One month ago a Florida teenager was shot to death by a neighborhood watchman, sparking a racial controversy and firestorm of national media attention.
On Feb. 26, in Sanford, Fla., 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was reportedly walking home from a convenience store when 28-year-old self-appointed neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman called 911 to report Martin’s suspicious behavior.
Zimmerman also began following in his SUV as Martin, unarmed, walked down the road wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.
Zimmerman reported, in his now-public 911 calls, “This guy looks like he’s on drugs, he’s definitely messed up.” And then, moments later, Zimmerman added, “There’s a real suspicious guy. This guy looks like he’s up to no good, on drugs or something.”
The 911 tapes also reveal the dispatcher telling Zimmerman to remain where he was and not to follow Martin.
Minutes into the tape there is some commotion; then, screaming and gunshots.
Witnesses have varying stories and accounts of the incident, but all report hearing screams followed by gunshots.
Zimmerman said he shot Martin in self-defense, but Martin’s friends and family have said the shooting was racially motivated.
The case attracted national media attention and elicited a grand jury investigation after Zimmerman was questioned but not arrested.
According to news reports, Zimmerman was found standing over Martin’s body but was not arrested because he claimed he shot Martin in self-defense. Sanford, Fla. police officials have said Zimmerman has not been charged because they haven’t found evidence that would contradict his claim.
USA Today reported Tuesday that Zimmerman is claiming Martin hit and attacked him first, and amid the scuffle he shot Martin to protect himself.
News reports said the 911 tapes are under official review by investigators and law enforcement to get a clearer understanding of what happened between Martin and Zimmerman the night Martin was killed.
While the details of the case are still unknown, investigators said they will be starting the probe with a “blank slate.” The only potential problem for the prosecution is Florida’s “Stand your ground” law that allows killing in self-defense.
Friends and family of Zimmerman said the incident was not racially motivated but protests, rallies and public outcries are showing that many people disagree.
Sheila Smith- McKoy , director of the African American Cultural Center at N.C. State, said the loss of Trayvon Martin has painted a picture of deep-rooted racial tensions that still exist today.
“America pretends that it’s a post-racial [nation] but it’s not,” Smith- McKoy said.
She added that the very nature of the crime presents questionable motives and the notion that it was anything other than a hate-filled criminal act will soon be discounted. Smith-McKoy feels those who think the shooting was not racially motivated are not paying attention.
“[This issue] will hopefully get us to reflect as a nation with real energy,” Smith-McKoy said. “I’m heartened to see so many people get involved.”
Ernest Smith, senior in leadership in the public sector, said the Martin case exemplifies the perception that black men are viewed with suspicion.
“There’s this divide that has said ‘white is good’ and ‘black is bad,'” Smith- McKoy said.
Smith-McKoy, who is an African American Cultural Center scholar, said things can only start to get better after “we can begin to talk about the issue.”
She said a major change will involve addressing the pain the nation has endured historically with racial matters.
“We need to have more dialogue about this. It’s troubling-what we’ve come to expect,” Smith-McKoy said.
The shooting of an unarmed, 17-year-old black boy carrying a bag of skittles, according to Smith-McKoy, is proof that the issue of race is still relevant in the United States.
Smith- McKoy said the circumstances of the incident call into question the misconceptions often held about youth of color.
“We [need to] call America to address these woes,” Smith- McKoy said.
Seth Mulliken, communication and race professor, said the Martin case is clearly race-related, but also begs to address the way youth of color are criminalized in the system.
He said, if nothing else, the Martin case will force people to focus on bias within the justice system.
“[Because of this case and cases like it] there’s a growing recognition of the strong racial bias found in criminalization,” Mulliken said.
No official charges have been filed against Zimmerman, but the investigation continues.