The Trayvon Martin Case

[melliedee]

Geraldo Rivera set off a firestorm Friday morning when, on “Fox & Friends,” he commented on the Trayvon Martin shooting, saying: “[i] am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly to not let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was.”

Geraldo Rivera: Wearing a hoodie while black is asking for it - latimes.com

[melliedee]

1. It’s unlikely but possible that you could get killed today. Or any day. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth. Black maleness is a potentially fatal condition. I tell you that not to scare you but because knowing that could save your life. There are people who will look at you and see a villain or a criminal or something fearsome. It’s possible they may act on their prejudice and insecurity. Being black could turn an ordinary situation into a life-or-death moment even if you’re doing nothing wrong.

2-8 at the link:

Trayvon Martin: Advice for Young Black Boys After Tragedy | TIME Ideas | TIME.com

[melliedee]

Gets into multiple viewpoints here, if you go on to the second page:

Who is George Zimmerman, and why did he shoot Trayvon Martin? - CSMonitor.com

[melliedee]

I've been putting links about this story in the presidential politics thread (and all candidates and the president have actually weighed in) but I thought I'd start its own thread because the story continues to grow.

I thought this article was interesting; read on to the second page for Zimmerman's father's thoughts about his son.

Who is George Zimmerman, and why did he shoot Trayvon Martin? - CSMonitor.com

The Republican creator of the "stand your ground" law has said that the shooter in this scenario would not be protected under self-defense. Geraldo Rivera blames the hoodie. What do you think?

[Jacko]

I think it needs a good and thorough grand jury, federal and state investigation. Vigilantism is seriously problematic.

[melliedee]

Newt Gingrich:

What the president said, in a sense, is disgraceful. It’s not a question of who that young man looked like. Any young American of any ethnic background should be safe, period. We should all be horrified no matter what the ethnic background.

Is the president suggesting that if it had been a white who had been shot, that would be OK because it didn’t look like him. That’s just nonsense dividing this country up. It is a tragedy this young man was shot. It would have been a tragedy if he had been Puerto Rican or Cuban or if he had been white or if he had been Asian American of if he’d been a Native American. At some point, we ought to talk about being Americans. When things go wrong to an American, it is sad for all Americans. Trying to turn it into a racial issue is fundamentally wrong. I really find it appalling.

Newt Gingrich: Obama's Trayvon Martin Statement 'Disgraceful'

This is beyond tone deaf, imo. The president responded as a father, and Trayvon Martin's parents have already thanked him for his words. No one is saying it would not be a tragedy if the victim were white.

[mrsr05]

newt gingrich frightens me.. i swear he is the anti christ

[Uno]

Originally Posted by melliedee

Newt Gingrich:




Newt Gingrich: Obama's Trayvon Martin Statement 'Disgraceful'

This is beyond tone deaf, imo. The president responded as a father, and Trayvon Martin's parents have already thanked him for his words. No one is saying it would not be a tragedy if the victim were white.

I read an article this morning about "the black male code" written by a prominent writer. Although I could understand where it came from, it rang of racism. Anytime a murder involving different races (that's what this was IMO. Murder) the race issue will arise.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...f77cbbbabce150

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by Uno

I read an article this morning about "the black male code" written by a prominent writer. Although I could understand where it came from, it rang of racism. Anytime a murder involving different races (that's what this was IMO. Murder) the race issue will arise.

The Associated Press: Trayvon Martin, my son, and the Black Male Code

Toure's piece in Time addressed similar issues:

1. It’s unlikely but possible that you could get killed today. Or any day. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth. Black maleness is a potentially fatal condition. I tell you that not to scare you but because knowing that could save your life. There are people who will look at you and see a villain or a criminal or something fearsome. It’s possible they may act on their prejudice and insecurity. Being black could turn an ordinary situation into a life-or-death moment even if you’re doing nothing wrong.

2. If you encounter such a situation, you need to play it cool. Keep your wits about you. Don’t worry about winning the situation. Your mission is to survive.


Read more: Trayvon Martin: Advice for Young Black Boys After Tragedy | TIME Ideas | TIME.com

[roni]

Friends on the faculty and staff and Southern Illinois University routinely taught their children Driving While Black survival skills.

[Uno]

Originally Posted by melliedee

Toure's piece in Time addressed similar issues:

I think it teaches racism in young people. "Be cautious because your black." That is no different than telling your kids "Don't go into that neighborhood because your white."

I don't think his color is why he was killed. I think any young man of any color wearing a hoodie that crossed paths with Zimmerman that night, and didn't "Succumb to his authority as "the self appointed watch captain" was going to get shot.

A simple case deranged law enforcement wannabe looking for a reason to play with his gun, plain and simple.

He needs to go to jail, the police chief needs to loose his job, and everybody needs to quit using it as a political platform. That's the sickest part of all.

Mr President? Really? If you had a son he would look like that? Like what sir? A boy in a hoodie? If I had a son he would look like that too. A boy in a hoodie. Or did you mean something else?

[Uno]

Originally Posted by roni

Friends on the faculty and staff and Southern Illinois University routinely taught their children Driving While Black survival skills.

I was taught similar skills to attend my high school and not get stabbed on the bus. But those lessons are politically incorrect to discuss.

[Mercy]

Originally Posted by Uno

I think it teaches racism in young people. "Be cautious because your black." That is no different than telling your kids "Don't go into that neighborhood because your white."

I don't think his color is why he was killed. I think any young man of any color wearing a hoodie that crossed paths with Zimmerman that night, and didn't "Succumb to his authority as "the self appointed watch captain" was going to get shot.

A simple case deranged law enforcement wannabe looking for a reason to play with his gun, plain and simple.

He needs to go to jail, the police chief needs to loose his job, and everybody needs to quit using it as a political platform. That's the sickest part of all.

Mr President? Really? If you had a son he would look like that? Like what sir? A boy in a hoodie? If I had a son he would look like that too. A boy in a hoodie. Or did you mean something else?

Agree.

Originally Posted by Uno

I was taught similar skills to attend my high school and not get stabbed on the bus. But those lessons are politically incorrect to discuss.

Agree.

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by Uno

I think it teaches racism in young people. "Be cautious because your black." That is no different than telling your kids "Don't go into that neighborhood because your white."

I don't think his color is why he was killed. I think any young man of any color wearing a hoodie that crossed paths with Zimmerman that night, and didn't "Succumb to his authority as "the self appointed watch captain" was going to get shot.

A simple case deranged law enforcement wannabe looking for a reason to play with his gun, plain and simple.

He needs to go to jail, the police chief needs to loose his job, and everybody needs to quit using it as a political platform. That's the sickest part of all.

Mr President? Really? If you had a son he would look like that? Like what sir? A boy in a hoodie? If I had a son he would look like that too. A boy in a hoodie. Or did you mean something else?

Perhaps that is all the President meant..that we could all have sons in a hoodie at night and this guy might have perpetrated his ignorant vigilantism in such a dangerous way. But....

Do you think young black men have to be taught racism to experience it far too frequently (and certainly differently than the average white young man)?

Do you think many folks fear a black boy in a hoodie at night more than a white boy in a hoodie?

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by Uno

I was taught similar skills to attend my high school and not get stabbed on the bus. But those lessons are politically incorrect to discuss.

Not here ...I am quite comfortable with you discussing those concerns,..impoverished, black communities still have serious problems to overcome....not the least of which has been the loss for too long of too many good, black male role models for their young folks who were growing up...