TRAYVON MARTIN

Following the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial the biggest question is whether George Zimmerman was justified in profiling, suspecting, and following Trayvon Martin. Most Black commentators indicate that that was the real crime by Zimmerman. They wanted Zimmerman convicted of murder simply because he profiled Martin. They know that up until Martin jumped him, Zimmerman did nothing but follow Martin. It is clear that in a fit of rage at being followed, Martin initiated the scuffle. So the issue for Black leaders is not whether Zimmerman was in fear of his life, but rather, whether Zimmerman was right to profile and follow Martin.

Was it purely racist for Zimmerman to suspect that Trayvon Martin might be “up to no good”-- a potential law breaker who could be looking to break into one of the properties in the community? Did Zimmerman have any justification for suspecting Martin solely on account of his race? Well, Justice Department statistics show that Black youths are responsible for a huge percentage of crime in America--all out of proportion to their numbers. For example, in 2009 Black youths represented 19% of the population but were responsible for 58% of the homicides and 67% of the robberies.

 It is worse in big cities. New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly confirmed that: “About 70% to 75% of the people described as committing violent crimes [In New York City] — assault, robbery, shootings, grand larceny — are described as being African-American.” Michael Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, says that 80% of people arrested for homicide in Philadelphia are Black. In the City of Dayton, 90% of the homicides were committed by Blacks. Do Black leaders assume that White people, and people like George Zimmerman, fail to notice these statistics? Forget it! White people are very aware of the statistics, and are very fearful of Black youths.  They are afraid to walk through Black neighborhoods (which are routinely described as "High Crime" areas).

In addition, Trayvon Martin was no goodie-goodie. Florida Circuit Judge Debra Nelson would not allow the jury in the Zimmerman trial to see a number of items of evidence that might raise questions about whether Martin was a law-abiding youth. Among the items excluded were photos from Martin’s cell phone showing firearms and saying “U gotta gun?” There were also texts showing that Martin was involved in organized fights. In an earlier incident, when Martin was suspended from school, his backpack was searched and a number of items of jewelry were found. Martin said that a friend gave them to him. He also had a screwdriver. Obviously, he had been involved in a burglary. I have no doubt that, as Zimmerman stated, Martin was "up to no good."

The only crime committed the night of Trayvon Martin’s shooting was committed by Martin. George Zimmerman merely followed Martin. He did not attack him. The fight was obviously started by Martin. He attacked Zimmerman and beat him until he was bloody. Zimmerman shot Martin in self-defense.

 After the Zimmerman verdict, youths in Los Angeles rioted, attacked a camera crew, stole cell-phones from White people, and stormed into a Wal-Mart vandalizing the store. Protests also turned violent in Houston, Oakland, San Francisco, Baltimore, and San Bernadino. Zimmerman and his family have received a large number of death threats and have had to go into hiding. Compare that to the period following the verdict in the O.J. Simpson trial. White people were upset and disgusted, but there were no riots, no protests, and no death threats by Whites.

African American leaders are correct in assuming that the Zimmerman verdict will change nothing. White police and law enforcement officers will continue to profile Black youths and will keep them under surveillance in White neighborhoods. Security personnel will continue to watch black youths in stores. There is only one way that that will ever change. Black youths will have to stop being responsible for so much crime.

How can that happen? Black leaders simply have to start speaking-out as one. They need to tell young black men that crime is a disgrace. That producing children without fathers is a disgrace. That sale and use of drugs are a disgrace. That the culture they are following will lead nowhere. That they need to get an education and need to get jobs. Unless Black leaders start speaking out loudly on these issues, there will be no improvement. Black youth will continue to be disconnected from the mainstream, and 100 years from now they will be no better off than they are now.

There is a very great sadness to all of this. President Obama recounted how he was followed by security personnel in stores when he was young. I’m sure many fine, honest, law-abiding Black young people suffer the same indignity. But the large number of Black miscreants who are out on the streets shooting each other make it hard for the good ones.

The substantial reduction in crime by Black youths that is needed to cause a dramatic change in White attitudes is not likely to happen soon. The great divide in America between African Americans and Whites is likely to continue for a long time. Even if the government steps in with massive programs to help young Blacks with education and job training, the process will be slow. The large number of murders and other crimes in urban neighborhoods will continue to be terrible and tragic.

TRAYVON MARTIN, BLACK YOUTH, AND CRIME

            In the minds of most African Americans, the central issue in the case against George Zimmerman for shooting Trayvon Martin was not the legal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Rather, they wanted Zimmerman convicted for racial profiling.  It is clear that Zimmerman saw Trayvon Martin walking through the gated community and followed him because Martin was Black. There had been several break-ins in the community and Zimmerman thought that Martin looked suspicious.

            Over the decades Black people have suffered from the fact that Whites look upon them as potential criminals and feel endangered when they see young Blacks in an all-white community. Zimmerman called the police to report the presence of Trayvon Martin even though Martin was not exhibiting any criminal behavior. He was simply walking through a gated community going back to his father’s apartment. Zimmerman presumed that Martin was “up to no good” and that the police should come and arrest or at least follow him. We cannot know whether Martin had any intentions other than to return home. If he was looking for a condominium to break into, we will never know it.

It is not hard to understand why African Americans are enraged by such behavior on the part of a local security guard. They wanted Zimmerman convicted of murder no matter what the facts of the case showed.

On the other hand, it is not totally unreasonable to understand what was going on in the mind of George Zimmerman. The presence of a black youth wearing a hooded sweatshirt (a “hoodie”) in the community Zimmerman was supposed to be protecting might reasonably give rise to some fears and assumptions. The reason for this is that the rate of crime by Black youth in America is all out of proportion with their numbers. A report by the U.S. Department of Justice for the year 2009 gave the following figures:

“Juvenile arrests disproportionately involved minorities. The racial composition of the U.S. juvenile population ages 10–17 in 2009 was 77% white, 16% black, 5% Asian/Pacific Island­er, and 1% American Indian. Most juveniles of Hispanic ethnicity were included in the white racial category. Of all juvenile arrests for violent crimes in 2009, 47% involved white youth, 51% involved black youth, 1% involved Asian youth, and 1% involved American Indian youth. For property crime arrests, the proportions were 64% white youth, 33% black youth, 2% Asian youth, and 1% American Indian youth. Black youth were overrepresented in juvenile arrests.

Black proportion--Most serious of juvenile arrests offense in 2009

Murder 58%

Forcible rape 33

Robbery 67

Aggravated assault 42

Simple assault 39

Burglary 37

Larceny-theft 32

Motor vehicle theft 43

Weapons 37 ”

             Thus, according to Justice Department statistics, crimes by Black youths were extremely disproportionate to their numbers. It is no wonder that White people, especially White law enforcement authorities, tend to profile Black youths as potential criminals. No matter how unfair it may be, it is based on a reasonable recognition of the dangers represented by Black youth.

            What is the answer? Black commentators say that the result of the George Zimmerman verdict will be that White law-enforcement authorities will go on profiling Black youths and shooting them down regardless of whether they are committing crimes or not. That may be partially true. But the answer is not to convict people like Zimmerman of murder. The answer lies in the statistics shown above. Unless those statistics change, unless there is great leadership on the part of Black leaders, and unless there is a vast change in the rate of crime by Black youths, White people and White law enforcement authorities will continue to look-upon most Black youths as potential law-breakers.