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| Miami Heat showing support of Trayvon Martin |
First and foremost, Trayvon Martin came under suspicion, was followed and subsequently shot to death by neighborhood “watchman” Zimmerman because he was a young, black man. The fact that Trayvon had on a hoodie was simply happenstance – people wear hoodies.
It’s unfortunate that some appear to be taking this opportunity to glorify the wearing of the hoodie. I have detested the hoodie for years now. I personally find a person – any person wearing anything that hinders me from seeing their face somewhat unsettling.
Although this is the equivalent of saying that a woman wearing a short dress is looking to be harassed, there is no denying that the one item of clothing that the vast majority of people committing a crime have in common is the hoodie (I can attest to this fact because I listen to the police scanner regularly). It doesn't matter if that person is black, white, yellow or red; if a crime is being committed, the hoodie is mentioned as a descriptor, nine times out of ten.
So please, stop with the glorification of the hoodie. Take the Trayvon Martin tragedy as an opportunity to remind our young people how you will be prejudged and/or stereotyped based upon what you wear. Sure, it's a free country... you have a right to wear whatever you want, be it a hoodie, baggy pants or anything else; just know, you will be pre-judged accordingly, especially if you happen to be a young, black, man.
... and yes, even if it's raining outside and you are trying to keep your head dry and you pull up your hood - you can still be Zimmermaned.
... and yes, even if it's raining outside and you are trying to keep your head dry and you pull up your hood - you can still be Zimmermaned.
21 comments:
I wish people in general (not referring to you or this post) would quit trying to quarterback this tragedy. Clearly something went wrong if we have a dead 16 year old, and we need to find out what went wrong and fix it. The fact that the 911 operator specifically told the shooter NOT to follow Trayvon and he did so anyway does not bode well for Zimmerman. I also tend to agree with Jeb Bush that the laws which were cited in this case that prevented the arrest of the shooter should not apply in this case. In any event, let law enforcement do their job, and may justice be served on behalf of this young man and his bereaved family. The world is watching.
As I tried to school my youngest just the other day....how you present yourself to the world is how the world will judge you. This is universal and only right.
Emerge, I think your warnings and your view is very commendable as a parent who knows that black children will be under more scrutiny and will be judged by their attire more than their white counterparts will be judged.
Also, I agree with you that the hoodie has created problems and, also, a way for criminals to hide their identity--and that I, also, am fearful of people trying to hide their identities. Also, kids tried to wear hoodies (and still do despite the dress code) in school because they want to make themselves invisible in school for all sorts of reasons--some not even sinister.
Also, I yielded to the pleadings of a nine-year-old who wanted hoodies in several different colors for Christmas--and I don't think he had any negative reasons for wanting them.
As a white person, I object to people who object to hoodies just because they seem to be an article of clothing associated with black young people (I guess--hadn't given it that much thought recently until now). Also, as a teacher, I wouldn't have bought them if I thought there was any chance that the child could wear it in the classroom.
However, when Vonster implies that young people with hoodies are presenting themselves to the world to be judged negatively, I react negatively to his view.
Many of my former students on Facebook have taken up this way of dressing in honor of Trayvon, I haven't taken offense, simply because I know they do need to express their feelings about his death and they have chosen the hoodie as some sort of symbol. And, I do understand your point of view--coming from you. It can't and shouldn't come from me.
No one would have to be quarterbacking this event if it had been handled properly in the first place. The police didn't act and wouldn't have acted if many people hadn't done some quarterbacking, so to speak. Yes, I agree it's now getting crazy--especially after I listened to Glenn Beck's quarterbacking this morning. The fact still remains--and it is a fact--that Zimmerman pursued Trayvon even when told not to do so. Anything that Trayvon did as a result of being pursued, could, indeed, be called standing his ground. That's what is wrong with this law--both the victims and the attackers hold their ground, so why shouldn't the police have deemed it necessary to investigate which is which.
I must say that in all my 32 years I never knew the hoodie had such a negative reputation. People judge you because you wear a hoodie??? I am in LOVE with all 10+ of mine. They have been a critical part of my wardrobe since high school. I have had some of my best sleep in some.
I see others wearing hoodies not has a glorification but as a mere statement of "it could have been me." I applaud any and all who have made a conscience choice to make a statement and stand to a gross injustice.
To tell children to be aware of the potential problems of wearing a hoodie in my opinion is not the true issue. If Trayvon Martin had been in a Aeropostale button down, the results would have been the same. Mr. Zimmerman choose to let ill emotion rule his emotions, not logic. Had it been the latter, he would have maintained his own safety in his vehicle.
Stand strong, wear your hoodie...
Yeah it all sounds quite romantic until you spend some time listening to the the police scanner and hear nine out of ten reports of crimes being committed by a person wearing a hoodie in a menacing manner.
Wear your hoodie, enjoy. As long as you are not a young, black, male, you will be okay. Just like we caution our young ladies not to wear clothes cut up to here or down to there, least they look like working girls... We owe it to our sons to encourage them to grow past their security blanket (i.e. the hoodie).
... By the way, I agree with this statement:
"To tell children to be aware of the potential problems of wearing a hoodie in my opinion is not the true issue"
For that same reason, to act like the stigma attached to hoodies does not/ should not exist is irresponsible.
IMO, Zimmerman was a wannabe police officer that was over zealous in his watch patrol of the neighborhood and then panicked when this young boy gave him the business.
I have followed this story very closely and I think this is how it unfolded. Trayvon was being followed, his girlfriend told him to run, he decided he was not going to run (because he was not doing anything wrong) and when Zimmerman got too close, Trayvon turn around and let him have it and Zimmerman got scared and pulled the gun and shot him.
The problem here is not the hoodie but that citizens like Zimmerman are armed without the proper training and skill to access situations. If Zimmerman had not been armed, one or both might have been beaten up, but one beautiful young boy would have still been alive.
Frustrated, that's exactly the way I see the order of events--especially with all the latest information that is coming out. Clearly, Zimmerman was pursuing, not standing his ground. In the end, Trayvon was, also, standing his ground. The problem is that only one person had a gun. The whole situation was handled so badly and a bad law contributed to the chaos.
http://www.sanfordfl.gov/investigation/docs/Zimmerman_Martin_shooting.pdf
A good read.....Contains some facts.
I heard some of the new "facts" on CNN. To me, it seems like more a matter of sorting out the time frame of events. The girl's phone conversation and its timing seems crucial. In any case, Zimmerman was told not to pursue Trayvon and it appears he did that--what happened later has to hinge on that original act.
Yep Sharon - only because Zimmerman pursued the boy did it become necessary to allegedly defend himself. Even if Trayvon was the aggressor in the scuffle -- by Zimmerman's own admission he began following the boy asking what he was doing -- who is he to attempt to stop anyone and ask them their business Beside being young, black, and in a hoodie what was Trayvon doing? Peeping into windows, prying open doors, hiding in the shawdows??? It seems he was just walking through the neighborhood with his Skittles. Even if it appeared he was trying to rob a home, the police should have been called to handle the situation. I doubt a trained officer would use deadly force to deter a potential house break in.
From a rap song I've seen floating around the Web, think it's targeted for the African-American community, but could be for anyone:
"STOP TRIPPIN'!
and start runnin' your feet,
when you see someone with a
hoodie in the hot July heat.
STOP TRIPPIN'!"
Most people would suspect something there, and call police, and not try to be like Batman, as Mr. Zimmerman did.
Of course, it is documented that Mr. Martin was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, was maybe using the hood when it began to rain. I'm starting to think too, that Mr. Martin decided not to run, turn around, and confront Mr. Zimmerman on why he was being followed. Did anyone find any kind of weapon on Mr. Martin? I haven't read anything to that effect.
If further investigation warrants an arrest, then Mr. Zimmerman just needs to turn himself in, let the justice system decide if he is innocent or guilty.
I just picked this up from a friend on Facebook--who knows where the truth lies--but I see no harm in picking up information where we find it.
And now we know why George Zimmerman didnt get arrested. According to court records George Zimmerman is the son of retired Supreme Court Magistrate Judge Robert J Zimmerman, his mother Gladys Zimmerman is a court clerk....He has three closed arrests 7/18/05 for resisting arrest with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer div 10........8/9/05 for domestic violence div 44..... And again on 8/10/05 domestic violence div 46."
It's more than just wearing a hoodie and being a "young black male". It's the entire image of a "thug" that is willingly portrayed. When people glorifying violence, degrading women, disrespect, drugs, guns, etc. are the "heroes" of our youth, then they wish to emulate them. I see these youth, and most are black, but not all, going past the house, calling the girls with them "bitches", threatening to "pop" someone, "to bust a cap in your ass", wanting to be gang affiliated. It has become more than youth emulating the "long haired hippies." that were the Beatles in the generation before me. Kids want to be thought of as this type of person, through dress, speech, and mannerisms. There is an entire culture of sexuality that young girls are emulating in magazines, commericials, music videos, and the like.
I am not blaming the victim, but I think the community, parents, church leaders, etc. need to take a hard look at our youth's cultural emulations and the recogniction and fear that can be caused in others. Most certainly at the very least start truly addressing the black on black violence, which ought to be a true source of outrage. For those who read this and think "OMG, I have become my parents" maybe someone should?
What many white people don't know or won't acknowledge is that there are many, any black parents who do recognize all that you have just said and who teach their children not to adopt this culture, etc.,--and most of them live in middle class neighborhoods and have middle class values. When you start seeing these behaviors as divided on economic status instead of on race, you will see the true picture.
Remember that many of the problems teachers complain about are in the inner city neighborhoods, not in middle class areas where black people, also, live.
The way I figure it is that if we (white people) would get out of the way and quit screeching generalities about black parents, that they will take care of this themselves--they don't want they children to grow up as druggies and criminals any more than you do. However, they do react when we keep blaming all of black society for all of society's problems--especially, when they are trying their best to keep their kids out of harm's way.
Drugs and sexual activities are certainly part of white culture these days--so let's see if we can take care of those problems before we go after the black parents.
Yes, crime touches us all--and remember that many people who live in poverty areas are victims of the crime--they aren't all criminals--which seems to be the perception.
Sharon,
inner city crime is mainly black on black. No one discusses it for what it is. Additionally, the inner city is spreading quickly north and continues to grown, bringing its issues with it. parents are not taking care of the problems in these areas to degree that an impact is noticed. take a drive around curfew and see how many youth are out on the streets.
Do you think I live in some isolated area away from all the problems of the inner city?
Armed robbery to circle k. corner of Nebraska and university . Possibly knocked down female and laughed during egress possible she has minor head injury. Two black malespproximately 17 yrs . no canine on duty . armed guy wearing BLACK HOODIE fled 5'5 black pants black handgun and guy wearing GRAY HOODIE fled behind south over fence by dumpster toward mmuffler store.
Armed robbery overnight didn't catch initial call cause i was in a deep sleep but think it might have been gas station across street from Richwoods High School at university and northmoor and the suspect was wearing .....you guessed it! An innocent little hoodie!
Just keeping you in the loop :-)
-shay
I'm with you Shay, I'm hearing the same thing...
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