—F. Michael Higginbotham
The recent acquittal of George Zimmerman for shooting and killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin has provoked outrage and widespread (yet mostly peaceful) protests from racially mixed, but predominantly black, crowds. At the same time, conservative commentators, on local and national media, most of whom are white, have expressed support for the verdict along with the belief that Zimmerman acted in self-defense. The protests and commentary reflect a huge racial divide where 86% of blacks, but only 30% of whites, are dissatisfied with the trial’s outcome.
While some supporters of Zimmerman’s self-defense claim have expressed genuine remorse over the tragic death of an unarmed black teenager, many justify Martin’s death by insisting that he must have done something threatening. Others seem to dismiss the tragic loss of life by accusing blacks of exploiting the case to continue old habits of complaining about contrived racism.
Protesters view the verdict as another in a long line of cases where white perpetrators of violence against blacks go unpunished, reminiscent of the horrendous 1955 murder of black teenager Emmett Till, who was brutally beaten and killed for allegedly whistling at a white woman. Even President Obama, who rarely comments on race, weighed in on the tragedy by explaining that most black males in America, including himself, have experienced racial profiling, followed around department stores while innocently shopping, heard car doors locked in fear as they casually crossed the street, and been subjected to other forms of race-based fear. Obama’s sentiment reflects the basis for the fury of many blacks who believe black males in America are presumed guilty until proven innocent. They feel certain that Martin’s color, rather than his behavior, prompted Zimmerman’s suspicion and actions.
As one who has spent a career studying and teaching law while simultaneously writing texts on race, I view this tragedy as an opening to bridge the racial divide. It is not easy to discuss race across racial lines. Yet, no dialogue on race is possible unless all sides are similarly willing to listen and learn. Blacks need to acknowledge that America today is a far more just society than it was in the days of Emmett Till. We have ended Jim Crow segregation. We have instituted anti-discrimination laws in public accommodations, voting, and housing, and implemented affirmative action programs in education and employment. Even so, whites need to recognize that serious racial inequities still exist. Wealth accumulation for blacks is one twentieth of what it is for whites. Black unemployment, poverty, and homelessness are twice that of whites. Although white Americans use marijuana at the same rate as blacks, African-Americans are four times more likely to be arrested on charges of marijuana possession. Among those attempting to utilize Florida’s “stand your ground law”, which provides additional protections in claims of self-defense, 59% of defendants have been exonerated when their victims were white, while 73% of defendants have gone free when their victims were black. Nationally, white defendants in “stand your ground states” are over four times more likely to be acquitted when the victim is black than when the victim is white.
These disparities have been persistent, but they need not be permanent. Americans should be grateful to all those who have spoken out in a constructive manner on the controversial issues of race in America. With stark divisions rampant after the Zimmerman verdict, this is an opportunity to rid the country of the Ghosts of Jim Crow once and for all, an opening to bridge the divide that should not be overlooked.
F. Michael Higginbotham is the author of Race Law: Cases, Commentary, and Questions and Ghosts of Jim Crow: Ending Racism in Post-Racial America (NYU Press, 2013). Race Law is a textbook used in law schools worldwide, and Ghosts of Jim Crow offers solutions to America’s race problem.
I don’t want to spend time repudiating every biased statement that you have made but it is clear that you drank the Kool aide and are operating within a reality that was very carefully constructed to construe Trayvon as the perpetrator and Zimmerman as the victim. You have to ignore the entire context in which this occurred–which was done during the trial–in order to accept the outcome of this case and you have to be ignorant of Florida’s history of terrorism and violation of the rights of people of Afrikan ancestry as well as those of indigenous people in order to fail to see the pattern. Our educational system is one of the primary sources of perpetuation of the kind of ignorance that fuels the continued racial hostility and night-day perceptions of these unfortunate tragedies. It is way past time that we begin to teach the true history of this nation!
I am dismayed that you brought up Emmett Till. The case of Trayvon Martin and Emmett Till have nothing to do with each other. Emmett Till, was murdered because he made remarks to a white woman. What happened to Emmett Till was disgraceful, it was a tragedy. But to make the comparison between the two is appealing to emotion. Trayvon Martin, according to testimony, was the aggressor. George Zimmerman was beaten and he was defending himself. Please look at the pictures of Mr. Zimmerman that were taken right after the altercation. It’s not a race thing, Mr. Zimmerman was in fear of his life. When would the beating have stopped. Ms. Jeantel called it a “ass whoppin” but for heavens sake who in that situation, being beaten and having their head pounded against the pavement wouldn’t fear for their life and defended it?
And please, let’s look at the life of Trayvon. If you look at it dispassionately any reasonable person would see a young person in trouble. Suspended how many times? Because he had tools for robbery and jewelry that didn’t belong to him in his possession (among other things). He had liver damage consistent with using Lean and he was purchasing two of the three ingredients for it that night he was killed. Lean is nasty, it causes aggressive behavior. Is it possible he was an aggressive young man? They do exist, if you look at his facebook and twitter accounts you can see for yourself someone who is headed down a unsavory path. Just look at the way he discusses women.
This case does nothing to advance the argument of white on black discrimination.
Yes, there has been horrible discrimination against blacks, but…please look at all the black on white violence, including that done for Trayvon Martin. Geez, how many innocent people have to be victimized for Trayvon? It’s an excuse. We need to accept what Martin Luther King said and judge people by their character and not the color of their skin. When are we going to get to this point…by black America. Stop the flash mobs. Stop polar bear hunting. Stop the knock out game. Stop beating people because they are white. Look to the family for the solution. Seventy percent of black children are born out of wedlock and how many more than that are aborted?
It takes hard work to succeed. Blame will only get you so far, but no further. Is that where you want to stop?
This looks good and I intend to read the entire book. Incidentally, I am the editor of the series Religion, Race and Ethnicity at NYU Press.