Not Again
This week I have turned my attention to the Michael Dunn trial in Florida, which involves the shooting and murder of a unarmed black teen Jordan Davis by armed Michael Dunn who is exclaiming self defense. This sounds all too familiar. All I can think is not again. I cannot get involved in the Dunn case after the bitter defeat experienced in the George Zimmerman trial. The shock and awe of the not guilty verdict rendered on George Zimmerman in the shooting death of teen Trayvon Martin has yet to fade.
As much as I tried, my humanist spirit rallied my need for justice and closure. I am emotionally involved in the murder of Jordan Davis in the same way I became with Trayvon Martin. Teen boys killed before they could flourish into men. I have come to know the victim and his life before death through his family and friends testimonies on a young man who was the polar opposite of the “thug” Dunn and Zimmerman claimed to be “defending” themselves from. I see Jordan Davis’ face and I see a future doctor, teacher or musician. But at last he is another young black man who has had his life snuffed out before he could even reach his prime. I fear that there will be no solace found in justice after it eluded the Martin family several months ago in 2013. I hold out hope that this jury will do the right thing and not come back weeks after the verdict to voice that they indeed made a wrong choice and set another monster free.
I do not apologize for crying for these young men. I am ashamed that I tried to turn my head and guard my heart against another possible not guilty verdict. We are among the guilty for allowing the festering idea that people of color are disposable and deserve no justice. I listen to Dunn’s testimony and I wonder how did we get here. Here being a place where someone can decide if you are worthy of living based on your appearance and their perceptions of who you are. The wound of injustice in the Martin case has yet to scab over and here we are picking at it again in hopes that it will heal. But the scar will always remain.