Was It Racism?

I am sick at the loss of Trayvon Martin, especially because the media has disclosed something of the circumstances of his needless death. Any loss of life is devastating. I wonder, though, how many young Black Americans died since Trayvon that I know nothing about. Facts would probably support that many of them were killed by other Black Americans. Thank God, the vast majority of these senseless deaths were not racially motivated. But they happened in nearly total obscurity. That injustices exist is irrefutable. There are racial bigots that exist in all racial groups and their warped views simply can't be tolerated; zero tolerance. That Trayvon was the victim of racial bigotry just isn't clear. I wonder if Zimmerman could have made a racial assessment, given what a hoodie hides. I'm not suggesting in any sense that Trayvon's death was justified. It wasn't, and nothing can change that! This tragedy could have resulted from extremely bad judgment, fear, panic, inexperience, trigger happiness, or even anger. That race was the only, or predominant, factor just isn't clear and still needs to be established. Until then, racial rhetoric and demands for lynch-mob justice are premature and unfair. To characterize this as racial murder is as unjust as when it were true. We owe it to the memories of Trayvon to be sure his death serves to eliminate injustice and guarantee the American dream for all.