This has nothing to do with the justice system, juries or the courts. It has to do with human decency and common sense. Young black men, black men in general and all men of color have a different expierience with the police and the criminal justice system. That expierience is real and it's a fact of life. These young men need to act differently then white men when followed or confronted by the police. All you have to do is have a conversation with any black family about how they need to talk about this issue to their sons or nephews. It goes something like this - "roll down all four windows, turn on the dome light and put your hands on the wheel and certainly don't argue." Or this - "Never argue with the police. There are only three results. You'll go to jail, you'll go to the hospital or you'll go to the morgue." These are real conversations that some people may not want to think about. These conversations happen everyday.
As a society we need to think about, analyze and do something about this. Conversations have started. People are struggling with understanding how a young black man, walking home, unarmed can be targeted, followed, provoked and in the end shot and killed. I'm struggling with how some people have found ways to blame the victim, indicating he could or should have done something differently.
While that discussion continues I along with other whites, can do one thing very clearly and that's to offer an apology to Trayvon Martin, his parents and all young men of color. This isn't right, it shouldn't happen and I apologize for the behavior that leads to this unfair and often times violent treatment. We all need to do better.
