I'm not Trayvon Martin

[Gravitycollapse]

People would see me walking by their house and go about their business. Any neighborhood watch would be suspicious of me up to the point when they realize I'm white. After that, they might tell me to hurry home to make sure I'm not mugged by any people of color.

We are not all Trayvon Martin. The world we live in simply does not allow for such coldly comfortable fantasy.

[quinnox]

1. Good post

K&R

We white folk have no idea what these minorities go through.

[madashelltoo]

2. Truth

Thanks.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

3. Here...

From Tumblr

http://wearenottrayvonmartin.tumblr.com

[sheshe2]

6. And what if~

Joseph Phelan
‏@mainframecomms
Photo: We are not Trayvon Martin. My boyfriend (right) and I (left) are both white, middle-class college... http://tmblr.co/ZUFjDrpm71fC

this couple was beaten and or killed by a person that, profiled them. Stalked them and killed them out of hate for their beliefs. For their right to love a person of their choice.

I believe in equal rights for all. And yes. I would stand by them.

They are a part of me.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

8. I agree with this. But I also think the original tumblr made an interesting point.

[gleannfia]

4. I am a white woman

in her early 50s. I recall soon after this horrible tragedy, I was looking in a shop window in Duluth, MN, late at night. A cop drove by, glanced at me, and moved on. I was struck by the fact that I am most assuredly NOT Trayvon Martin.

[Skittles]

5. I'm a middle-aged gal, night worker

I stay up all night on my nights off and routinely walk around up to 03:00 in the morning - I DO get some strange looks sometimes (and I very often will tell people I am a night worker so it is normal for me) and I have been sized up by cops (they often wonder if my car broke down) but no one FOLLOWS me

[Scootaloo]

7. This youtuber sums it up

[nyquil_man]

27. Made me think of this:

[CitizenLeft]

29. that was powerful

and she's right.

[PD Turk]

9. I'm not Trayvon either

I'm a 51 year old white guy who lives in a little unincorporated rural area in Oklahoma. We have some boys around here that could be Trayvon though. They're not black though, two of them are Native American and one is Hispanic. They've all had a rough time out here, The NA brothers lost both of their parents within a year of each other and they live with their elderly grandfather. The Hispanic boy lives with his mother, his father left a couple years ago and never came back.

Unfortunately, we also have a couple George Zimmermans living out here, especially the old SOB that lives behind me. Somebody stole some tools out of his shed and he immediately blamed the boys. I'd bet my bottom dollar his meth freak son-in-law took them but he'd rather pick on the brown kids.

I've pretty much let everyone around here know that those boys are under my protection and my place is a safe haven for them.God knows the ineffectual local law enforcement here isn't any help. I don't care if everybody thinks I'm the "mean old biker" , they probably already thought that anyway. Maybe I can't change the world, but if I can help look out for these boys , well, that's something I can do....

There's just one thing I can't figure out. One of the boys called me "uncle Wade", and my name isn't Wade, and they often refer to me as "WG" but when I ask them what it means they just laugh and say "you'll figure it out". Just this afternoon one said to the other, "he's pure WG". I'm getting to be old and in the way and have no idea what a "WG" is in teen lingo these days?

[Heywood J]

39. I haven't been a teen in many years, but I'm guessing from the context that this is probably it.

I'm a 51 year old white guy

[PD Turk]

40. That was my first thought

But they assure me that's not it.... I ought to scob their knobs until they tell me lol

It's got something to do with the one boy calling me "uncle Wade". Hmmm... now who he hell is "Wade G?"

[Boom Sound 416]

10. Walk around a housing complex

In the rain for 45 minutes that's been burglarized 42 times and has not filed proper paper work with the local PD for patrol and fit the description a man arrested and released and re-arrested for burglary and if nothing happens I will be the first one to agree with you.

[Gravitycollapse]

11. What exactly are you trying to get at here, chief?

Because if you're saying what I think you're saying, maybe you would find a more hospitable place over at Freerepublic.

[Boom Sound 416]

12. Let me tell tell you a story, Sport

But let me preface that I'm white

A couple weeks ago as I was getting my baby into her car seat I noticed a car slow in front of my house. Stop. The white woman looked at my house for some time. Then took a picture of it. I put my baby in the car and drove around my neighbor till I found. I gave her the benefit of doubt, not because she was white or female but because I try to be a decent human being. She explained to me she works for a real estate company and my house was a recent sale and she was compile "comparatives". I thanked her for her time. Apologized if I made her feel uncomfortable and went on my way.

A week a later. Another SUV pulled up. A white man was driving. Remembering what has happened previously I gave him the benefit of doubt. I did not see whether or not he took a picture but I stepped out of the house and walked toward the vehicle. He saw me. He drove away. I'm suspicious of that man. Probably is nothing. But he could have talked to me.

That's what I'm getting at.

[Gravitycollapse]

13. Oh, I see...so your post wasn't at all about profiling black people. Right?

[Boom Sound 416]

14. You said

If you walk around people's houses, they will care until they find out your're white.

But it seems to me you won't care as long as long as the home owners are white, you are the profiler. You aren't worried about walking around other white people's houses. That seems certain. Because you and all the other white people know white people don't commit crimes.

Further more your premise is "i don't understand and that's why I understand."

Maybe you should try you own link.

[Gravitycollapse]

15. *Woooosh* That's the sound of my OPs message rocketing over your head.

[Boom Sound 416]

17. Yeah. Go with that one, Ace

[Gravitycollapse]

18. It's miles above you. Might even reach the edge of space.

[Boom Sound 416]

19. Well feel free to explain

I'm happy to concede and learn

[Gravitycollapse]

21. White people always feel the need to remind us, in times like this...

That white people commit crime and can also be profiled.

Comes from the same vein as those who rant about wanting a white entertainment channel because BET exists.

For every white person illegitimately profiled, there are probably hundreds of illegitimately profiled minorities. And for every time a white person is picked up by the police, there are probably thousands of instances where they draw no attention at all.

This is the difference. Racial profiling against minorities is systemic and horrific. Racial profiling against white people is essentially non-existent.

And for you to try and turn that around is absolutely absurd.

[Boom Sound 416]

24. Well my first question is

What is a legitimate racial profile? Because among other painfully obvious concepts you discuss illegitimate profiling.

Next where did I or anyone racially profile a white person? In my story? Because maybe we need to talk about space again.

"And for everytime a white person is picked up...thousand of instances...draw no attention". Yeah, I think I'm missing something there. Is a there a sentence missing, a qualifier of some kind?

And as far as my need to remind you that white people commit crime, again lets go back to space. The story is about not letting race cloud your judgment. To not profile. To look at the actions of someone and base your suspicion on those actions and the situational context.

Black adults and teens walk by my house all the time. Either solo or in small group. (I live near a middle and high school) What the hell do I care. They are just people walking down the street who couldn't give a damn about me or my house. But yes and dare I say. The day a black man pulls out a camera and takes a photo and stares at my house and then waits for me as I walk out and I give him the benefit of the doubt because I try to be a decent human being. And he answers my questions. And I thank him. That will be the day I DONT find him suspicious. and since we're taking about space. The day a fucking green Martian does the same thing and sees me coming but instead gets back in his ship and takes off. Yes. That is the day I find him suspicious.

And BET, really? It's 2013.

[Gravitycollapse]

25. All racial profiling is illegitimate. Hence my usage of the term repeatedly.

[Boom Sound 416]

26. Well up in the stratosphere it's called wordy

And maybe you need to hence yourself back to earth a little bit more and don't try to sound like you put your big boy pants on today.

[Gravitycollapse]

30. ...

Gratuitous usage of correct descriptors against incessant abusers of their racial privilege, who laud the unsubstantiated idea that anglo-saxons are subjected to systematic racial prejudice, marginalization and abjectification by law enforcement officers, is just one of plethora of naturally endowed intellectual gifts bestowed upon me.




Don't know what to tell you. If you think using "illegitimate" to describe racial profiling is wordy, I suggest you pick up a thesaurus.

[Boom Sound 416]

34. That's all fun and good

But you still haven't repsonded to #24 and until then you're just bobbin and weavin.

Oh and resorting to name calling on the Internet. Use your thesaurus on that and at least keep me entertained.

[Gravitycollapse]

35. You came in here trying to justify profiling and fell flat on your face.

I answered your first question. The second was too stupid to deserve a response.

Also, never called you a name in that post. Might want to read it again.

[Boom Sound 416]

36. Something about flying the rebel flag

And states rights

Unless something went over my head there

And as far as justifying profiling. If that's how you took what I repeatedly said, then yes, we are on two different orbits.

I'll live

[Hoyt]

28. Maybe folks photgraph your house because of the confederate flag motif or vibe.

[Gravitycollapse]

31. Hey, flying the Rebel Flag is all about Southern heritage and state's rights!

[ucrdem]

33. Don't forget the 4th amendment. nt

[Boom Sound 416]

32. Maybe you should read the other

Posts. Or keep your thoughts to yourself so I might just think you're fool rather you remove all doubt.

But yes. There is a flag in front of my house. OUR flag because our country is at war and regardless of how we got there, men and woman (and family members of mine) are in combat and I fly a flag off my house to show my support to the anyone who passes by with camera or not. But that's just me and what I like to do.

Yes I'm a southerner living in the north and I'll tell you this: Their isnt too much a of damn difference.

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

16. The first time I ever rode the Amtrak, I was looking for my tickets to show the conductor...

And he told me and my girlfriend at the time: "You guys don't look like terrorists."

Full Disclosure: I'm white.

[Boom Sound 416]

20. I'm white and when I don't shave I get

"Arabic" all the time. Even in winter!

[Gravitycollapse]

22. Horse shit. You don't expect us to believe that kind of nonsense, do you?

[Boom Sound 416]

23. I'm still waiting for you to explain your OP

Or is it in intergalactic space now

And why in the name of Heaven and Larry would I care what you believe.

[libodem]

37. We might not be exactly

But I'm there in solidarity, none the less. In my heart he is my son, too. It makes me very sad.

[RedCappedBandit]

38. I often go on jogs throughout my neighborhood between 1-5am

I even do so wearing a hoody. Sometimes, a black hoody!

I've even had police drive right by me.

Never been followed. Never been confronted.

But then, I'm white


I get the point of the meme, though, that we're all Trayvon.



Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere -mlk