P.S Sincerely, Adventure

I have heard people question why we care about Trayvon Martin but not about the deaths that occur so often in our own city of Chicago.

I think these deaths are different in nature. In the case of Trayvon Martin we have a non-black who clearly held preconceived notions about black males and killed this young man for doing nothing but walking. This is automatically an issue of race. Issues of race can unite a people nationally (as we have seen in the time span since the tragedy occurred). I think people feel like, wow that could have been my son, my nephew, or ME because they/I am a black male. That could have been our boyfriend, our brother or cousin or whatever. It just feels so unfair because this man is FREE after killing an innocent child. That is injustice in its purest form.

In regards to the crime in Chicago, I feel like people have become desensitized to it. Which is understandable. Its probably learned helplessness. It happens so often, you march, it keeps happening and you’re like FUCK IT, its just going to keep happening. Issues with crime in the black community are deeply rooted in the economic disparities that exist in our poverty-stricken neighborhoods. This issue is systemic and a result of oppression of our people throughout the centuries.

So in essence I feel that the two situations differ (one racially fueled while one is impacted by the more difficult problem of poverty and oppression). Maybe people feel its easier to garnish a result by marching about Trayvon Martin for immediate results, rather than marching to demand that the government begin funneling more resources into our most disadvantaged communities which can take years.

But I guess they are similar issues in that they are injustices. Just in different forms. This kind of went in circles but I was just trying to organize my thoughts.

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