Around St. Patrick's Day I remember hearing about a shooting in Florida. Something about neighborhood watch and a bag of Skittles. As the story developed, media focused on the fact that the hoodie the African-American teen was wearing was the cause for the shooting. More information comes out and the names Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman are repeated by media with cloudy facts. Incidents like this have happened all across the country. Why do we have to ask questions about motives for shooting an unarmed boy? Giving the situation further thought, I recognize exactly why. And it made me sad.
In the Trayvon case, protest by wearing a hoodie has even reached Congress. I agree with Congressman Rush's statements that racial profiling has got to stop. Trayvon's death is just another example of frighteningly consistent murders that have not gotten the same level of media attention. Earlier this year I got to see Howard McGary discuss the Post-Racial Ideal. What he highlighted was that while we want to get beyond race, it's still hampering our society. Racism is painfully prevalent.
In the Trayvon case, protest by wearing a hoodie has even reached Congress. I agree with Congressman Rush's statements that racial profiling has got to stop. Trayvon's death is just another example of frighteningly consistent murders that have not gotten the same level of media attention. Earlier this year I got to see Howard McGary discuss the Post-Racial Ideal. What he highlighted was that while we want to get beyond race, it's still hampering our society. Racism is painfully prevalent.
In the late 80's and early 90's, rising racial tensions were expressed by the messages of Spike Lee, Rev. Al Sharpton and Public Enemy. Even clothing companies were making statements about equality through advertising, Benetton being the most aggressive. Journalists followed the anger that simmered and roared to a boil in 1992 with the L.A. Riots. The news coverage was incredible and frightening. People were identifying ways to get angry, specifically about race and inequality, but were reporters trying to avoid bias?
As a teen during that time, I was like a sponge to what was happening around me. My high school supported the 220 Program that encouraged bringing inner-city minorities to suburban schools, and vice versa. Over time, that became a way for many families to move to the community. It was also the way that I got to know people. Not black people, not "inner-city minorities". PEOPLE. After an implied racial insult from a ban on baseball caps, the school assembled a multi-cultural group to discuss the problems. We all had very different perspectives, but we also had respect and understanding because we grew up together. I didn't realize the hurt and inequity that several of my classmates felt. Perhaps my view was too naive because I rode the strange border of being multiracial.
In 2011, Milwaukee was identified as the most segregated city in the U.S. I grew up here and know the city quite well. Good or bad, Milwaukee is a strangely complicated city, and there are very defined borders that stratify people in a variety of oddly detailed ways. Northside, Southside, Black, White, Polish, Italian, Punk, Prep, Poor, Affluent. Where these groups overlap can sometimes represent the opportunity for community.
What the Trayvon Martin case has made me realize is that people don't recognize each other as people. We are categories. That is what creates fear and aggression. Recent racial slurs used by ESPN in reference to Jeremy Lin and South Korea's soccer team enforce racist assumptions. You can insult Asian-Americans because they won't complain. Of course an African-American is a criminal. Of course a Caucasian is the victim. The news tells me these things on a regular basis and encourages narrow-minded profiles. While I hope for better, for now it's just like Grandmaster Flash said in his song "White Lines", "...that's the way it goes."
As a teen during that time, I was like a sponge to what was happening around me. My high school supported the 220 Program that encouraged bringing inner-city minorities to suburban schools, and vice versa. Over time, that became a way for many families to move to the community. It was also the way that I got to know people. Not black people, not "inner-city minorities". PEOPLE. After an implied racial insult from a ban on baseball caps, the school assembled a multi-cultural group to discuss the problems. We all had very different perspectives, but we also had respect and understanding because we grew up together. I didn't realize the hurt and inequity that several of my classmates felt. Perhaps my view was too naive because I rode the strange border of being multiracial.
In 2011, Milwaukee was identified as the most segregated city in the U.S. I grew up here and know the city quite well. Good or bad, Milwaukee is a strangely complicated city, and there are very defined borders that stratify people in a variety of oddly detailed ways. Northside, Southside, Black, White, Polish, Italian, Punk, Prep, Poor, Affluent. Where these groups overlap can sometimes represent the opportunity for community.
What the Trayvon Martin case has made me realize is that people don't recognize each other as people. We are categories. That is what creates fear and aggression. Recent racial slurs used by ESPN in reference to Jeremy Lin and South Korea's soccer team enforce racist assumptions. You can insult Asian-Americans because they won't complain. Of course an African-American is a criminal. Of course a Caucasian is the victim. The news tells me these things on a regular basis and encourages narrow-minded profiles. While I hope for better, for now it's just like Grandmaster Flash said in his song "White Lines", "...that's the way it goes."
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