As much as we hate to admit it, the specter of racism yet hangs over America, and the verdict in the George Zimmerman case is evidence of that ugly reality. The fact that many of the same white Americans who were offended at the casual ease with which Paula Deen used the n-word are now applauding the exoneration of a white man who shot a 17-year-old black kid suggests a presumption that black life is less valuable than white.
To be fair, we ought to proceed with caution when criticizing a jury verdict, especially when we did not hear the evidence. But some of what is now being brought to light about Zimmerman’s behavior on that fateful night should concern all of us. One wonders why the prosecutors did not raise the issue of Zimmerman’s reference to Trayvon Martin as “a f—ing coon” in his 9-11 call, while his defense attorneys insisted that Zimmerman had no racial insensitivity. Seriously?
We have known for years that sentences of black defendants are routinely harsher than for whites accused of the same offense. The media loves to jump on stories of missing white kids (blonde girls especially), while virtually ignoring the dozens of black children who go missing each year.
If Trayvon Martin had shot George Zimmerman and the same defense had been put forth, the outcome would have been altogether different.
And we still believe there is no more racism in America?
Raising Basileia 