There is a lot of conversation on the news today concerning Rachel Jeantel, friend of Trayvon Martin and the last person to speak with him, from those who saw her as a stereotype, to those who illustrate the realities of education in today’s world. Black America web bring some good news for Jeantel:
Rachel Jeantel was thrust into the spotlight after she testified in the George Zimmerman trial detailing her friendship with her slain friend, Trayvon Martin.
However, instead of people encouraging Jeantel and supporting the teen who will forever live with the burden of being the last person to talk to Martin before his death, the 19-year-old was berated for her speech, appearance, mannerisms and “lack of education.”
Jeantel’s testimony and her recent appearance on CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight”, greatly impacted radio legend Tom Joyner and since he first saw her on the stand, Joyner has been determined to help Jeantel.
Melissa Harris Perry writes on parenting after the verdict:
We are like many American families. We are trying. Parker’s father felt it was important for her to know the verdict, to think about it, and to understand what is happening. I wanted to let her know how precious she is and how much she is loved. James encouraged her to think about what she could do to make a difference and how she could understand the difficult issues the verdict raised. And Grammy (my mother, who is white) is there as proof that love and understanding can and do cross racial boundaries; a reminder not to vilify or judge others simply because of their race. It is hard work. We cannot be certain if we are doing it right. But we are all in it together.
Charles Blow at the New York Times on how The Whole System Failed:
In a way, the not-guilty verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman for his killing of Trayvon Martin was more powerful than a guilty verdict could ever have been. It was the perfect wrenching coda to a story that illustrates just how utterly and completely our system of justice — both moral and legal — failed Martin and his family.
This is not to dispute the jury’s finding — one can intellectually rationalize the decision — as much as it is to howl at the moon, to yearn for a brighter reality for the politics around dark bodies, to raise a voice and say, this case is a rallying call, not a death dirge.
The system began to fail Martin long before that night.