Norfolk State University

I Am Not Trayvon Martin

Submitted by: Natasha Powell

November 12, 2013

Humanities 210-90
Mr. Frank T. Elliott, Instructor

The death and trial of Trayvon Martin has been one of much
controversy as a young African American was killed while walking home from
a store from purchasing skittles and an iced tea. The case has in a sense
divided the nation and opened old wounds for African Americans. The
Floridas Stand Your Ground Law has also been one of much controversy as
far as how it is applied and to whom it applies. Trayon Martin was described
as a menace while his murdered George Zimmerman was described as a
victim.
Originally my reaction to this video was one of anger as it appears that
she was condoning what happened to Trayvon Martin and Troy Davis.
However upon listening and watching the video in its entirety I got a different
message. I believe she was trying to say that as White Americans in our
society they are taught to fear African American men. Society wants it to be
believed that the presence of an African American man is harmful to society
in general. I believe this is further confirmed by the actions of George
Zimmerman who followed and subsequently murdered an unarmed Trayvon
Martin because he was in a neighborhood that it was believed he should not
have been in. The reason George Zimmerman did any of the things that led
to Martins death has to do with norms of society toward African Americans.
The young lady states wearing the t-shirts and stating I am Trayvon Martin
actually humanizes the individuals who society has made whites to believe
are less than humans. She also states that it is wrong to make this statement

as basically a white American can never fully understand what it is like to be

an African American and they should not pretend that they do. The
assumption is that being white in America comes as some sort of privilege
and she believes that privilege should be used to enact change. The change
that can take place is doing away with the stereotypes associated with
African American men and no longer accepting the norm that they are
harmful to whites and society in general. She further states that although the
norms may state that black men are harmful and what happened to Trayvon
can be perceived as right in the eyes of the individuals that buy into the
norm, she sees it is wrong because of her education, intense critical thinking,
and excellent parenting.
The inhumane treatment of African Americans is dated back to the
time of slavery where African Americans were sold and traded into slavery.
Slaves were treated as property not as humans. During the transportation of
slaves through the middle passage many died from disease and harsh
conditions. The text states as an example in 1717 a ship reached Buenos
Aires with only 28 survivors of an original 594 slaves. One account of the
horrendous treatment of slaves was depicted in Narrative of a Five Years
Expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam, in Guiana on the Wild
Coast of South America. The author of the book was hired to suppress rebel
slaves in Guiana but was shocked at the conditions slaves were forced to
endure. The housing was deplorable and they were routinely whipped,
beaten, and tortured. The female slaves were forced to endure sexual abuse.

Although this treatment occurred hundreds of years ago I believe the same
mentality in some still exist with African Americans being less than human
and thus being subjected to discrimination and being victims of oppression.
The death and trial of Trayvon Martin may have been controversial but
it also has put some issues at the forefront as far as the racism that is still
very much real. Based on the video of the young lady whites should not try
to put themselves in the shoes of Martin, Davis, and many others; they can
use their privilege to lobby for change. She considers trying to put
themselves in Martins shoes is weak and immature.