If Trayvon Martin had been white, and George Zimmerman were black

[Cali_Democrat]

By Laurence LewisFollow for Daily Kos
Sun Apr 01, 2012 at 05:00 PM PDT

If you don't understand how deeply and viciously racist has been the official and right-wing reaction to the murder of Trayvon Martin, all you have to do is consider what would have been the official and right-wing reaction had the races of Martin and his killer been reversed.

Imagine a lanky white teenager was walking in a strange neighborhood at night. He's a good kid—according to one of his teachers "an A and B student who majored in cheerfulness"—although he's not above making the foolish teenaged mistake of getting caught with an empty baggie with marijuana residue inside it. But he has no criminal record. The worst anyone can say about him is that he smokes some pot, which puts him in the company of nearly half of all American high school students, something more than half of all American adults would legalize. But he's a good student and has no criminal record. In other words, he's a pretty typical teenager. A good kid.

<...>

Now suppose we find out that the teen's killer had a history of race-based paranoia. Suppose we find out that the teen's killer's neighbors had complained of his aggressive behavior. Suppose we find out that the teen's killer had once been arrested for "resisting arrest with violence and battery on an officer." Suppose we find out that the teen's killer that night had ignored a police dispatcher who had told him to stop following the teen. And suppose that after all that, the much larger black man who had stepped out of an SUV, pulled up a hoodie, and started following the white teen had ended up shooting the white teen dead. What would have been the official response? What would have been the right-wing reaction?

<...>

If Trayvon Martin had been white and George Zimmerman black, this would not have become a national story. If they had reported it at all, the right-wing media would have praised Martin for trying to stand his ground before a dangerous violent thug. It defies credulity to think they would be dismissing the killer's behavior, making despicable excuses such as blaming the kid's clothing, or if— unthinkable in this reversing-the-races scenario—there had been no criminal charges filed against the killer, dismissing the story altogether. The questions here don't even need answers. The questions answer themselves.

Read the whole piece: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/01/1078914/-If-Trayvon-Martin-had-been-white-and-George-Zimmerman-were-black

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. If the persons were reversed, and the murdered boy had been white, and the murderer black...

the murderer would have been arrested, Stand law or no Stand law.

[CAPHAVOC]

3. What if he was Black and he was not White and not Black?

And he hit he with a rock?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

4. I think if both were the same color, we'd not be having this situation.

What's your opinion?

[CAPHAVOC]

5. In my opinion

The Obama Presidency now depends on Sharpton being right this time. I would not hang my hat on that one.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. The Obama Presidency now depends on Sharpton being right?

Wuh?

[CAPHAVOC]

8. And the price of Gas.

[Cali_Democrat]

10. How does the Obama Presidency now depend on Sharpton being "right"?

?

[CAPHAVOC]

11. If Sharpton is wrong.

The GOP will take it to the bank. Obama has spent 3 years downplaying Race as an issue. Being the President of all the people. White, Black, and all of us. He is engaged in this now. Holder had better come up with something. Non-activists are watching. Most voters have been to Jury Duty.

[tularetom]

9. Aren't you being a bit dramatic?

The Obama presidency hasn't got jack shit to do with whether Sharpton is right or wrong on this or any other issue. If people have jobs in November and the recovery continues to the point where voters are optimistic about the future, what Sharpton says won't make any difference, Obama will win in a landslide. If the economy goes into the crapper, nothing Sharpton says will save the president.

This is a terrible tragedy but it ain't gonna affect any presidential elections. And BTW, I'm pretty sure Sharpton is right, especially since all he's asking is for a killer to be tried before a jury of his peers.

[CAPHAVOC]

13. It will if he is wrong.

The GOP is playing their cards close to the vest. They are in a no lose position. Sharpton is all in. And so is Obama. Obama is not the cause of the economy being in the Crapper. Everybody knows that. They are just wondering who can make it better. This is a fiasco that the people are interested in. Like Casey Anthony. If Sharpton is right no problemo. If he is wrong. Big problemo.

[Horse with no Name]

16. I asked in another post

you claim to do work for "The Innocence Movement"...do you know what the rate of incarceration of young black males is to their white male counterparts?

[indepat]

2. Your indictment of the virulently despicable racism inherent to these circumstances is

chilling.

[tularetom]

6. Here's another scenario for ya

Imagine that everything was almost exactly as it was - Trayvon a young black man and Zimmerman a white guy with racial issues. Only imagine that Trayvon was 21 years old and armed. As he would have a right to be under Florida law. Zimmerman stalks him and initiates some sort of confrontation, Trayvon feels threatened, and shoots Zimmerman dead. Under the Stand Your Ground law, Trayvon would have to be released.

What do you think would have happened then?

I'll tell you what I think. Trayvon would have been sitting his ass in jail. I'm pretty sure the Stand Your Ground law applies only to caucasians.

[SuisseBleu]

15. Imagine that ...

The only racism here seems to be the media making most of the ignorant public believe that this case has anything to do with racism. Why is he referred to as a White-Hispanic? Why is Barack not referred to as the first White-Black President by the same media. Both are just as relevant descriptors.

Unfortunately, Zimmerman has already been convicted and has for this case become "white". He probably never really thought of himself as "white" before this incident.

I agree with others here that have noticed the right being suspiciously quiet on this one. Why not for example harp on the fact that Zimmerman is a registered democrat. Not much has been made of this, nor the fact that he tutors young black children. Seems they have smartly avoided jumping in too early without all the facts. Right now as the facts develop it is not looking good for Obama and or Sharpton on this one.

1. Eyewitness testimony confirming Zimmerman's allegation of being attacked.
2. Zimmerman's testimony on just looking for a house number so he could inform the police of the location and being attacked on way back to car.
3. It appears the only evidence of an attack is Zimmerman's head bleeding and nose, and then the gunshot (one has to come before the other...) corroborated by an eyewitness.

The unfortunate part of all this is that I think most rationale people that at least can pull themselves out of the politics on this one (and the desire for there to be a racial element) can see that this is just a tragic situation. A teenager being followed starts to act erratic and is interpreted as suspicious.

He just happens to do this in front of one of the only neighborhood watch volunteers who would actually get out of his car to try to help Police figure out where the kid is going.

And, if Zimmerman's story turns out to be credible, a young Trayvon Martin confronted the strange guy following him apparently not expecting him to have a gun. Either way this is a tragic story. But I fail to see how race plays any role here, other than the role it played in making the media pick up on it. And, this is only because they thought George Zimmerman was white. Had it been clear from the beginning that he was "White Hispanic" the media probably would have never picked up on this story and the first White Black President likely never would have commented on it.

[seattleblah]

12. A black man killing a 12 year-old?

Of course the thugs in blue would have murdered the black man.

[Suich]

14. Just noticed your screen name...

Weather getting to you?



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