Though Trayvon Martin’s death occurred February 26th, a great deal of media attention has been placed on the tragedy as of late. Recordings of the phone call Zimmerman, Trayvon’s killer, made to the police dispatcher were recently released, and they shed new light on a phenomenon that will perhaps never go away: racism in America. We like to think that we live in a post-racial America, that we are ‘color blind’ and see others as human beings and fellow American citizens. Anyone who disagrees with this view is called a ‘race-baiter’ or accused of playing the ‘race card.’ Indeed, there have been times when I have chosen to not express my opinions regarding some social issue or conflict simply because I fear that I will be seen as just another black man blaming sins of the past on the situation of the present. But in light of such blatant racially motivated violence toward a teenager walking down the street of a gated community with Skittles and an iced tea, I have decided to remove the muzzle of fear and speak out about the rampant racism that impacts our society.
Scholars who study racism and race relations are pretty much agreed on the idea that race relations are significantly different than in the past. However, experts in race stop short of stating that racial relations have gotten better. In fact, I would argue that, on the whole, racial relations have stayed the same or gotten slightly worse. I base this argument on the ubiquity of a new, insidious form of racism that is subtle and often time easily swept aside by individuals with power as simple paranoia or sensitivity. Overt racism, the racism of slavery and the Jim Crowe South, is a thing of the past. Lynching, public beatings, unrestrained and unhidden hatred of racial and ethnic minorities has been replaced with covert racism, represented by more institutional oppression and white superiority masked as ‘equal opportunity’ and narratives of ‘pulling oneself up by their bootstraps.’ This covert racism is arguably more damaging than overt racism simply because it is so difficult to prove, at least to those who have made up their mind that race no longer matters. No one alive today can rationally deny the immorality of cutting out a black man’s tongue for whistling at a white woman, but it is not so hard to deny that President Obama, who has been shown blatant signs of disrespect that no other U.S. President has experienced (Rep. Joe Wilson’s “You lie!” comment; Gov. Jan Brewer pointing her finger at the President’s face saying that she felt “threatened”), has received such negative animosity because he happens to be a black man in a white man’s world. Similarly, it is not too hard to deny that the reason why there are so many blacks in poverty is because of long standing barriers preventing blacks from accumulating wealth and moving up on the socioeconomic ladder. Instead, it must be because blacks don’t work hard enough and that their success and failure can only be blamed on themselves. It’s easy to deny institutional and covert racism because there is no smoking gun. There are no mutilated bodies or cross burnings. There is simply a group of individuals who are forced to play by rules not meant to benefit them without complaint, and for those who do cry foul, they are viewed as weak and accused of playing the victim. They refuse to let go of the past and embrace the future of a post-racial world. When there is a smoking gun, a black corpse, we are reminded of the racism and hate that exists in our world.
I hope by now the distinction between overt and covert racism is clear. Further, I hope that I have successfully argued that covert racism is more damaging to our society than overt racism. At least with overt racism, we could have a conversation about racial inequality without being seen as playing the race card. Returning to the murder of Trayvon Martin, this act of violence will no doubt be argued by Zimmerman’s attorney as not being racially motivated and that Zimmerman was simply exercising his right to use lethal force when threatened (as is law in the Great State of Florida). I assert that Zimmerman was exercising a needless reaffirmation of power and control that was ingrained in him by living in a society that has taught us to view a black man as a threat. Jonathan Capeheart said it best when he wrote that black men must carry the “burden of suspicion.” That is to say, blacks are subconsciously seen as a threat and the burden is on them to prove otherwise.
I would like to end with some personal anecdotes and feelings that I have held for a very long time. Feelings that I am just starting to express as I become more aware of the world I live in. There are times when I look at even my closest white friends and wonder what they think of me. I wonder if they harbor any hate, feelings of superiority or are in any way threatened by me. Worse still, I wonder if they don’t see my color and just assume that they can relate to all that I am going through, I wonder if they deny that I have to often work harder than they do just to achieve as much as they do as a result of institutional barriers meant to oppress people of color. These thoughts come from my experiences: hearing that my sister’s boyfriend is constantly stopped by the police of an affluent, predominantly white suburb simply for ‘acting suspect.’ Seeing whites clutch their purses and bags closer when walking by a black man. Hearing white frat guys talk about how great the sex with black girls is. Being told by my mother that no matter how successful I am in this world, there will be some who see me as inferior simply because of the color of my skin. This is my reality. I could have easily been Trayvon, walking home from the store and killed simply because the color of my skin invoked suspicion. Until we as a society are honest with race and racism, and until we can actively reflect on our prejudices, and until we can walk in the shoes of others and attempt to understand their experiences, we will never be post-racial. Indeed, the covert racism that is so widespread will continue to slowly weaken the fabric of our society like a erosive acid, eating through our collective humanity.
As of now, no legal action has been taken against Mr. Zimmerman. Despite being told by police not to follow Trayvon, he did anyway. He then shot and killed Trayvon while the youth was yelling for help. Florida police did not take him into custody, and did not follow up with drug or alcohol tests. In sum, a black youth is dead, and nothing has been done by law enforcement. I BET that if I white youth were shot, someone would be in jail. I encourage you to research the Trayvon Martin murder case. Speak up on social media. To those with a voice comes power.
~KJSW
