Please stop glorifying the hoodie

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.