue listening and believing they will forever continue to be mere “Niggers” and will never realize their full potential as a true American Citizens.


31 posted on 06/21/2012 9:36:17 PM PDT by jongaltsr
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

After they take off the hoodies, pull up their pants, quit slouching, start speaking clear understandable English, act polite and are considerate of all people regardless of race, and take responsibility for their own future and that of their family - then they will come into their own and can become human and not scum.

There are many that have made the transition and they have been accepted as good men (by most). We have some whites that see only the bad blacks and not the good wholesome, responsible upstanding American (black) citizens.

That will fade is more were to make the transitions from nigger to black citizen.


32 posted on 06/21/2012 9:45:37 PM PDT by jongaltsr
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To: massmike

Excellent reference! I’d say she looks more like Big Shirley though.


33 posted on 06/21/2012 9:55:48 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I call flaming BS. I detest this noise; it’s hateful and beyond all but the most vile and blatant racism ever practiced by the most prejudiced and biased of whites. Whites have made astronomical progress on race, more than any other nation in history, I would reckon. But they can never be given credit, because that would dilute the story. The payoff hasn’t been enough, given the forced vision of “equal outcomes”, because the other side cannot see the virtue of individual sovereignty and individual effort and motivation. The fact of the matter is that there is no white counterpart to the urban “ferals” as I call them in the so-called Black community. There can never be an accounting of the general lack of aspiration within the black community, because if it were ever faced, it would lead to the very biased outlook so many decry. This whole phenomenon is like a dog returning to eat its own vomit. They can have it.


34 posted on 06/21/2012 10:12:23 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder (A conservative, a liberal and a moderate walk into a bar. Bartender says "what'll it be, Mitt?")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Fat and pissed off.


35 posted on 06/21/2012 10:12:42 PM PDT by Clock King (Ellisworth Toohey was right: My head's gonna explode.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I think this bimbo should worry about a 73% illegitimacy rate and 25% prison/parole/probation rate if she wants to measure “progress’


36 posted on 06/21/2012 10:18:57 PM PDT by A_Former_Democrat (Free the Zimmermans. . . end this political, racist travesty of a "prosecution")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Dear Olivia:

Did you know that Rodney King had beaten an Asian storekeeper nearly to death before his own famous beatdown?

Did you know he was high on PCP - “Dusted” on “Angel Dust” - when the police tried to arrest him and this is why he was seemingly unstoppable and required all the force that was applied?

Do you think that O.J. Simpson is innocent of killing his estranged wife Nicole and a stranger named Ron Goldman?

Fat and stupid and racist is no way to go through life, Olivia.


37 posted on 06/21/2012 10:22:15 PM PDT by 43north (BHO: 50% black, 50% white, 100% RED)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I agree. Overcoming the hidden epidemic of black racism is proving to be a monumental task. At least the 0bama/Holder Tragedy Tour of the last 3 and 1/2 years has brought it out into the open for all to see.


38 posted on 06/21/2012 10:24:00 PM PDT by Trod Upon (Obama: Making the Carter malaise look good. Misery Index in 3...2...1)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

LOL!
You find the craziest stuff to post.


39 posted on 06/21/2012 10:24:42 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Trod Upon
Overcoming the hidden epidemic of black racism is proving to be a monumental task. At least the 0bama/Holder Tragedy Tour of the last 3 and 1/2 years has brought it out into the open for all to see.

You have noted the most pertinent lesson which we have learned from this "post-racial" president. Any whites who haven't had their eyes opened from the shenanigans this country is enduring right now may just be hopeless.
40 posted on 06/21/2012 11:33:49 PM PDT by mrsmel (One Who Can See)
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