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Examples Of Structural Racism

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My example of structural racism that I chose was how on February 24, 2015, the US Justice Department announced that no federal civil rights charges will be brought against George Zimmerman, who was the man who murdered Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012. This case awoke an evil demon that has been haunting this country since the end of slavery. That demon is structural racism. Even though there was a significant amount of evidence that indicated George Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin, he was acquitted because Trayvon was black, and in this country, that’s okay. Structural racism allows for the unconsciously taking of another person’s life without consequence. In this country, this gears more towards the lives of African Americans. You can …show more content…

Trayvon was visiting his father in Sanford, Florida after getting a 10-day suspension from school for a possession of drug residue in backpack. His murderer, George Zimmerman was the neighborhood watch captain at the gated community of the Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford. On the night of the murder, George called 911 to report a, as he described, a “suspicious person” walking through the neighborhood. His description of Trayvon perpetuates the racial bias and attitudes most non-African Americans have towards black Americans. Any African American with a hood is deemed as “dangerous” or “suspicious.” This stereotype has hovered over the African American community forever. When George Zimmerman called the police, he was instructed to not approach the person, Trayvon Martin. “Moments later, neighbors report hearing gunfire” (“Trayvon Martin Shooting Fast Facts”). Zimmerman completely disregarded the instructions, and he stated in the 911 call that he had shot Trayvon. He …show more content…

This case caused so much racial tension because we had some white people who believed what Zimmerman did was correct, and then we had people who were for the conviction of Zimmerman. The country was divided, and it realized a lot of people’s true colors. Zimmerman was able to make bond when he first went to jail. He made bail quickly, which meant that racist people donated to his bond fund because they thought he was wrongfully charged, and they loved the idea of “another black person off the street.” This case showed that structural racism is live and well. It is running profusely through our institutions and judicial system. Our judicial system allowed a man who was a neighborhood block watch captain shoot and kill an unarmed African American teen in cold blood because he was walking through his neighborhood and wearing a hood. We have to do something in this country to work towards the fight of racial justice. People will think it’s okay to kill black people for no reason, well if they feel it’s “self defense.” That’s why we see a rise in the killing of African Americans in this country without consequences. This is not what we live for. We live to value everyone’s life, and we’re doing the complete

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