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Trayvon Martin Case: Racism Caught Red Handed?



Racism in 2012 has taken on a new form. Racism doesn’t just entail lynchings and denying someone from sitting in the front of a bus.

Racism now has been intricately controlled in the present-day by restricting and denying the advancement of minorities. What Trayvon Martin experienced that faithful night on Feb. 26 was no different.

In Zimmerman’s eyes, Martin didn’t belong. Though there are some African Americans who reside in the gated community Martin was murdered in, Zimmerman saw Martin as an “outsider” and “intruder.”

Trayvon Martin walked to a local store during the NBA All-Star halftime to pick up a few snacks to enjoy with the rest of the game. The items he bought were skittles and an Arizona ice tea.

Little did he know his snack journey would be the last he’d ever make. The 17-year-old would soon be gunned down by a neighborhood watchman, who deemed the youth “suspicious.”

As the investigation continues in the Trayvon Martin case, the evidence begins to pile and not in Zimmerman’s favor. At this point in time, details surrounding the teen’s death appear to be a huge cover-up.

But let’s imagine there were no 911 audio. Would we be able to identify racism in this case?

Neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, 28, phoned police to describe, in his eyes, a threatening Martin. The picture he painted to police officers describes Martin as nothing short of a criminal.

The 911 audio gives listeners a view into Zimmerman’s mind and the fear many people around the country have of young African American males.

This fear goes all the way back to slavery where young African American males were considered to be brutes, a stereotype of African American men being inherently violent, savage and immoral beings.

With rising gang activity in inner city communities, this fear continues to be deeply entrenched in the minds of many community residents, who hope to keep their community safe and, sadly, “white.”

Zimmerman cites a number of break-ins in his neighborhood. Zimmerman held this fear of young black men in his heart.

“We’ve had some break-ins in my neighborhood and there’s a real suspicious looking guy,” Zimmerman told an emergency police dispatcher.” This guy looks like he’s up to no good or he’s on drugs or something.”

It was dark and raining outside. How would Zimmerman been able to tell if Martin was on drugs?

The question, the country must ask, is why did Zimmerman stereotype Martin. Martin was simply following his constitutional right by walking to his destination and back.

Though the teen did nothing wrong, Zimmerman viewed him as threatening.

“He’s got his hand in waistband, Zimmerman said in the 911 audio. “I don’t know what his deal is.”

Here, Zimmerman’s basically tells the dispatcher Martin could potentially be armed. Even if Zimmerman didn’t reach Martin first, police may have acted similarly due to this information given to them.

“These a**holes, they always get away,” he later says.

Zimmerman’s stereotype- filled description doesn’t end there. In the audio, he appears to have referred to Martin as a “f**king coon.”

If the audio is indeed verified as a racial slur, it can be confirmed Zimmerman’s actions were racially motivated.

Now, new evidence may prove very damaging to Zimmerman’s defense. Audio evidence have concluded that it was not Zimmerman’s voice screaming for help in 911 Audio.

Tom Owens, a voice expert for Owens Forensic Services, said he concluded screams were “not the voice of Mr. Zimmerman.” Owens analyzed the voice in the 911 audio using Easy Voice Biometrics, a voice recognition software.

Many African Americans around the country knew the case had racial undertones even before more evidence came to light. This is because many African Americans are racially profiled on a daily basis.

There is a subliminal apartheid system in America. African American men have developed a special 6th sense to identify racial profiling, which is the sense of knowing when someone is watching and following you.

Trayvon Martin was not the first to succumb to hate and racism, but hopefully he can be the last. Something needs to be done to ensure racial profiling is considered as much a criminal act as stalking.

Martin was denied his constitutional right the night he was murdered. Now, it is time for African Americans and the rest of the country to ensure justice and liberty is rightfully granted to all Americans. Let Martin’s death not be in vain.

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