Although it might be very, very difficult to sit aside our anger, perhaps spontaneous thoughts of vigilante-style physical retaliation and/or our retribution towards Zimmerman, we must nonetheless do so; for even if such response is somehow a viable option for some in thought, it is a dead end option that does very little to ease our acute pain/disgust. It does very little to deter this unacceptable, horrific behavior from perpetuating itself. It does very little to address a long “broken” justice system and national discrimination against people of color—discrimination that has morphed from being blatantly overt to becoming densely covert to the point that many do not even realize that it still exists.
From a mature posture that initially (at first glance) appears to be highly incomprehensible, ineffective or unhealing, we should attempt to do something that is unimaginable by many at this stage–we must not wish ill will upon Zimmerman nor the jurors and from the theological perspective we must even find a way to forgive.
As individuals and as groups we must continue to address those social ills/components that exist in America that produce a nation whereby injustice, bigotry and hate can easily thrive. We must express and voice our hurt/pain and dissatisfaction throughout our communities through reasonable means. We must continue to pressure our lawmakers for change through discourse, sermons, our conversations, letters, e-mails, texts, tweets; through protests, marches, boycotts, participation in the political process and through our votes. As America’s People of Color we must close the ranks and address our plight in a unilateral manner and not permit dissention by those of any color who feel that injustice, bigotry and hate are none-issues in America. Yet, we must open our arms and embrace all people who are willing to assist in our cause. We must also be persistent with these methods and not let other “Breaking News” take media precedence, pale or dilute neither our dilemma nor our will to realize fairness and justice. And while it is imperative that we do this, we must simultaneously respect the individual right to freedom of speech for all Americans.
I know that many of us are arguably angry, hurt and have malice in our hearts at the moment, but if we ignore the acceptable and legal methods/processes designed to induce change and instead opt to take justice into our own hands in the Trayvon Martin case, we will invariably have to take vigilante-justice into our own hands in the cases of Jordan Davis, Darius Simmons and many, many other such cases. Let logic and clarity prevail my friends no matter how slowly the wheels of justice rotate.
Dr. Willie Hancock, Ed.D.