Black Folks, It's time to STOP Taking Care of White People. [View all]

[HoosierRadical]

We are, most of us, grieving Trayvon Martin's death, again, after this absurd jury verdict. Last night, I watched Anderson Cooper's 'Town Hall on Race and Justice in America'. These discussions are interesting. There are, usually, a few thoughts that are heartfelt and impressionable. Charles Blow has been, particularly, moving.

A few days before, I told a friend that these discussions about 'race' keep black people situated in a 'victim' narrative. Stories of how we have to talk to our children to protect themselves when in public. Stories from high achieving black men about how they were stopped by the police, where they were taught how to place their hands on the steering wheel or to cross the street when walking on a street with a white woman. I scratched my head and thought, "we can talk about this until the cows come home. When are we going to have a 'town hall on racism' where white people discuss how they will speak to their children to make sure another George Zimmerman does not walk among us?"

When are we going to have a 'town hall on racism' that addresses how a jury of women, predominantly white women (and mothers!), don't identify with a black child? I need to know how that happened. I need to understand that. And I want white people to explain it to me. Before someone starts railing about the laws, understand that I
read the law. I watched the trial EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY, beginning with jury selection, all of it. I decided I would bear witness for Trayvon no matter how I had to restructure my day. And I did it while reading the law.

The jurors had a CHOICE. They CHOSE to believe zimmerman. There was ample evidence that he lied. They could have discounted his statements. And, for those who want to blame the prosecution, again, I watched the trial. The prosecution proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, that zimmerman did not fear for his life. The only evidence that zimmerman feared for his life were his words. The medical testimony proved that his life was not in danger. Along with the fact that neighbors were watching and the police were on their way. The jury chose to believe zimmerman.

For complete article; http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/black-folks-its-time-to-stop-taking-care-of-white-people