By James Thompson
HOUSTON – The death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin at the hands of George Zimmerman is certainly tragic. Trayvon Martin was an African-American youth wearing a hoodie in the rain carrying some Skittles and Iced Tea. He was shot by George Zimmerman, a Latino, and subsequently died after a struggle.
A jury composed of all Anglo women acquitted Zimmerman on the basis of self-defense. The trial got the attention of the corporate owned media and there was non-stop coverage. A circus like atmosphere has surrounded the whole affair. It has not been a sober memorial to the death of this youth.
Why would the corporate media focus on the death of one child? Aren’t there wars raging and cities failing in this time of great discontent? The mainstream media also focused on a very articulate and moving talk by President Obama in which he revealed some of the horrific experiences he has had as a black man in America. Why did he choose this moment to share when he has been in office for almost six years now? Protests raged across the country over the weekend.
In Houston, there were rival protests. One supported Trayvon Martin in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Houston, River Oaks. Another one was about 2 miles away and was much smaller and supported George Zimmerman. A friend was able to participate in the march supporting Trayvon Martin and sent me text messages throughout. He texted several times about the mounted police and how intimidating they were. He also noted “it’s crazy out here. Crowd almost went nuts when the police split up the group.†He reported there were pro-Zimmerman signs which read “White as America†and “Wear a hoodie in my neighborhood.â€
Two other friends of mine had a disagreement about the trial verdict as well.
There is another tragedy besides the death of Trayvon Martin which has been ignored by the media.
The country has been polarized by this event. African-Americans and Latino-Americans have been effectively split while the media fans the flames. I have not heard any public official call for unity of all people during this nightmare. I have not heard any public official point out that there is horrific racism against both African-Americans and Latino-Americans and that this is a tie that binds them. I have not heard any public official declare that racism hurts people of all races. I have not heard any public official call for people of all races to unite and fight for a better country and better world free of racism.
However, there was a little 8-year old girl, Gabby North, at the rally in Houston who wrote a song which she sang at the event. She sang, “Do they know of the hearts they are breaking? Do they know of the lives they are taking? Do they know black or white we are precious in his eyes? We are one, we are one.â€
Throughout the history of capitalism, splitting has been one of the most effective tactics used by the ownership class. They have split workers through racism in order to lower everyone’s wages. They have split countries, one against another, so that working people from different countries fight while the wealthy become wealthier. Wherever there has been a slaughter, there has been massive wealth made through theft. It is easier to steal from people while they are fighting their neighbor. This is one of the secrets of capitalism. It is easier to steal from the black person while the white person terrorizes the black community. It is easier to steal from the white person while he is distracted by racism.
So while the circus surrounding the tragic death of a young black man distracted people from the larger picture, the corporate media sold working people things they didn’t need. While blacks and whites and browns are fighting, the wealthy people are maximizing their profits with no regard for any of the tragedies surrounding the case of Trayvon Martin.
It was encouraging that the supporters of Trayvon Martin in Houston took their protests to the source of the problem of racism, the wealthy, instead of taking their frustrations about racism out on working people.
Working people can and will wake up and understand the words of an 8 year old girl “We are one. We are one.â€
