The Curse of Being Black

This is in no way me saying that I don't love being a black man. Because I do. There's a sense of pride that we have, where no matter how badly someone may treat us, it won't break our spirit. I don't see that in many other races or nationalities. But before I go in on this Trayvon Martin case happening in Sanford Florida, let me make this disclaimer:

These are my views, influenced by my personal experiences with racist individuals, ignorant police officers, and the like. If you don't appreciate or can't understand where I'm coming from...try opening your eyes and see the disparity that exists between how races other than whites are treated here in America.

I won't into my whole back story as to what's happened to me in the past, I'll just give a cursory explanation. I've been profiled by police, pulled over for no other reason than being black in a nice vehicle. I've been pulled from my vehicle when asked what I was doing in a nice neighborhood (which was only about 3 blocks away from my house), I've had all my belongings pulled from my car and thrown on the side of the New Jersey Turnpike because I matched the description of someone of "interest". I've been called nigger to my face and behind my back...I've been called every kind of derogatory name you can think of for black people in the 28 years I've been alive. So now you understand where I'm coming from.

I'm not a political person...and in my opinion the issues facing Sanford Florida right now and by extension the entire country aren't of a political nature. This comes down to one thing (in my opinion), a white man feeling he has the RIGHT to demand information from a black man because he feels he is superior to him. Let's get that notion out of the way right now....whites are NOT superior to blacks...and by me saying that, I'm not saying that blacks are superior to whites. Why can't we all just BE? Why does there have to be a distinction as to who is superior and who is inferior?

In all seriousness....who appointed George Zimmerman as the Police, Judge, Jury, and Executioner in that neighborhood? He volunteered to be a neighborhood watchmen...which means he's not even supposed to be carrying a gun! Which means he's not supposed to approach anyone who may look "suspicious". He's supposed to call 911 if he sees a crime happening or about to happen. THAT'S IT! Did he listen to the 911 operator who said..."sir we don't need you to follow him"? No...he took the law into his own hands, pursued his "suspect" and ended up killing him.

Now...I'm not saying that Trayvon's girlfriend's statement is 100% accurate...because she's probably really shaken up by what's happened. But shouldn't she get the benefit of the doubt that what she's told authorities is the truth? I mean...if you listen to the 911 tapes....you can clearly hear someone in the background SCREAMING for their life....so if Trayvon had a headset in and was on the phone with his girlfriend...don't you think it makes sense that she could hear Zimmerman approaching and asking what Trayvon was doing "in this neighborhood"? Makes sense to me.

Zimmerman went vigilante and decided that because he'd never seen Trayvon before...he must be one of the "a***oles who always get away", that may have been the culprit of some break-ins that had happened in the past 8-12 months. Just because that's what he assumed...does that make it right? His actions, his words when speaking with the 911 operator and his direct disregard for the 911 operator's direction to "NOT" follow Trayvon lead me to believe that he had every intention of making sure that this "suspicious looking" guy wouldn't even have the opportunity to do something wrong. He sounded calm on the 911 call, but if he was scared of what this "suspicious guy" might do...why follow him? He wasn't scared...because he knew he had his 9mm pistol on him and was ready to use it....yet he says that he acted in self-defense....and according the "stand your ground" law in Florida...he's justified???

That law doesn't apply when you go after someone! That law is meant to protect those who may be sitting in their car and someone tries to carjack them...in that instance they're allowed to meet force with force and not face prosecution! Or if someone breaks into their home and they feel threatened...they can react with deadly force if need be. Those instances are nothing like this case....Trayvon was 17 years old, weight 140 pounds and was walking to his home...just because he had a hoodie on he's suspicious looking? Do you know how many people wear hoodies on a daily basis? Let's not forget that it was raining that night in Sanford...and the hoodie was the only protection Trayvon had from the rain.

It seems to me that when Zimmerman trailed Trayvon and began questioning what he was doing in "his neighborhood", and Trayvon didn't answer...or responded by asking why Zimmerman was following him....Mr. NRA decided to take matters into his own hands and chase Trayvon. A scuffle ensues and then you can hear Trayvon screaming, crying, begging for his life....then a gunshot and silence!

hoodie with the hood up? We'll probably never know the real reason as to why George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin in cold blood. We'll definitely never know if the crooked Sanford Police Department continues to be in charge of the investigation!

People like Glenn Beck and Geraldo Rivera are absolutely absurd and shouldn't even be given a platform to speak on. Beck said that Martin was probably a dangerous individual....and Rivera went so far as to say that Trayvon's wearing a hoodie is what got him killed and if he'd been dressed more appropriately...he probably wouldn't have been killed! I say those things are a bunch of crap! Because there are people who get shot and killed for mistaken identity by the police all the time. Think about Sean Bell...who got killed when he got into the car with his friends leaving a strip club in NY...were there any weapons found? NO! What about Amadou Diallo...he had a black wallet in his hand...and a cop yelled gun...and the shooting started.

Is a black life that invaluable that not only can police pull you over, arrest you, search your property illegally, or even shoot you if you make the slightest flinch....but now rent-a-cops can do so too? Not even just a black life.....a life in general...let's take the race out of this for a second...if this had been a Puerto Rican kid...shot by a black man....would it make it any less tragic? Not in my opinion! The race isn't the true issue to me....it's the feeling of self-entitlement that George Zimmerman felt he deserved to know who Trayvon was and what he was doing in the neighborhood.

However....we can't dismiss race altogether because of the times we live in and because things like this continue to happen. If the shoe were on the other foot and Jeremiah Jackson a middle aged black man had shot Eric Taylor...a young white boy who was dressed just like Trayvon....it saddens me to know without a doubt that Mr. Jackson wouldn't be at home with his family right now....he'd be in prison awaiting trial!

Things won't get better until precedents are set in the treatment of African Americans. We're not second class citizens...regardless of any stereotypes or bigotry or hatred that anyone may be raised with in their heart. We're in 2012 not 1952....and although we as a black people....no we as a society have made many improvements, by leaps and bounds....we STILL HAVE SO FAR TO GO!