Sunday, July 28, 2013

Nelson Mandela: Inspiring change | The Dallas Examiner | Serving the African American Community

Nelson Mandela: Inspiring change | The Dallas Examiner | Serving the African American Community

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Reaction after Zimmerman verdict



The not guilty verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman on July 13 sent shockwaves in communities across America. Reactions on Twitter displayed disdain and anger at the verdict and a failure of justice for Trayvon Martin's death. Some people, like myself, sobbed incessantly because of the reality that a Florida jury just granted an open pass for people to gun down Black youth without receiving any appropriate consequences. The ruling sent a message that Black males were expendable because of Stand Your Ground laws in Florida and its variants in other states. So I or any of my peers of color can't walk down the street minding our own business without being racially profiled? Is this the reality I have to face as a 26-year-old Black man? Seriously? Furthermore, hearing juror B37's interview on CNN's AC360 confirmed everything I knew leading up to the trial--- that white privilege is real and that the case was over when the jury was selected. It was eye-opening and disturbing to hear these truths spoken by B37. By the way, B37's book plans were voided after the agent dropped her following an online petition.
A lesson Americans can take away from this trial is that we should not take our right to vote for granted. We must register to vote, vote in all elections and fulfill our jury duty obligations. When we skip out on jury duty for frivolous reasons then people like B37 will take your spot. It is a shame that we will stand in line for Black Friday or for concert tickets but not to elect people who can change laws in their respective state and nation. Midterm elections are coming up in 2014 and we must exercise our right to vote so that the generation that comes after us can live in a country where laws like Stand Your Ground and its variants will cease to exist.

"The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted."- Habakkuk 1:4 (NLT).

Monday, July 1, 2013

Children at risk for fireworks eye injuries | The Dallas Examiner | Serving the African American Community

Children at risk for fireworks eye injuries | The Dallas Examiner | Serving the African American Community