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Trayvon Martin

Wed, 02/27/2013 - 1:41pm

The examination of race relations and race theory in the United States, is synonymous with this incident; and even a year later, it is far from resolved.  The interesting thing is that the most honest discussions and concerns seem to take place over digital media (and, of course, privately).  Certainly, it's all very multi-layered.  As with most of our stories and public opinion reporting on race, we see questioning from people as the value shift takes place in the SmartPower era. What's right?  What's appropriate?  What needs to change from the past and how?  We'll see more of this come up as more news events take place.  Warning signs?  Let's see. 

The media has turned its eye to the anniversary of the Trayvon Martin killing which is marked during this week. Martin's parents are asking people to remember him by wearing a hoodie during a candlelight vidil at night in New York. Actor Jamie Foxx has also been vocal. In the controversial case, George Zimmerman, a white man of Hispanic descent, who said he killed the teenager, who was Black, in self-defense after Martin was acting suspicious. Zimmerman's lawyers were denied a request to delay his murder trial, which is to begin in June. The case sparked a national debate on racial profiling. Zimmerman was charged with a probable cause affidavit stating he "profiled" Martin. The public weighs in....

Tags:
Trayvon Martin
George Zimmerman
racial profiling
New York
Candlelight Vigil
Anniversary
race
Guns

What Others Are Saying...

... Martin family ... started a foundation ... to STOP violence and went all the way to New York to hold a vigil for him. They didn't do it Miami where there has been 7 shootings in the last week. Is it because it was black on black crime and there was no money to be made?

Source:
www.usatoday.com

This is the story of a desperate man, bent to prove himself The Real Victim, one fixated on his stature as an un-uniformed, unofficial, self-appointed law-enforcer, unwilling to give any credence to a completely innocent kid ... an innocent kid who had no chance against a man with a gun and likely predisposed to use it. ... This is the story of an armed vigilante.

Source:
www.dailykos.com

The thing that has surprised me ... is how many people have been willing to overlook and/or manipulate the facts to make Zimmerman look like a hero ... Nothing has made me understand how active racism still is in America.

Source:
www.huffingtonpost.com

Tue, 02/05/2013 - 10:54pm

Lest you think we are in that "post-racial America", think again.  The interesting thing here is that conversations about race are clearly dying to be had so that we can create a new race theory, but heavy-handed approaches like this are chastised by most.  There is, no doubt, a growing polarization based on racial attitudes.  The question is:  what is feeding it?  Fear of change?  In what?  Population shift? Economic uncertainty? Technology rise?  Perhaps, all of the above.  It's important to watch for correlations regarding this topic.  Trust we'll be doing so, as news breaks.  In the meantime, peep today's podcast on the cult of celebrity, race and tech gadget endorsements - www.ldcoleman.com/radio episode 322!

During Sunday's Super Bowl game, former South Carolina GOP executive director Todd Kincannon posted multiple racially-charged tweets, stirring controversy among social media users. The following are a few of his tweets: "This Super Bowl sucks more dick than Trayvon Martin would have for drug money." "@coreybking Will karma find me as quick as it did Trayvon? Oh wait I make it past my 18th birthday. So I guess the answer is no." "It hasn't been this dark in the Superdome since all those poors occupied it after Hurricane Katrina." The tweets were responded with negative responses, which Kincannon met with laughing off criticism and re-tweeting dozens of supportive responses. Yikes. Looks like eyes and comments were not only about the game.  Let's check out the comment fall-out on this one!

Tags:
Todd Kincannon
Twitter
race
racist
Trayvon Martin
Super Bowl
Hurricane Katrina

What Others Are Saying...

Look at the time stamps. He was drunk. Someday, we will be big enough boys and girls to admit that we drink, we get drunk, and say stupid things. Some especially extra ridiculously extremely stupid, as in this case...

Source:
www.mediaite.com

Some of those are actually pretty funny...but he killed whatever possible career he wanted in the public sector.

Source:
www.aesopsretreat.com

What's upsetting is these people didn't even know Trayvon and basically formed their opinions based on "nothing." These statements are deliberately meant to be shocking, tasteless and hurtful. The first amendment does not give you the right to say whatever you want about anyone anytime you want to say it...

Source:
www.bossip.com

Sat, 07/07/2012 - 11:38pm

The incident that continues to bring conversation of race to the forefront takes another turn and continues to demonstrate the current divide that exists in the U.S. Interesting to note is general sentiment in the comment-sphere depending on if one is looking at a ethnic-focused site versus mainstream demonstrating that there a feeling of inequality regarding the situation continues to persist across the former. A huge trending topic on Twitter when the news broke, the Zimmerman situation just may end up becoming quite symbolic in a larger context. Watch.

Neighborhood watch leader George Zimmerman left the Seminole County Jail in Florida a day after a judge granted a $1 million bail bond with strict conditions. This is the second time Zimmerman has been released from prison. The last time was in April. He awaits his second-degree murder trial for fatally shooting Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and claims the shooting was self-defense under the state's "stand your ground" law. Zimmerman is required to stay in Seminole County. Lots of comment activity on this one!

Tags:
George Zimmerman
Trayvon Martin
bail
jail
African-American
Black

What Others Are Saying...

They need to get that trial going and get it over with. … All Zimmerman did was take out a future Criminal. What’s the big deal? … How many times does this murderer get out? Only in this country could (someone) murder a young black lad and walk out of jail. … Our legal system is all about the money. … There is nothing in this country that money can't fix. …

Source:
www.yahoo.com

I'm perplexed at the viciousness that is meeting Zimmerman when the only thing he UNAMBIGUOUSLY DID WRONG was determine someone was "suspicious" because they looked a certain way. Yes, I don't like that at all. … Assuming he wins in court, am I alone in thinking that Zimmerman gets rich on a book deal, donations, and other publicity events? This story is a tale of two martyrs in a binary political world. … Since when does someone get a million dollar bail for a second degree murder charge in what is probably an act of self-defense?

Source:
www.slate.com

Disgusting! This just goes to show how the judicial system value black lives.

Source:
www.globalgrind.com

Sat, 04/07/2012 - 5:23pm

This case has exposed more of the raw nerve of race relations within America today.  People seem eager to voice what has not be acceptable before now and what to, in many cases, re-define ideals and norms that have been passed down from further generations.  Others do not.  This case, the issues behind it and now all the media surveys on race and specials on race is only the beginning because we are not yet post-racial.  Rather, we are still examining race and the dynamics around it.

NBC gets called for producer selectively editing a 911 call George Zimmerman made the night he killed Trayvon Martin.  In the origina 911 call, Zimmerman says of Martin, “This guy looks like he’s up to no good. Or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.” The dispatcher then asks: “OK, and this guy – is he white, black or Hispanic?” "He looks black,” Zimmerman responds. The version NBC ran is shorter and does not include the operator's question.  Controversy has ensued because critics say the tape is edited to make Zimmerman look like he was focusing on race.  The producer at NBC was just fired. 

Tags:
Trayvon Martin
African American
Zimmerman
NBC
Black

What Others Are Saying...

Typical. They are only in shock because they got caught. They like to keep fanning the flames....

Source:
www.huffingtonpost.com

I wanna roll the dice and say the reason the producer isn't being named is because he's black. Heaven forbid this thing take another bad turn...

Source:
www.chicagotribune.com

I was simply amazing at the comments I've seen on other websites like the Orlando Sentinel.  While there are many, many whites who are not racist and strive for equality; there are many who are racist and don't even realize it.  This is the most dangerous racisim of all. . .

Source:
www.thegrio.com

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