The George Zimmerman "not guilty" verdict was a foregone conclusion for many legal experts, but the news still stunned and angered people who wanted justice for the black 17-year-old boy he killed.
It is also a terrifying development for many black moms, some of whom shared their immediate reactions with Essence Magazine. Here were some of the more poignant tweets:
@essencemag Watch your children, they are under attack, hold them & let them know they are loved! #justicefortrayvon – MsJackSun
@essencemag My son walks thru nbhood coming home from work each night. I feel he is less safe. #zimmermanverdict – szking
@essencemag I'm looking at my 2 year old son and praying for him like I've never prayed before. #ZimmermanVerdict – FashionandFaith
Race was a the center of the Zimmerman drama, but as many court watchers have pointed out, it was barely mentioned during the three-week trial for the death of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman, who's half Hispanic, spotted the black teenager walking in his neighborhood in February 2012 and immediately deemed him "real suspicious" in a call to police.
Zimmerman then muttered about "f---ing punks" and "these a--holes." He didn't use explicitly racist language, but many of Zimmerman's detractors believe he profiled the teen because he was black. George Zimmerman may have mentored two black kids and been friendly with a black neighbor, but when he spotted one he didn't know he believed he was "up to no good."
Zimmerman's acquittal will be seen as a "green light for racist vigilantes," Rich Benjamin writes in Salon. Benjamin, who's black, knows what it's like to be frequently viewed as suspicious. Recently, he went to to his office on a Sunday evening when a white man in the building said, "Can I help you?"
The man said he just wanted to make sure things were okay. Benjamin shot back, "Thank you, George Zimmerman."
It's possible that man was cringing inside. Like George Zimmerman, he probably had black friends, too.
Join the conversation about this story »
     |