the Zimmerman trial
I got into an argument with my brother about the Zimmerman case via email. I'm actually kinda impressed he read up on it at all, Sing's not really political. But man so energy draining to keep up arguing. I got super riled up over Facebook too because someone reposted a Wellesley alum's article on black boys and inter-POC-community solidarity and completely got the wrong message from it (started saying something about how the media's strategy backfired and how things would have turned out differently if Zimmerman were Asian... wtf?) So yeah, spent a good chunk of lunchtime arguing with them.
I don't know what it is about this that's making me so angry. I don't usually get into arguments over politics, but recently have done just that, several times in fact now. I guess that's a good thing in some ways, but man is it draining to be so riled up all the time. I've been upset since last week and it sucks, except art-wise.
Just for record's sake, I'm gonna repost a few articles (thanks to greenie_breizh for compiling some as well!):
George Zimmerman, not guilty: Blood on the leaves by Jelani Cobb: The added quotient of outrage in cases like this one stems not from the belief that a white murderer is somehow worse than a black one, but from the knowledge that race determines whether fear, history, and public sentiment offer that killer a usable alibi.
The Zimmerman Jury Told Young Black Men What We Already Knew by Cord Jefferson: It is a complicated thing to be young, black, and male in America. Not only are you well aware that many people are afraid of you-you can see them clutching their purses or stiffening in their subway seats when you sit across from them-you must also remain conscious of the fact that people expect you to be apologetic for their fear. It’s your job to be remorseful about the fact that your very nature makes them uncomfortable, like a pilot having to apologize to a fearful flyer for being in the sky. [...]
Trayvon Martin is dead-and so many young men like him are dead or in prison-because in America it was his responsibility to take it. It was his responsibility to let a stranger with a gun follow him at night in his own neighborhood and suspect him of wrongdoing. It was his responsibility to apologize for being a black kid who scared people. It was not George Zimmerman’s responsibility to let a boy get home to his family.
On The Killing Of Trayvon Martin By George Zimmerman by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Zimmerman verdict: A green light for racist vigilantes by Rich Benjamin: Since our juridical Establishment often turns its head - or even winks - at the prevalence of racial profiling and police brutality against black and brown people, why should anyone be surprised by Zimmerman’s chase? Or by his acquittal? Implicitly and explicitly, the law condones his racial paranoia. The so-called rationales used to design and peddle “Stand Your Ground” laws and “Stop and Frisk” laws, and immigrant policing laws, fuel a vigilante mentality allowing some Americans to feel entitled to self-police others.
No Innocence Left to Kill: Racism, Injustice and Explaining America to My Daughter by Tim Wise
Race Reversal: A Hypothetical Scenario Of What Would Happen If Trayvon Martin Were White And George Zimmerman Were Black, And Why Race Has Everything To Do With The Case
Articles by Wellesley alum:
I Cry For My Niggers
Three Black Boys With Candy
I don't know what it is about this that's making me so angry. I don't usually get into arguments over politics, but recently have done just that, several times in fact now. I guess that's a good thing in some ways, but man is it draining to be so riled up all the time. I've been upset since last week and it sucks, except art-wise.
Just for record's sake, I'm gonna repost a few articles (thanks to greenie_breizh for compiling some as well!):
George Zimmerman, not guilty: Blood on the leaves by Jelani Cobb: The added quotient of outrage in cases like this one stems not from the belief that a white murderer is somehow worse than a black one, but from the knowledge that race determines whether fear, history, and public sentiment offer that killer a usable alibi.
The Zimmerman Jury Told Young Black Men What We Already Knew by Cord Jefferson: It is a complicated thing to be young, black, and male in America. Not only are you well aware that many people are afraid of you-you can see them clutching their purses or stiffening in their subway seats when you sit across from them-you must also remain conscious of the fact that people expect you to be apologetic for their fear. It’s your job to be remorseful about the fact that your very nature makes them uncomfortable, like a pilot having to apologize to a fearful flyer for being in the sky. [...]
Trayvon Martin is dead-and so many young men like him are dead or in prison-because in America it was his responsibility to take it. It was his responsibility to let a stranger with a gun follow him at night in his own neighborhood and suspect him of wrongdoing. It was his responsibility to apologize for being a black kid who scared people. It was not George Zimmerman’s responsibility to let a boy get home to his family.
On The Killing Of Trayvon Martin By George Zimmerman by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Zimmerman verdict: A green light for racist vigilantes by Rich Benjamin: Since our juridical Establishment often turns its head - or even winks - at the prevalence of racial profiling and police brutality against black and brown people, why should anyone be surprised by Zimmerman’s chase? Or by his acquittal? Implicitly and explicitly, the law condones his racial paranoia. The so-called rationales used to design and peddle “Stand Your Ground” laws and “Stop and Frisk” laws, and immigrant policing laws, fuel a vigilante mentality allowing some Americans to feel entitled to self-police others.
No Innocence Left to Kill: Racism, Injustice and Explaining America to My Daughter by Tim Wise
Race Reversal: A Hypothetical Scenario Of What Would Happen If Trayvon Martin Were White And George Zimmerman Were Black, And Why Race Has Everything To Do With The Case
Articles by Wellesley alum:
I Cry For My Niggers
Three Black Boys With Candy