What About Trayvon?

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


Greetings folks. I come to you with a full heart, anger and disgust. I come to you with more questions than I have answers, perplexed by the fact that no one seems to have any for me. A few weeks ago a co-worker and friend informed me of the passing of one of her former students. I expressed deep sympathy for her as she grappled with the fact that one of her former students was gunned down. It wasn’t until a few days ago that I found out that the former student who had been killed was in fact Trayvon Martin.

I’m sure by now you’ve read the articles, saw the story on the evening news, heard about it on the morning radio shows, and/or became aware of this from any number of social networking sites. I’m sure you know by now that on February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin, a 17-year old Miami native, was murdered in Sanford, Florida. I’m confident that you know that Trayvon Martin had never been arrested in his life, was not a member of any gang and was an “A” and “B” student. I’m sure that you also know that the man responsible for his death, George Zimmerman, has admitted to killing Trayvon Martin. I’m hopeful that you know George Zimmerman told the police that the reason he shot and killed Trayvon Martin in the chest was self-defense. I’m very sure that you know by now that there have been no arrests to date.

This case is atypical from the normal “whodunit.” We have the victim in a homicide; we know his name, his age, his background. We have the person who took his life. Yet, nearly a month has passed and what we don’t have is an arrest. What we don’t have is any semblance that justice is or will be served. What we don’t have is Trayvon Martin.

On the evening of February 26th, Trayvon left the comforts of his father’s home to grab some snacks from the nearby 7-11. Trayvon was wearing a hoodie and jeans, armed with nothing more than his phone, headphones, and the pack of skittles and can of Arizona ice tea he just purchased. On his way home, he noticed a strange man on a cell phone following him and alerted his girlfriend with whom he was on the phone with. She suggested that he run. He opted instead to put the hood over his head and walk really fast away from the man.

What happened gets murky. What we know of the situation is that there was an altercation. Allegedly this altercation was initiated by Trayvon. Allegedly George Zimmerman retreated to his car. Allegedly Trayvon pursued him. Allegedly the scream that was heard by several neighbors, one of whom, 13, still hears those screams in his sleep, and can be heard on the 911 tape, came from George Zimmerman. Allegedly George Zimmerman feared for his life. Allegedly the gunshot that was heard that evening, and on the 911 tape, was shot in self-defense.

Trayvon was 17 and reportedly 140 pounds. George Zimmerman is 28 and reportedly 250 pounds. Trayvon was not carrying a weapon that evening. Trayvon was not carrying anything that even remotely looked like a weapon. Trayvon was a young African-American male and George Zimmerman is not. Trayvon is dead and buried. George Zimmerman is alive and free.

George Zimmerman called the Sanford Police Department to report a suspicious looking character, an African-American male. The police informed Mr. Zimmerman that they had dispatched a unit and that they would handle it from there. Mr. Zimmerman stayed on the phone and pursued Trayvon. We know this much because the dispatcher asked Mr. Zimmerman and he said “yes.” The dispatcher told Mr. Zimmerman “we don’t need you to do that.” Mr. Zimmerman continued his pursuit.

The police stated that the reason why George Zimmerman wasn’t arrested was because he had a squeaky clean record. We know this isn’t true because George Zimmerman was arrested for battery against an officer and resisting arrest in 2005. The night Trayvon was killed, George Zimmerman was not tested for drugs or alcohol, which reportedly is routine in many homicide cases. Listening to the 911 tapes, it’s not far-fetched to believe that George Zimmerman may have been under the influence.

Twenty-three days after the murder of Trayvon Martin the question we must ask is “What about Trayvon?” What about the 17 year young man who was gunned down for “looking suspicious”? What about the young man who will never attend prom? What about the young man who will never graduate from high school? What about the young man who will never get a chance to pursue his post high school dreams?

We’ve heard from Zimmerman’s father how his son was not a racist and only discharged his weapon killing Trayvon in self-defense. We’ve heard that the [non] arresting officer was implicated in a cover up of the beating of a black homeless man by a lieutenant’s son. In that case, there was no arrest initially made. What about Trayvon?

We should WANT justice not because this appears to be a racially motivated crime but because a 17-year old boy was killed. We should ASK for justice not because the race of the killer and the race of his victim were different but because a crime was committed. We should DEMAND justice to ensure faith in the justice system. We NEED justice for Trayvon.

A grand jury is scheduled to convene on April 10th to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin. I’m not calling for the execution of George Zimmerman. I’m not asking for George Zimmerman to spend the rest of his life in jail. What I’m asking for is an arrest, a trial and justice to be served.

What shouldn’t be lost in this matter is that Trayvon Martin could have very easily been any one of my students. He looked like them, talked like them, he was one of them. What also isn’t lost on me is the fact that Trayvon Martin could have very well have been me.

Soon enough this matter may fade from out foresight like the morning fog when the sun rises. At some point we will forget about that small town outside of Orlando called Sanford. One day you may hear the name Trayvon Martin and struggle to recall its significance. I urge you not to forget about Trayvon. Don’t forget that he could have very easily been you or I. Don’t forget that wrong is wrong no matter the race or ethnicity of the individuals involved. Don’t forget that on February 26, 2012, Trayvon was silenced, never to speak again. Don’t forget about Trayvon.

Until next time, Stay Up and Be Blessed!

Milestones

Death is the only inescapable, unavoidable, sure thing. We are sentenced to die the day we’re born.
-Gary Mark Gilmole


We measure life in milestones: births, graduations, weddings and anniversaries. While these are all certainly moments worth celebrating, perhaps what we should celebrate more are the little things in life; family breakfasts, holding hands with your significant other, playing video games with your siblings, or catching a game with your friends. These are the things that make life worth living and are the things we miss the most when they're gone.

A year ago today I lost a very important part of me. I lost the source of my smile, my work ethic, my youthful appearance and the only person who could get me to come back to Miami for more than a short break; my granny. For those of you who know me, know that I'm a family man, so much so, that even those who are my friends I count as family. I love my grandmother dearly so when I learned the family would be better served if I moved home to help take care of her, it was a no brainer. Eight months after I did, on March 16, 2011, my grandmother passed away.
Coupled with the pain and anguish of watching her deteriorate and slip away was the joy of being able to see her everyday which made it all worthwhile.

I challenge you to love those who are close to you. Love them fervently and unconditionally and cherish not just the milestones you may share but the little things as well. It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the daily struggle and lose the things that matter most in the process. Don't lose sight of your goals, dreams, family and friends.

Thank you to those who were there for me and my family when we needed you most. To my loved ones, I love you and greatly appreciate your presence in my life. Until next time, Stay Up and Be Blessed!

Choices

“This is the life that I chose or rather the life that chose me.”
Jay-Z “December 4th”


Greetings folks! Life sucks. Not really but that’s what we like to tell ourselves. We like to tell ourselves that so much is wrong in our lives and there are so few ways (if any) to fix them. We like to throw ourselves a pity party and invite everyone in our contacts list to come. Keep your invitation, e-vite, or singing telegram because I’m not coming.

Why is self-hatred as popular a pastime as baseball? Why is fear and loathing more than just part of a movie title? Why do we wallow in our circumstances and situations more than pigs do in the mud? It’s because it’s easy and who doesn’t like easy (other than fathers of daughters). It’s much easier to whine and complain than to get up and do something about it. It’s much easier to ask others for a hand out than it is to ask for a hand up. It’s much easier to beat ourselves up than to pick ourselves up. So we do the easy thing. We do what’s convenient, what’s familiar, what’s comfortable.

No matter how terrible your job may be, no matter how rotten your kids may be, no matter how much you may pray that your significant other develops amnesia and forgets where you live, life isn’t that bad. There is nothing so terrible going on in your life that you can’t overcome. There is no obstacle that’s insurmountable. There is no mountain that’s immovable. There is no opponent that can’t be conquered. All you need is the desire to change, the will to effect that change, faith that it will happen, and make it work.

1. Where there’s a will there’s a way!
It must first start with your will. Will is the desire to want it more than anything or anyone else. It starts with a hunger, a thirst, an insatiable desire for something more. Figure out what you want, where you want to be and then set out to accomplish it. Make up in your mind that you will accomplish your goal.

2. “You gotta have faith.” Limp Bizkit/George Michael
The next step is to have faith. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated that “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” When you first decide to make changes in your life and to do a new thing you may not be able to see the staircase. You may not be able to see that new job, or house, or degree, but you can’t let that stop you from taking that first step. Once you continue to walk towards your goal the staircase will come into view. Once you can see it you can jog towards it. Once you start jogging and your desire to reach the top of it grows you’ll want to run to it. But you have to have faith.

3. “Make it do what it do baby!” – Ray Charles
The last step is making it happen. Your will and faith mean nothing without action. The bible says “faith without works is dead” meaning you can believe all you want but if you don’t act on this faith than you’ve accomplished just as much the kid who never tries out for the basketball team; nothing. You have to put in the application for that first or next degree. You have to put in the application for that promotion. You have to log on to find that marriage/family therapist. You have to go to the gym to get that weight off. You have to “get up, get out and get something.”

When you combine your will, with faith and works, you’ll find that you’re much closer to your destiny, to your goal and to your purpose. Living without a purpose is like treading water in the middle of the ocean. You may survive for a while but eventually you’ll drown. Find your purpose. Find your will. Have faith. Make it work. Until next time, Stay Up and Be Blessed!