[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by dead_battery

Your argument rests on the assumption that Zimmerman would have reacted differently had their been a white person pummeling the shit out of him. But he's not thinking about stereotypes as the fists are coming down on him.

NO. THAT IS WHERE YOU MISUNDERSTAND HOW RACE PLAYS INTO THIS. We're not accusing Zimmerman of being racist, we're accusing the narrative that "Zimmerman was defending himself justifiably with lethal force" as being racist. It almost has NOTHING to do with Zimmerman personally, more so the aftermath of his terrible decision. If had killed a white teenager, the crime would be the same, but because it was a black kid we have a blame the victim approach dominating the post-verdict narrative.

OK - so "america is afraid of young black teenage males"

But isn't there a reason for this that isn't just racism?

NOPE, none what-so-ever. It is by definition racism to target, stereotype, or profile a race of individuals. There are plenty of candyass black teenage males out there, and even they'd be blamed if it were them in place of Trayvon. Hell, Trayvon could have been the one getting "pounded on the ground" and many people would probably STILL defend Zimmerman because, you know, those blacks and all their quite dangerous

Here, watch me put it in explicitly anti racist terms:

"Due to the inherent structural inequality of American life, young black males are particularly vulnerable to crime and violence. A combination of low income and short life expectancy means that blah blah blah"

That is not accurate. Teenagers universally get into trouble. When they are black? Their punishments are often excessive and retaliatory. When its white kids committing petty crimes, its a "boys will be boys" approach whereas when black teens do the same silly kid shit, its "throw the book at em" Look at the sentencing history, black men often get twice if not ten times the sentence lengths as whites for the same crimes and scenarios. This is not an exaggeration, it is a statistical fact of the structural racism of the "justice" system.

The problem with this thinking is that it takes away ANY agency and expectation that they have to break with the trends and aim to better themselves. It's not your fault because you're oppressed, so you can't help it.

Again, now you just don't know what you are talking about. You are bordering on the myth of meritocracy promoted by the Republican trickle-down-theorist elites. We don't expect black men to be criminals, but in this society black folks do not receive equitable pay, equitable education opportunities, and yes, the privilege which so many white people have had, to get a slap on the wrist every once in a while. PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES. Unfortunately, in America black folks are unfairly penalized for their mistakes whereas other people are often assisted, forgiven, and forgotten.

But Americans feel guilty and need blacks, who didn't take slaves and were brought there against their will, to redeem them by proving that America is different from all the other violent parts of the world and a place where the individual can use his freedom to transcend realities outside of their control.

Americans don't feel guilty, and they shouldn't have too. Its not about repaying for slavery 200 years ago, its about addressing the current inequalities in education, the legal system, and policy as well as social interaction.

It seems like blacks in America are stuck in a schizophrenic maze they cant get out of. Its not their fault. Your approach does not appear to me to be enough to stop this. And I don't believe Zimmerman was racist for one minute.

What is my approach exactly? My approach is calling it out. That is the first step. If you don't openly acknowledge a problem, there is ZERO opportunity to address and solve it.