The Murder of Trayvon Martin

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by badgeguy

Isn't what you just said about "if Trayvon were white...." being racist also? There is no proof to that statement.

There's no proof out there, which is why no one thinks the feds will file civil rights charges. That said, a pretty strong inference could be made that there was racial profiling going on there. It's not as if racial profiling never happens. Anecdotally, I have black clients who are pulled over all of the time because they fit the description of someone the police are looking for--young/black/male.

On the other hand, I, a 30-something white guy have not been pulled over for any reason since something around 2002.

An NYC study on stop and frisk stops showed that despite the fact that blacks and latinos accounted for 4.7% of the city's population, those between 14 and 24 accounted for 41.6% of the stops.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/ny...nd-frisks.html

I can certainly sympathize with the sort of frustration that someone would experience by being treated with automatic hostility and suspicion from others.

This is maybe not the perfect set of facts to be out there protesting over, but it's a legitimate issue.

Zimmerman was a member of a neighborhood watch group, therefore it would stand to reason that all people who "seem suspicious" would be looked at by him, as well as other neighborhood watch people.

As I said, it's a bad set of facts to be mad about, but there are some legitimate grievances here.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Kevin

This is maybe not the perfect set of facts to be out there protesting over, but it's a legitimate issue.

As I said, it's a bad set of facts to be mad about, but there are some legitimate grievances here.

1. I respect Kevin's post on racial profiling but Kevin's post doesn't explain my post. If badgeguy wants to know about my post, he has to read about the profile of (most of) the burglars in Zimmerman's neighborhood and read this GC thread more thoroughly.

2. The word "mad" is misplaced. It has an irrational tone.

3. It is next to impossible to say "it's a bad set of facts" and "legitimate grievances" in the same sentence.

4. But, there is a God because if white people can tell Black people that it is a legitimate grievance, the ponies can officially piss rainbows. Tim Wise and other panelists were on Melissa Harris-Perry's show yesterday and today. The panel was awesome and Tim Wise is always superb. It is no doubt that many people take these discussions more seriously when Tim Wise is present. That is because he is well-informed, articulate, calm and poised, and a white man whose education and unemotional intellect are assumed. He isn't "mad" over a "bad set of facts." Tim Wise knows that his white male privilege is one more thing that leads the general audience (predominantly white liberals) to believe there's a "legitimate grievance" just because he says so.

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Even Without 'Stand Your Ground' George Zimmerman Acquittal was Likely

George Zimmerman: The Trial He Should Have Had

For the ACLU, George Zimmerman case is awkward déjà vu

[StealthMode]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Ugh...if I hear one more person in my family tell me that "n...a" is no longer a bad word but is a term for any male and is okay to say, I'm going to scream.

Please don't post when one more person says it because I may scream, too. Unless you just want screaming company then go ahead.

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

On NPR (yes I'm a nerd) they discussed how "thug" is the new dog-whistle for young black men or, the "new N-word."

I disagree because I haven't heard it used as such but it could be and I'm just missing out on those stories.

Originally Posted by DrPhil

4. But, there is a God because if white people can tell Black people that it is a legitimate grievance, the ponies can officially piss rainbows.

So many siggies, so little time...

BTW the protest was relatively peaceful and made the news on ABC and NBC. However, the majority of the news segment went to the protests in Houston--yes, plural. There was one against GZ and a counter protest happening at the same time. The helicopter camera showed two crowds walking on opposite sides of the same street. There's no "mind explode" emoticon for me to use right now.