Jordan Davis: Thoughts From A Black Teenager

[WilliamPitt]

Jordan Davis: Thoughts From A Black Teenager

I get scared every time I turn on the news now. My thoughts on the verdict of Jordan Davis, the 17-year-old young African American man who was shot to death by Michael Dunn are simple: as a black boy in this day and age, my trust and sense of safety is dwindling as I write this. First Trayvon Martin, then Renisha McBride, and now Jordan Davis, as well as too many others to name. What is the news telling me when people that look just like me are getting murdered just because? To me this means that America is a long way away from Martin’s dream of people being judged by the content of their character. To me this means that even though we have a black president, things are definitely not perfect. And to me this means that some white people still don’t know that they’re not just killing three-fifths of a person anymore.

This entire case hits home for me because Jordan Davis could have been a lot of people I know. He could have been my cousins who live in Florida. He could have been my brother Cole. He could have been me. Over the course of two years since Trayvon was killed, my mental process and the way I hold myself in public has changed, without a doubt. I’m constantly evaluating and questioning myself: should I change the way I am because of other people? My answer is always, no, probably not. But do I change myself because it keeps me safe? Yes, definitely. I try to distance myself from any sort of commotion or conflict happening around me because I know it’s too easy for someone to come along and make me a suspect. I try to be extra nice to strangers so they don’t get the wrong impression. And unless it’s negative 20 below zero, I’ll take a hat, not a hood. And I’m not a “thug” in any way, shape, or form. I get good grades, I try to use manners when I need to, and always try to keep a smile on my face. But I know that that doesn’t mean a thing to someone who is threatened by me. By the skin I’m in. Because racists and even regular people who let stereotypes push their fear don’t see me as a complete individual with good home training and good morals. All they see is dark pigment walking down the street and they’re ready to pull the trigger.

Although Michael Dunn is going to prison for his wrong-doing, it still doesn’t feel right. After all, somebody going to prison doesn’t mean the event didn’t happen. Jordan Davis’ parents still mourn, and we still lost a valuable life and teenage black boys like me are still hearing the message loud and clear: it’s open season on us. Plus, the murder of Jordan Davis isn’t even the reason why Dunn is going to jail! He’s going to jail for what? For almost killing Jordan Davis’ friends who were in the car, and for shooting deadly missiles. Not because he shot somebody in cold blood for no reason, but because he didn’t kill more people and was using a gun. This brings me to another force that I clearly can’t trust: The American criminal justice system.

Why is it that my father tells me not to confront the police even in times of danger? Because all too often, the police and the criminals have the same mindset: “Let’s get rid of all these brown faces once and for all.” How come those 11 jurors and that judge could not come up with the verdict that was staring them right in the face? I don’t know. I can’t quite comprehend how a fear gives someone the right to take someone’s life. Honestly, I feel like the verdict answers to a fear of making too many people mad. This phobia is the same one that the jurors of Trayvon’s case had, and it was the same one that the jurors in Troy Davis’ case had back in 2011. I can’t help but to think that the American criminal justice system is set up to condone the loss of a black life rather than anger the white community it serves.

The rest: http://www.thedarkerlens.com/2014/02/18/jordan-davis-thoughts-from-a-black-teenager/

Read it. Share it.

[WilliamPitt]

1. Up

[sinkingfeeling]

2. It breaks my heart to read something like that and to know that it's the

'real' America and all my thoughts that we've become a more equitable society aren't true.

[Blue_Tires]

3. Exactly...

[WilliamPitt]

4. Up

[WilliamPitt]

5. UP

[theHandpuppet]

6. Heartwrenching

Thanks for sharing this.

The haters are doing their best to take over America. This has got to stop. IT HAS TO STOP.

[MrScorpio]

7. This is written for those who really don't have clue...

About what's like to live as a Black person in America.

[WilliamPitt]

8. UP

[mcar]

9. Heartfelt. Heartbreaking.

No child should have to grow up with this fear.

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. I would just add this: even if a black teenager *was* a "thug" - you still don't get to shoot him

These defenses simply asking (white) America to see black teenagers as humans are fair enough, and much needed. But they usually operate on a purity defense: this kid gets good grades and never does anything wrong, and goes to school, and defies all those stereotypes. Fine. Fair enough.

But even if the kid is not that pure, you still don't get to shoot him . You still don't get to shoot the black teenager, even if he's rough around the edges, white America.

A lot of 17 year olds get up to no good. They get in fights. They hang with a "rough" crowd, or brawl with kids from the next town or park or neighborhood over. They hold keg parties in the parks and woods and empty lots of America. They drive fast cars too fast. They maybe get locked up on this or that for a night or two. They smoke some joints. They blow some blunts. They drink 40's and six packs of cheap beer. They talk trash and strut, and generally do stupid shit.

And then they grow out of it. And then they grow out of it.

White kids. Black kids. Latino kids. Asian kids. Etc.

And you still don't get to shoot the black ones, white America.

Because 99% of them grow out of it. If you don't KILL THEM.

[gollygee]

11. :(

[WillyT]

12. K & R !!!

[WilliamPitt]

13. One last up

[jsr]

14. +1

[polichick]

16. Heartbreaking. Here in Florida I find myself scanning restaurants...

and other public places, watching to make sure nobody is harassing anyone else, half expecting some nutbag to get pissed and pull his gun. Crazy country we've got going.