My Views on The Trayvon Martin Case
The Trayvon
Martin case outcome reinforces how African Americans, in particular African-American
males, who are seen as a problem in America, feel about being devalued and
marginalized in America. Equal justice
in America has not come as far as some profess since Reverend Dr. Martin Luther
King’s “I have Dream” speech 50 years ago and Lyndon B. Johnson famous speech
about affirmative action at Howard University 48 years ago.
Some would
say why everything has to come down to race.
I say you damn right it does! Civil
rights organizations are still as relevant as ever. Look at what has occurred with voter’s rights
laws, challenges against diversity and inclusion in employment and
education.
Should African Americans be angry,
absolutely! But this anger must be turned into positive energy and
creative responses to social injustice. For example, Stevie Wonder has publicly
avowed that he will not perform in Florida again until the “Stand Your Ground” law
is discarded. Florida was the first
state to enact this law and now over thirty states have a similar version.
Cohesive action
is required on the part of the civil rights community and the visibly diverse
protesters of George Zimmerman’s acquittal, within the confines of the
law. Dr. King was the master of this
kind of action through the non-violent approach.
One thing
for sure, racism has always had a purpose in America and race has always been a
dividing distraction. This is where the
rubber hits the road and real diverse leadership on racial injustice in America
has been fundamentally absent. It’s time they step up or are creatively
persuaded to step up. The conversations
about race must become more honest if it is to take us anywhere. Truth telling about race can no longer be
side stepped in the face of America’s increasing diversity.
Gregory T. Chambers
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