By Shauntrice Martin
Crazed racist. Scared child. 911 calls. Helpless screams. Bullet Wound. Childless mother.
But you probably have other things to think about, right? Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be an article giving you some righteous guilt trip. None of us can claim to be perfect. My hope is that we re-energize our love for justice. Earlier this year, Trayvon Martin was murdered by George Zimmerman. By now, you may have already read/heard about his latest stunt—an interview on Fox News with Sean Hannity where he solidified my belief in his guilt.
He is a cold blooded murderer.
We all know good and well that Zimmerman does not pray for Trayvon’s family everyday. That coward might pray to get off, but he definitely isn’t praying for the family of the innocent child he shot. In the interview, he claimed that it was “all in God’s plan”. Say what? Georgey boy, why are you praying for the family if God ordained you to kill Trayvon? It just doesn’t make any sense. There is no logical correlation between reality and Zimmerman’s version of reality.
According to Filler (the defense lawyer) the interview was meant to “humanize” him. If you are in need of humanizing, then it stands to reason that you are inhumane. That sounds about right. Zimmerman is an inhumane, racist, murdering liar.
If you’re not convinced that Zimmerman cares NOTHING for Trayvon or his family, then maybe this will convince you. Zimmerman was going to do an interview with Barbara Walters. The network was all set to go until Zimmerman demanded a month long stay at a fancy hotel. Thankfully, the network cancelled in light of his ridiculous request. Zimmerman is worse than these reality stars desperate for camera time. At least no one died because of Snookie or NeNe.
My prayer to God is that Zimmerman is convicted and that all his appeals are denied. I hope the jury is full of Black mothers, teachers of Black children, and people who despise liars, murderers, and racists.
Trayvon Martin could have been talking to his girlfriend on the phone right now or playing with his little brother. He could have been getting yelled at by his mom for not doing the dishes. Trayvon Martin could have been writing a college essay.
However, because of one calculated killer, Trayvon Martin isn’t doing anything at all.
Shauntrice L. Martin is the director of the Justice Resource Center and long time youth advocate. Shauntrice has taught in Belize, Trinidad & Tobago, and the Dominican Republic. She is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and currently works with youth to sustain social justice movements in the District and beyond.
I just send thoughts out daily that the SPIRIT of this beloved child, walks and holds the heart of his mother each day. And as his father walks through his days, he can feel the touch of his son’s hand in his.
May the SPIRIT of Trayvon stay in all his family members hearts and give them all the strength they all need to get through their trying times… and ease their pain of their terrible loss… always!
Some may disagree with me but, as an African man who is 62 years old I feel my comment may have some validity. I have a elderly neighbor who has a 22 year old adopted son, and we talk frequently. It was he who brought the Trayvon Martin case to my attention. He asked me one day who I thought was responsible for the young brothers death. After thinking about it for a while I responded. “His father”.
As a father raised in the jungle of the inner city, by my stepfather who was a junkie. And as a neighbor to a youth who has no father. It is my responsibility to teach ALL black youth that I can, how to survive in this society. I felt that Trayvon’s father didn’t instruct him how to survive. My stepfather had his problems but, he gave me many antidotes, and discipline that have helped me avoid some of the obstacles to my existence.
I explained this to the young man next door and, as I described a possible scenario you could see the light bulb come on in his mind as he understood what I was saying.
I feel as African men we don’t spend enough time with our sons, instructing them on the realities of “Black Life”. What to do and, what not to do. We allow them to play games and B.S. and even encourage it, then when something like Trayvon happens we absolve ourselves of all culpability.
Yes! My stepfather had his problems. He would probably be what this society refers to as a sociopath but, he looked out after me. When I mess up he whipped my behind. When I messed up in school I was put on punishment and, when I became to big for whippings he dealt with me physically. But, I learned and, I am thankful to him for everything. NOTE: I have an MBA from nationally prestigious program (whatever that means) and have only been arrested once, as a juvenile.
So. Put some of the responsibility where it is due, on his father.
@Forrest, what on earth are you talkin bout,this young man was just walkin from the store, the end result he was murdered, what does that have to do with his up bringing
Peace and thank you for the responses.
JANICE: I try to do the same. I want to meditate more on what I have the pwoer to do.
FORREST: I can see your point. the elders have a responsibility to teach the youth. Although, I think 100% of the blame is shared by the murderer and the system, I do understand what you’re saying. I think we have to realize that some people think racism is no longer the large, massive, aggressive tumor it once was. they are wrong.
The life of a black person IS equal to all other lives!!!
To remember Trayvon Martin, is to remember our ancestors, our families, our future generations and ourselves! We are Trayvon Martin!!!
When a tragic racist situation that leads to death occurs – the real test is just change the perceived race of the perpetrator and the victim – if the result is the same then, it is not racism. But if one change of race results in the change of the situation, then it is racism. Example: If Zimmerman where Black and Trayvon were white – this controversy would not exist. Trayvon would have been arrested immediately, evidence collected, and justice sought vigorously.
Unfortunately I understand this phenomenon from personal experience. My 9-year old daughter is currently being denied life-saving medicine (neupogen, that is free to her) for a very rare blood and bone marrow disease, called Severe Chronic Neutropenia, by her father – a white German citizen living in Washington, DC. The medical experts say she will die without the medicine. Yet, since her father is a white German citizen and I her mother, am black American, there has been no protection or help for this innocent child. Yet, if he were the black father and I were the white mother, then he would be arrested for child endangerment, and even pre-meditated murder! I ask the Martin family in their grief and anger at the system to join hands with the King family in saving the life of 9-year old Ariana-Leilani (http://www.Ariana-Leilani.org). Let’s say together that we will sit by and allow racism to take the lives of our children without raising our voices and actions in the fight for their lives.
Yea. I know we forget about stuff like this after a while. I really and truly wish that was not the case, but obviously it is. Like, i wonder what we should be doing instead, but the honest to God truth is that we are all so so caught up trying to take care of our own lives that we barely have time to think. I am glad you have upsated people, and i really hope the family gets justice, but it is really a messed up situation.
Trayvon Martin’s father did not shoot him. Zimmerman did. As the months pass, Zimmerman, with the help of the white MSM has re-invented himself. What has been left out conversation is the fact that Zimmerman was taking prescription drugs with violet side effects:
http://newsone.com/2016433/george-zimmerman-drugs/
Zimmerman on Drugs With Violent Side Effects When He Killed Trayvon [VIDEO]
May 20, 2012
274
By Kirsten West Savali
While the mainstream media made sure to report with exclamations and gasps that marijuana was found in Trayvon Martin‘s system on the night that he was killed, many outlets failed to also report that the level was well below what medical studies show cause “performance impairment.” The same can not be said for George Zimmerman. According to the paramedic report, the vigilante neighborhood watch captain was on the prescription drug Temazepam, reports MSNBC.com.
RELATED: NewsOne’s Trayvon Martin Coverage
Temazepam, also known as Restoril, is known to cause insomnia and anxiety, reports MSNBC. But there are more important side effects that were not mentioned.
Newsone exclusively reports:
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the drug is also known to cause “aggressiveness” and “hallucinations,” among other problematic symptoms.
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From the U.S. Library of Medicine:
“You should know that some people who took medications for sleep got out of bed and drove their cars, prepared and ate food, had sex, made phone calls, or were involved in other activities while partially asleep. After they woke up, these people were usually unable to remember what they had done. Call your doctor right away if you find out that you have been driving or doing anything else while you were sleeping.
“You should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways while you are taking this medication. It is hard to tell if these changes are caused by temazepam or if they are caused by physical or mental illnesses that you already have or suddenly develop. Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: aggressiveness, strange or unusually outgoing behavior, hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist), feeling as if you are outside of your body, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, new or worsening depression, thinking about killing yourself, confusion, and any other changes in your usual thoughts, mood, or behavior. Be sure that your family knows which symptoms may be serious so that they can call the doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.”
Looking at some of the comments reminds me of something I’ll share here for you to draw your own meaning, parallels and conclusions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PxF2i0NmrI