By now there may not be single American who has not been exposed to the tragic events involving George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin. Those names will forever be etched into American history for the symbolic weight this case now carries. And yet, despite its widespread presence on every mainstream outlet, there are still millions of people who are aware of the case but still do not grasp its cultural import. They have eyes but do not see and ears but do not hear. I am talking about large swaths (but emphatically not all) of White America.
The bloody facts of this case, that are irrefutable regardless of your opinion on the verdict, are that a 17 year old boy who was walking home from buying Skittles was shot through the heart by a strange man who was following him. He breathed his very last breath alone, in the dark, in the rain, staring into the face of the man who shot him. He will never have another phone call with his friends. He will never experience college, a career, or a family of his own. He will never triumph over life’s challenges or celebrates life’s victories. And he will never eat another Skittle.
The only way to be numb to the horrors of this story is to be overcome by a force that is much bigger and more powerful than the natural beating pulses that make you human. The technical name for this force is white privilege, and it has been blinding and hardening the hearts of masses of people throughout history. Very simply, white privilege is the idea that whiteness is the accepted norm, that it is superior, and that it should continue to be that way. And although white people are its primary victims, white privilege shows no mercy in regards to ethnicity or race. It is present in both the large-scale social structures of our culture and the everyday interactions between individuals. Like a dense white fog, it slowly and quietly creeps through family lines, popular culture, churches, and mainstream media, asserting itself as the unquestioned norm for how things should be.
White privilege reared its ugly head in this case when Don West opened his defense with a knock-knock joke in the presence of the grieving parents of a murdered child. Or when he spoke with combative condescension to Rachel Jeantel who was still dealing with the complicated emotions of being the last person to hear Trayvon’s voice. Or finally, after the not-guilty verdict was announced, he casually expressed that he was “gratified” and “thrilled that the jury kept this tragedy from becoming a travesty” and what really saddened him was how long George Zimmerman had to wait. Again, this was in the face of the weeping parents of Trayvon and the millions of broken Americans that support them.
You may wish to brush this off as simply the behavior an arrogant defense attorney but the fact that countless others have reacted with similar callousness demands attention. Like the outspoken Juror B37, eager to go on national TV to announce her new book deal, who spoke more about Zimmerman’s “good heart” and harmless intentions than the tragedy of the dead teen. Her white privilege blinded her to the boldness, dignity and honesty of Rachel Jeantel when she condescendingly repeated that she “felt sorry” for her. It was her white privilege that helped her “believe” that George was a good-hearted, friendly neighbor and Trayvon a suspicious, violent thug. It was white privilege that helped her make these leaps of faith about these men’s characters based only on superficial evidence.
Although these have been highly visible and extreme examples of white privilege’s blinding effects, they are representative of the callousness of millions of every-day white Americans who share the same sentiments. I have personally been overwhelmed and disheartened in the last several weeks by conversations with white friends and family members who have casually brushed off the horror of this case and ignored its racial dimensions. Since I myself am a recovering victim of white privilege who continuously fights against its blinding nature, I fully understand how one can live underneath its power. I also am hopeful that white privilege will not have the last laugh.
If there is a silver lining to this tragedy, it is in the powerful ways that people from all walks of life and every shade of color have banded together to recognize and renounce racism and the blinding affects of white privilege. Millions of protestors have flooded the streets of America’s great cities. Celebrities used their influence to publicly bemoaning the verdict. “Black Twitter” single handedly struck down Juror B37’s book deal within minutes, and hundreds have now contributed to a national Tumblr account confessing to their own white privilege by adopting the phrase “I am NOT Trayvon Martin.”
I am convinced that the only way the blinding nature of white privilege will be exposed is when white people find the courage to confess their blindness and join hands with their brothers and sisters of other colors to overcome its deadly effects. And in the end, Racism will be defeated when people of every color demand justice for every color.
Sincerely,
Also not Trayvon Martin, Travis Jones
About the author: Travis L. Jones is the Director of Innovation and New Ventures at The Winters Group. He is an avid traveler, having spent time in over 20 countries on 5 continents. He is passionate about studying the redeeming qualities of cultures as a bridge to creating a better world.
Brother, as I sit here reading this tremendous and much needed article, I couldn’t help but think of the many great white men and women throughout history who have sacrificed so much, for some their very lives, as they engaged in the fight for justice and freedom for humanity.
Those white men and women like John Brown and Viola Liuzzo, I wouldn’t hesitate to call them my brothers and sisters!!! Great Article!!!!! Humanity NEEDS your voice!