Rodney King 2.0: Trayvon Martin Shows America Has Not Made Progress on Race

PolicyMic ^ | June 21, 2012 | Olivia Davis

[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)

[Talisker]

Simply, George Zimmerman is evil. ... As my mother would always express to me, “We will never be able to legislate an attitude.”

So since you can't legislate the attitude that George Zimmerman is evil, you decided to try to create that attitude as a meme, eh, Olivia?

Not to mention convicting George Zimmerman without a trial by calling him a murderer.

So let's see, race-baiting to Nazi levels of labelling a man evil without a trial, in order to whip up millions of people into a murderous rage themselves, and personally endanger his life and the lives of his family members.

You're just a sweetheart, Olivia.

[Crucial]

You’re right. America has not made progress on race because too many African Americans have not made progress on becoming self-sufficient and learning personal responsibility.

[RWB Patriot]

Hmm, one day, people like the author will learn that the more they whine and complain and demand, the more people will realize that they’re just full of hot air.

And yes, unfortunately they can still get their demands because the government has their back...but what happens when the government is no longer there?

[lentulusgracchus]

(Article) Additionally, his “authority complex” also murdered Trayvon Martin; he believed that it was up to him to decide a punishment for a suspect....

Excuse me? Trayvon's last words to George Zimmerman, when Trayvon saw Zimmerman had a pistol (legally carried) in his belt and promptly reached for it, were "You gonna die tonight, m***********" and, oops, "You got me."

What part of that profession of retributive competence does NOT answer to the motive you ascribe to George Zimmerman instead, honey?

Oh, and Zimmerman had a permit for his piece. You planning to get one for that hair?

Note to poster: Barf alert, please. It's certainly called for.

[lentulusgracchus]

You're just a sweetheart, Olivia.

Ain't she just a peach? Oh, and she's more righteous than you, too. She can tell by looking at your skin.

[PapaBear3625]

If there is one word that I am frankly sick of hearing...it is the word “progress”.

To a progressive, "progress" means progress towards socialism. To the author, "progress" means movement towards a situation where the underclass is free to beat up white folk with impunity, and white folk are afraid if displeasing their new masters.

[bmwcyle]

Guilty

[lentulusgracchus]

It’s an opportunity for the race hustlers who feared a white country elected a black president would put them all out of business. This is a “we still need black studies affirmative action race card can still be played” moment to exploit.

David Ehrenstein, the black gay Jewish Velvet Underground historian out in L.A. who coined the nick "Magic Negro" for Obama in an early 2007 article in the Los Angeles Times, was making exactly that point. "Magic Negro" meant that Obama's "immaculation" would tend to reduce the store of playable white guilt -- which of course was undesirable from the POV of a black Jewish "Gay PC Terrorist", which was Ehrenstein's own tagline on Salon's "TableTalk" 12 years ago.

[PapaBear3625]

And if they get what they want.......it will NEVER be enough. Never. Just like a bottomless pit.

In a negotiation, if giving everything you are willing to give does not accomplish anything useful, it makes more sense to give nothing at all.

[lentulusgracchus]

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!

What I want to know is, how did this guy -- he must be scary smart! -- manage to set himself up with a mixed-race Peruvian background?! Now that was pure genius, just breathtaking!

(In Peru, GZ wouldn't even be called white; he would be called jibaro or something close to it, meaning a partly-Indian person with "about" or "nearly" half European ancestry and some aliquot of African ancestry.)

[PapaBear3625]

In Industrial and Labor Relations...I didn’t even know they HAD degrees in that ! What is she, a union thug-ette in training?

That's EXACTLY what she's majoring in. I&LR = training to be a union organizer/official.

[The Working Man]

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.

---

This article was mostly a waste of time as far as I am concerned. The above quote though sealed it for me. I wasn’t there, She wasn’t there. But she has already tried Zimmerman and found him guilty.

And as far as I can see in the article BLACK is good white is EVIL. So racism is alive and doing quite well here in America.

[patriot08]

b>While the Zimmerman/Martin ‘white’ on black killing is covered 24/7 on the MSM with an outpouring of rage and charges of a racial hate crime, where is the concern- where is the rage about the home invasion, torture, beating, rape and murder of the elderly white couple by a gang of feral blacks in Oklahoma just a few months ago?

The 90 year old war veteran husband was beaten and his jaw broken. He was shot in the face numerous times with a BB gun and sent to the hospital in critical condition.

The 85 year old partially blind wife was RAPED and then BEATEN TO DEATH.

Can you just imagine the pain, the humiliation, the horror that dear old lady experienced being gang raped by that pack of feral animals?

(the autopsy states she was raped. Don’t think all of these animals didn’t all participate)

And can you imagine the pain, the horror of that dear old husband having to witness this?

Mr. Strait died from his injuries a few weeks ago.

There’s a lot more involved here than a home invasion and robbery.

WHERE ARE THE CHARGES OF A RACIAL HATE CRIME??

90 year old husband’s jaw broken and shot in face with a BB gun numerous times?

85 wife year old semi blind wife RAPED and BEATEN to death??

Why does it take a foreign press to enlighten America as to this henious crime?

WHERE IS THE NATIONAL OUTRAGE?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2117695/Brutal-home-invasion-Oklahoma-couple-ends-65-year-romance-meeting-blind-date.html

__________________________

Have they caught the rest of the gang of feral blacks who raped, tortured and murdered this elderly woman? Are they even looking? Not a word about it in the media.

[Altura Ct.]

“What people often forget in Rodney King’s story is that it was not about race — it was about justice —

Hahahahahahahahahaha BS!

[Uncle Chip]

Dear Olivia:

Please watch the following before lecturing anyone about racial justice:

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Audience-Members-React-to-the-OJ-Simpson-Verdict-Video

[iopscusa]

Part of the glorious 75%’ers, IQ=75.

[dennisw]

The usual robotic jive from the race hustlers. Fact is black on white crime is off the charts. Black men rape white women at a much higher rate (100 to 1???)than whites raping black women. Just as one example of which way inter-racial crime really goes

[School of Rational Thought]

Blacks simply don’t want to give up their power and privilege and be treated equally.

[Vaduz]

The author has freeride and above the law complex.