In the wake of George Zimmerman being found not guilty in the death of Trayvon Martin, Americans took to the streets and to the computers to voice their opinions. The tragedy of Martin’s death lies in the fact that a boy of just 17 was shot resulting in his death. Controversy aside, the case made one thing clear, America’s notion of being a post-racial society is nothing but a dream.
Post-racial America is supposedly a society in which race plays no role in the function of the state or in the day-to-day activities of the populace. If you ask me, it’s a fantasy. Racism is quite prevalent throughout these United States. We try to mask it. After the Zimmerman verdict was announced Twitter was ablaze with the “I’m not racist but…” tweets. My personal favorite was “we aren’t a racist society, OUR president is black!” I’m sorry unnamed Twitter user, but we are a racist society.
We can’t ever call ourselves a post-racial society until we step away from our obsession with race. The United States has always been proud to be a melting pot of cultures. It is, however, a pride that fades when it’s various melting pot ingredients conflicts with one another. Then the ideology is broken and the truth is revealed.
Such is what happened in the case of Trayvon Martin. Whether you believe George Zimmerman acted in malice against a youth who’s only crime was being black, or if you believe he acted out of self-defense, the truth is simple. Trayvon Martin is dead and that has re-sparked the debate on race relations in the United States. The problem is there should be no debate. There should but only one group speaking – Americans.
Americans shouldn’t be screaming over each other in disagreement. They should be coming together to mourn the loss of life. It is time that this country reevaluates its position on race. Let us take this moment and learn.
Let us come together and stop ignoring a problem that has always been there. Learn from Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman. It’s time for the melting pot to start melting.
GOOD BUSINESS 