Racist America

Racist America
DJ

Abstract
For generations in America racism has been a huge problem. Racism lives on now today and still is a serious problem in the streets of America. There have been many high profiled cases over the last several years that spotlight the severity of the problem. In this paper, I will discuss the occurrences that occurred in the Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown case which displays the severity racism problem that lives on in America.

Two very mainstream cases hit America recently. Both sparked up discrimination and hate. Innocent people dying, outraging riots, and families being torn apart. All caused by racism. Many ask will it be able to be stopped? and how can it be stopped? The answers lie within the people for, racism has been around for generations. As I believe there is a way for it to end and everyone to be treated equally will be explained in a point of view is if I was the chief of police during Trayvon Martin's case, and Mike Browns.

Trayvon Martin
Trayvon Martin was born in Florida on February 5th, 1995. Trayvons parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, divorce four years later. Trayvon attended public schools in Florida including the Dr. Michael M. Krop High school in Miami Gardens. With parents who wanted to show him the amazing things in life such as skiing trips, horseback riding, and a trip to New York to take in the sights. At Carol High, where Trayvon attended before Krop, Trayvon had attended english honor classes, although it was said that math class was his favorite subject in school. Trayvon Martin was tall and athletically inclined with tattoos of family names on his frame, Trayvon was very interested in school and also wanted to maybe one day become a pilot. Yet he also started to have problems at school, getting suspended at different times.
Tragic Death
February 26th 2012 a man named George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, called 911 to report someone doing something suspicious activity. He was instructed by police to not leave his SUV or approach the person. Zimmerman ignored all the instructions given to him. Soon later, gunfire was reported by neighbors. Zimmerman acknowledges that he has shot Trayvon Martin, stating it was in self defense. In a police report, officer Timothy Smith writes that Zimmerman was bleeding from the nose and the back of the head. The next day Feb 27th Trayvon’s father Tracy Martin files a missing person report. Officers with Sanford police Department then visit Tracy’s Martin. His father is able to identify his son’s body using a photo. March 8, 2012 Investigators received a fax from the Altamonte Family Practice containing the medical records identifying the injuries sustained by Zimmerman on the night of the shooting. Zimmermans father wrote a letter trying to state racism had nothing to do with this, stating how his son is hispanic and grew up in a multiracial family. 911 calls eventually were released and in the background you can hear Trayvon pleading for his life.
A voice screamed “Help, help” then after that came the sound of the gunshot. These events all began with Trayvon leaving his house to go get some candy and a drink. Martin started to walk between houses a shortcut to get back to his father’s house. The footage of the gas station showed Trayvon having no criminal or aggressive behavior. It was later even revealed Trayvon was on the phone with his girlfriend, when he told her he was being followed and began to run away. Zimmerman who it is said never identified himself as a community watch to Trayvon. Their encounter will remain a mystery from what really happened, for one is only alive to state his side. But everything ending with Trayvon taking a bullet to the chest. Being killed less than a hundred yards away from the house he was staying at.
Trayvon & Racism
Trayvon was unarmed shot and killed by George Zimmerman. It was told by Robinson (2013)
“Trayvon Martin was Fighting more than Zimmerman that night. He was up against prejudices as old as American history, and he never had a chance.” (p.1). As for this instilling terror into African Americans who feel the streets are not safe, and even the ones who are suppose to be protecting them as cops sworn into oath to protect American citizens from dangers are not safe. Once Zimmerman was cleared of all murders race riots broke out in more than a 100 cities. It was even said America was braced for the race riots about to happen after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murder of an unarmed black teenager. Media also tagging strong on the racism, releasing photos of Trayvon trying to make him be seen as a juvenile. Such as a picture of Trayvon smoking marijuana, and also a picture where he is showing a gold grill in his mouth. Media being a huge part of the outrage people hit twitter and started posting
“If they gunned me down what photo would media use?” out of all the photos of Trayvon, the media world lays down hate on the African American race from headlines all the way to photos that could have been have taken as jokes. An example of racist headline being
“theater movie shooting suspect was a brilliant science student” Where Mike Brown’s headline stated “police: Michael Brown struggled with officer before shooting”. As anyone can tell media's role in racism is huge. Many rap artist also joined the media trying to shine some light on everything. Such as a song called “don’t shoot” where many African American rappers grieve the loss of Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown. Jayceon taylor better known by stage name (The Game 2014) spoke his mind through his lyrics “seen the pictures, feel the pain scandalous how they murder son, tired of them killing us i’m on my way to Ferguson. This whole song promotes positive attitude to stop the rioting stop racism.
Trayvon’s Case
I as the chief of police of Sanford, Florida would want to go to every extent to have George Zimmerman arrested. George Zimmerman murdered an unarmed teenager and race doesn't matter for, he committed murder. For media I would like to attempt to put an end to the photos that discriminate the dead. This would be tough but I would like to attempt to have only pictures from school photos to make things more professional. Releasing photos trying to portray someone as something they’re not is what gets the community heated. Also it would be very important to stop the rioting at whatever cost. Rioting is not the answer to anything and will only create more problems. Also ruining cities more people getting injured. For this situation as anyone could tell for a chief of police this would be a very stressful situation to try to control.
Mike Brown
Mike Brown was another unarmed black teenager who was mentioned above about media headlines discriminating him. Mike Brown was shot dead on August 9th by Darren Wilson, a white police officer. Some witnesses say the teenager assaulted the officer and attempted to try and grab his gun. Other people claim that Darren was the aggressor. But all accounts agree Brown ran and turned back but to attack or surrender? Witnesses state Dorian Johnson (Mike’s friend) and Mike brown went to the ferguson Market and Liquor. Surveillance video shows Mike pushing a man out the way as walking away with cigars. Brown and Johnson are then walking in the middle of the street, heading to Johnson's house. When then a Ferguson police officer confronts them. It is then stated the officer tells the young men
“Get the fuck on the sidewalk” or “get the fuck out of the street.” this according to Mike's friend. They then replied that they were minutes away to the house and they would be out of the street.
Tragic Death
Officer Wilson then slams his car in reverse almost hitting the two young men. Mike’s friend stating they were inches away from getting ran over. In Mike’s friends words he stated
“We were so close, almost inches away, that when he tried to open his door, that when he opened his door aggressively, the door ricocheted both off me and and Big Mike’s body and closed back on the officer” Johnson said. Still in his car officer Wilson reaches and grabs Brown by his neck, Johnson stated. Brown tries to pull away, But the officer keeps wrestling him. The officer draws his weapon. He says “i’ll shoot” Johnson then sees that the officer has the gun drawn. Both are now at gunpoint and officer Wilson pulls the trigger Johnson able to move away but Mike hit in the chest. Johnson then said
“At no point in time did they struggle over the weapon because the fact that the weapon was already drawn on us.” After this Mike Brown started to attempt to run away when all of a sudden officer Wilson struck him again with another shot. After this Mike Brown came out with his hands up. Showing he was not armed officer Wilson then busted more shots at Mike Brown he dropped dead had no chance of surviving this incident.
Brown’s Case
I as the ferguson chief of police would want to do the same as I stated for Trayvon’s case. Mike Brown retreated said by many witnesses I would want everything to be analyzed at the best we could do. If facts fall in place Officer Wilson deserves to be sentenced to prison. Officer Wilson killed Mike Brown execution style. This could have easily been stopped and not pushed to that extent I would for sure have Wilson fired right away. For this case also riots are not the answer. Things were not solved completely for all I know Wilson committed murder and needs to pay the price.
Conclusion
Racism is a horrible thing to still exist. I have faith one day everyone will be treated equally, that the color of people’s skin will not matter. But for now things will remain the same for, it comes from the roots of generations of racisms. May Trayvon Martin, and Michael Brown rest in peace.

References
Pearce, M (2014). Back story: What happened in Michael Brown shooting In Ferguson, MO? Retrieved from: http://www.latimes.com/nation/

 Robinson, E    (2013). Racism and the Trayvon Martin case. Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/racism-and-the-trayvon-martin-case/2013/07/18/e380d58e-ee32-11e2-bb32-725c8351a69e_story.html?utm_term=.59bbda6dac94

Taylor, J (2014) “Don’t Shoot” retrieved from: http://www.metrolyrics.com/dont-shoot-lyrics-game.html

Wing, N (2014). When Media Treats White Suspects And Killers Better Than Black Victims. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/14/media-black-victims_n_5673291.html