Five years ago, a young, unarmed man named Trayvon Martin was killed while on the way home from a convenience store by a neighborhood watch man on duty by the name of George Zimmerman. Before the 2017 Oscars red carpet, Ava DuVernay and Gabrielle Union were among a few celebrities who took a moment to reflect, on the anniversary of his death. With the closing of Black History Month, it seems like society has had the chance to look back on past black activists, politicians, celebrities, and athletes. But, what about the black victims? What about the people who didn’t get the chance to make a difference in the world yet? We need to look at Trayvon Martin and his effect on the Black Lives Matter movement still raging today.
When news of his death became public, the country was in outrage. We were all in disbelief. There were so many missing pieces. What was he doing that was so… wrong? Can having black skin and wearing a black hoodie really make you look that “mysterious” to the point where others feel endangered for their life? I remember this case like it was yesterday. I couldn’t wrap my brain around why racial tensions were still so high in 2012. Slavery has been over for decades… yet people are still being punished for being black.
Trayvon Martin is not just another person who has been killed. He is a prime example of the violence that African American face that has escalated throughout the years. He was the first of many. He became a cultural icon. Athletes, actors, actresses, and politicians have all spoken out against George Zimmerman and the injustice of Trayvon. Celebrities wore his face on their chests for months. He became a hashtag and a public figure. In today’s America, if you kill someone and say you were “defending” yourself, the jury will let you walk free. It’s the underlying blessing and curse of America. Everyone supposedly has freedom, but Trayvon Martin didn’t have enough freedom to walk to the gas station and pick up a snack without being shot.
Since 2012, multiple cases of senseless violence towards African Americans have become a household topic in this country. Sandra Bland, Philando Castille, Walter Scott, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, the list just goes on and on. Whether you agree with the Black Lives Matter Movement or not, this country must understand that in five years absolutely nothing has changed. Black America is trying to make a change for people like Trayvon who can no longer speak for himself. The people doing these mindless killings are being acquitted. Can you imagine your 17- year- old brother leaving to go to the store and never coming back because a grown man felt threatened by his appearance? That is why this case hits so close to home for me. I have two brothers and this could have been them. My parents had to sit my brothers down and have a full talk with them about what to do if they are racially profiled by a police officer. This case brought light to the racism that is still present on America. Trayvon Martin’s death will never be forgotten.
Picture Credits: University of Iowa