Thursday, March 22, 2012

with a heavy heart

I am appalled that there has still no decisive action being taken in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin. Why is there a question? George Zimmerman shot and killed a man for no reason. That's it.

Let's play the switching game. How would Mr. Zimmerman have reacted if Trayvon Martin was a white youth wearing a hoodie? How would the general public be reacting in the aftermath of a white teeenager's senseless murder? Answer those questions.

Trayvon could easily be one of my students. And whether or not they make good choices as they grow older, they will probably dress like their peers. Because that's what teenagers do. If this man is not arrested, then we are sending a message to the entire country that appearances and, nothing else, are grounds for death. We are telling our children of color that their life is not valued. That they are not safe because of the color of their skin.

My heart is heavy as I look around at my sleeping babies. We need more million hoodie marches -- more energy pushed against the system.

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