Taelyr C. Roberts

So I said that I wasn’t going to blog about this because it had been such a long time since I had written anything and I didn’t want to make my return to the blogging world with any semblance of negativity, but I felt that this needed to be said and a fluff piece at a time like this is unnecessary and pedestrian to say the least which is why I am pretty disappointed with the likes of Abercrombie & Fitch, die hard Taylor Swift fans, mainstream news media and social media alike who have only provided a plethora of distractions from more dangerous news to be brought to light. To a degree I am also frustrated with the amount of coverage that Paula Dean is getting as well; however her statements only aid in providing clarity in regards to the inherent racism we still face in the United States, so I guess I must thank her for her newest technique ‘open mouth, insert foot’. Despite my appreciation there are much bigger fish to fry and as wrong & unethical as Paula Deen is I must call falsehoods and frivolities to her being top news at the moment when the integrity of America is on trial. The platform? The Trayvon Martin case.

From Day 1 the law was in favor of George Zimmerman. This individual originally operated through proper channels by calling the police since he felt that this person (Trayvon Martin) was a danger to the neighborhood (disregarding his reasoning as to why he felt that  this individual was dangerous), but from there it was all downhill. Zimmerman was told by officers to leave the person alone, yet he disregarded those orders and took action into his own hands and by his hands a young boy was murdered. When the media originally covered this story Zimmerman’s race was unknown for quite some time, far too long in my opinion. When someone commits a crime (at least in my experience) and they are Black, Latino or Middle Eastern within hours you are made aware of that fact. It took days before there was even speculation as to his race perpetuated by mainstream media and for that I climb onto my soapbox with pride and ask why? Why is it that George Zimmerman gets a pass from media scrutiny when the President of the United States (a person who must go through some of the most rigorous background checking known to man might I add) is still being asked to present his long form birth certificate? The difference? You tell me.

Fast forwarding to the trial-his trial I remain atop my platform tapping my foot and asking the prosecution why this trial has taken an even more aggressive pursuit for the pits of hell and degradation  by patronizing the most reliable witness in this case? Is it because she reminds you of every woman that stood up for her rights or every Black woman you labeled whore or every Black man you labeled thug or every person of color that you distinguished to be inadequate and thus you thought she was easy? Or are you simply prosecuting the incorrect being because you are afraid that if you don’t break her now then you will have to break your back proving a client innocent that deserves to be behind bars? As much as I would like to say that George Zimmerman is the only one on trial here that is simply not true. Trayvon Martin is on trial, by the prosecutions actions & reactions Rachel Jeantel is on trial, but most  of all and perhaps most importantly the integrity of America is on trial- a trial that I am desperately hoping they don’t lose. With a case so focused on race, one would think that in jury selection a certain level of priority would be designated to quelling the anxiety of bystanders by allocating some members of color to the jury, but nope. Once again, America has failed its citizens, all of them; but especially those who believe that George Zimmerman was appropriate in his actions by not calling morality and ethical nature into question and thus providing an avenue for those individuals to remain ignorant. The summation of these facts, opinions and ideas bring me to one conclusion which is  that although there are no longer visible signs in the USA that say ‘White waiting room’ & ‘Colored waiting room’ there are people who have mentally formed this separation and those people unfortunately sit in some high places and the tagline associated with the new ‘White waiting room is  ‘not guilty’ and I can no longer quietly stand behind that logic. And even more unfortunate still, that logic is The American Way. In a day and age where so many people’s goal is to reach a state of colorblindness (which is so completely asinine and inappropriate, but that’s another post) I have yet to understand why superiority and inferiority must be established by a melanin count. And the lengths to which people have and will go to bring to one’s awareness that hierarchy is nothing short of astounding. Don’t believe me? Take a look here to view the necessary uplifting of a 9 year old as the media tried to rip her to shreds. Need more examples all you have to do is log in to any given social media site, turn on the news or do a quick Google search to view the criticisms of Rachel Jeantel in the Trayvon Martin case. And this ladies and gents has most certainly become the new normal and this norm is no longer something that I stomach, so America- your integrity is on trial and I pray to God that you are not found guilty of murder or lenience due to  a lack of disambiguation.

-yours in justice & in truth,

Taelyr C. Roberts

For a detailed account of the Zimmerman trial, you can find it here.

For a truly awe inspiring letter to Rachel Jeantel click here. If you enjoyed this one feel free to be even more empowered by this letter to Quvenzhane Wallis.