Mommy Talk Show Candid Conversation with a TV Mom
I’m still trying to figure out how to put all of my emotions about the George Zimmerman verdict in the Trayvon Martin case – into words. I watched the trial and had a horrible feeling throughout that Zimmerman would be found not guilty.
Like millions of parents of Black boys, this verdict isn’t JUST a headline or a tweet or a Facebook comment. It is a message that in a few short years, my bright three year old boy will be presumed a suspect when he’s walking home from school or to a friend’s house.
I’m taking part in a campaign by Essence Magazine to spread a social media message about our sons, their worth and their safety. Here’s an Instagram photo collage I posted of A.J. and I, his visits to the library and his desire to learn Chinese.
http://instagram.com/p/cJQ8y5vHC1/
Support Essence Magazine’s #HeIsNotASuspect Campaign on Instagram and Facebook by
- Posting a photo with your son, nephew, grandson, family friend, student who you want the world to know is NOT a suspect.
- Share this post and the Essence Magazine Campaign.
Do you think the not guilty verdict will open up an honest conversation in the United States about race?
What do you think of President Obama’s statement that “Trayvon Martin could have been me” when he shared his own experience with racial profiling?
I think the Trayvon Martin case will not do much to change things in the United States because it is just one of many incidents like this that happens every day. It was interesting to hear Obama’s remarks on Trayvon Martin because he has lived the life of a black man in America but he doesn’t have the persona history of parents and grandparents who were black in America. He has an interesting and unique perspective.
The guilty verdict will not open up an honest dialogue as too many don’t believe it is an issue. It is however a wake up call. I participated in the campaign as my son is not a suspect!
I do think the verdict is a great opportunity to have an open dialog that is needed. But that conversation is usually very uncomfortable for all parties so it often avoided when it shouldn’t.
I would like to say I was shocked by the verdict but I honestly wasn’t. I suspected that it would be not guilty.
I think the president did a great thing by addressing the issue. People actually expected him to speak on it and that’s what he did. I think he did it tastefully.
While it might not open up dialogue in all of the US it did open up dialogue in our home. While my children are young (4 and 2) it’s very important to me that they learn to respect everyone and to not judge people based on skin color, sexual preference, age, sex etc.
There are so many things wrong with the Zimmerman verdict and the case in general. The law is super technical. Even if the jury found Zimmerman guilty of racial profiling it wasn’t what he was being charged for. So no, I don’t think it will address the race issue in America, because people are not seeing the verdict as a direct translation of it. I also think that the concept of racial profiling needs to be understood. It does not matter what race a person is they can still racially profile someone.
There are so many things wrong with the Zimmerman verdict and the case in general. The law is super technical. Even if the jury found Zimmerman guilty of racial profiling it wasn’t what he was being charged for. So no, I don’t think it will address the race issue in America, because people are not seeing the verdict as a direct translation of it. I also think that the concept of racial profiling needs to be understood. It does not matter what race a person is they can still racially profile someone.
Love this! Thanks for pointing out that I can post something about my nephews. I have a little girl and felt a little left out:) I will definitely participate!
My honest thoughts…from all the information I saw, it was self defense. I think Zimmerman probably didn’t mean to kill Trayvon, but it is all a tragedy. The way the news has covered it, makes it even more tragic in my opinion. There’s a lot that could have been done differently. Zimmerman could have left him alone, Trayvon could have tried to look a little less suspicious in a neighborhood that had just seen a string of thefts, Instead of going straight to blows, words could have been exchanged first.
My personal opinion, there is a lot of racial profiling coming from both sides. I’m not trying to cause any offense, but as a white person, I feel profiled. I feel like many of a different race decide I must be a bigot, and think myself above them because I have white skin. This issue should have been long ago dead, but BOTH sides can’t let go. It’s time to move on.
While I’m not sure it will open up honest conversation in the US about race, it does increase my desire to make sure Michael understands we shouldn’t judge anyone for being different. A mom can hope, right?