In
The Souls of Black Folk, W.E.B. Du Bois described the
experience of being black in America as a constant awareness that others
viewed him as a problem.
Six months after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, a mistrial was declared in the case of Michael Dunn on the charges of first degree murder. Let's be clear. We are talking about a 47-year-old Caucasian male who shot into a vehicle occupied by unarmed African-American teenage males over an argument about loud music. In the case of Zimmerman, we are talking about a black male whose only crime(s) on the evening of his untimely death were to be in possession of Skittles while wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Indeed, Du Bois. Being black in America is a problem.
While Dunn is the latest reminder of inequities in the criminal justice system, 2014 will be riddled with cases that expose the underbelly of racial inequality in America. Recall Kendrick Johnson? Johnson was the African-American teenage male that was found dead in a gym mat and his death was ruled an 'accident' by Valdosta, Georgia police. How about Jonathan Ferrell? Ferrell was the unarmed black man who was shot and killed by Officer Randall Kerrick during a late night encounter in North Carolina. Marissa Alexander? She awaits retrial as the state attorney's office attempts to secure a new conviction for aggravated assault for Alexander's 'warning shot' at her abusive husband during a heated argument in 2010.
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning people. Wake up! At the very least, when we recite the words, "...liberty and justice for all," include the enclosure- unless you are black.
On the other hand, What do I know? As a woman of color, I am still examining my feelings about being viewed as the problem.
Until Next Time,
NiNi
