The incident involving Treyvon Martin has really touched me. After hearing the 911 tapes, I felt that I had to channel my energy into something productive rather than resorting to negativity and pointing the finger at "the man." I've concluded the best way to do that was to write a blog entry to express my level of discomfort and to hopefully inspire others to speak up against injustices within our own communities, here in AMERICA. Enough is enough.
Treyvon Martin was a 17 year old boy who was killed by a "Local Community Super Hero" who simply put, "DID TOO MUCH!" George Zimmerman, a person involved with the community's Community Watch program took it upon himself to shoot Treyvon because he looked "Suspicious." If he was truly scared, why would he not leave and allow the police to do their job? Oh, I think the answer to this rhetorical question can be answered in his response when he told the 911 dispatcher, "These **sholes always get away." Who was he referring to? Enough is enough! When will this type of behavior stop? Treyvon will never be able to graduate from High School, attend college, purchase a car, graduate from college, start a family, or have a successful career because he is no longer with us. Enough is enough.
As a African American Male, profiling is nothing new to me. It happens more frequently than I'd like to admit, and is unfortunate. As a professional who works on a college campus, the profiling and stereotyping does not evade me, and still something I encounter. I have never been arrested, I have never been to jail, I do not sell drugs, I do not have 5 different baby mamma's, I don't even have kids, I do not smoke weed, I do not drink alcohol, I am not an aspiring rapper, I do not sag my pants, I do not "hang out" during the hours of 9am-5pm, or any other negative stereotypes that our society has projected upon me. Now that I've dispelled the myths about who YOU think I am, let me tell you who I ACTUALLY am! I am a loving husband, I am the recipient of a Master's Degree (and will be pursuing a PhD within the next 3 years), I am employed, I am NOT lazy because I spend time being a hard worker, I have goals, I have dreams of fatherhood, I am a non traditional athlete (while not at my ideal body weight, I am getting there), and I have aspirations to serving as the President of a University one day! But what is most troubling about all the things I just said in describing who I truly am, is that MOST PEOPLE will never see those things when they look at me because all they see is me being a Male and being Black. Enough is enough.
Stereotyping and profiling are things that I've lived with since being a child. You name it, and it's happened. I've been sought after for autographs for being a professional basketball player, I've been followed in stores, and have even been teased because of my race. Fortunately for me, all of these occurrences did not result in me being killed because of someones suspicion, unlike Treyvon. It does not feel good to be watched, profiled, or stereotyped because you fit the "UNANIMOUS" description of being an "African American Male." Enough is enough.
After hearing the 911 tapes, it was very clear that George Zimmerman was asked to let the police do police work. However, for some reason, he felt it was necessary for him to take it upon himself to assist the police. Where did his entitlement or privilege come from? Why did he feel his actions were necessary? As a result, a 17 year old boy with his whole life to live was murdered. We have got to do better. Enough is enough.
As a diversity educator and college administrator, I hope to work with my students to figure out a way for us to raise awareness of this case, as well as the issue, of profiling African American Males. Their facebook accounts have been ablaze with the Treyvon Martin case, and this is their Spring Break. When I return to campus next week after serving this week with building homes in New Orleans for Alternative Spring Break, I will open my office, and resume processing with the students so that they too can channel their energy and emotion into something productive. This blog entry is just a start of the actions I plan to do to speak out. If you have not read the articles, or listened to the 911 tapes, I'd challenge you to do that. They will offer a new insight into the case. Then, after listening, challenge yourself to make sure that you are not following in the same pattern of George Zimmerman, in profiling ANYONE (regardless of race, or other social identities). Many have heard the phrase, "When you make assumptions..." and you know the rest. Well, for Treyvon, an assumption cost him his life. America, please let's prevent the next Treyvon Martin incident! As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere!" PONDER THAT! Enough is enough.
