As an active member of STARS (Students Teaching About Racism in Society) over the years, I’ve heard that I’m fighting a lost cause. “We live in a post-racial world, race doesn’t affect people’s lives anymore, we have a black president, I don’t see race.”
Racism is a complex system of privilege and power that’s been around for hundreds of years and I believe one of the ways we can dismantle this structure is through education. That’s what STARS has been doing for almost 25 years.
The posters we made Fall Quarter struck a nerve with people and forced them to think about stereotypes and racism, something most people don’t like to talk about.
Many people may know about the Trayvon Martin case. 17-year-old Trayvon from Florida was shot and killed by self-appointed neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman. Zimmerman has not yet been arrested or charged for the murder of Trayvon and is currently citing self-defense for the slaying of this child.
Sharing the sentiment of many sympathizers across the nation and the world, this case is a prime example of the issues of internalized and ingrained racism within the fabric and institutions of our society. Although some facts of the case and Florida self-defense law are murky, it is undeniable that there is racial profiling/bias in this case.
He was followed and murdered for looking ”suspicious.” He was wearing a hoodie. Most of us own at least two hoodies. Are you suspicious when you wear one?
As someone that studies race, I know it’s much deeper than that. Trayvon just came from a 7/11 with Skittles and an iced tea in his hand.
George Zimmerman murdered a child because he thought he was up to no good. I believe it has everything to do with race. Trayvon Martin was racially profiled. I’m sick and tired of people sugarcoating it. I get it: racism is hard to talk about, but it’s not going anywhere and it affects us everyday, whether you notice it or not.
Trayvon’s death reminds me so much of Emmett Till: a young black kid killed for no reason. And I have two brothers who are around Trayvon’s age, are they going to get killed because they wear hoodies when it rains?
Justice needs to be served for Trayvon. Our purpose is to further bring attention to this issue and to have George Zimmerman arrested for the murder of an unarmed child.
We will be calling this “The Hoodie March for Justice.” This case is truly a tragic reflection of the modern day racism, or “Racism 2.0” as STARS calls it, that exists in our society.
We invite students, faculty, staff and administrators to participate in this march at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
Sarah Williams is a senior studying political science.
