Trayvon Martin Case vs. FAMU Band Hazing Incident

By: Shwanda Jones

“I swear to the Lord, I still can't see, why Democracy means, everybody but me.”
Langston Hughes

During the recent weeks, I have watched and listened earnestly as new evidence unfolds in the Trayvon Martin case. I have also witnessed the black community rise up, put on its armor as if entreated to war. A travesty indeed, a young man being slain and being taken from the world far too soon. However, those of you with a religious or spiritual background, whichever word you prefer, know that God does not make any mistakes. Our brother is no longer but there is something to be said, a message to the world that we indeed need to hear, behind this incident. An angel was returned.

A few months ago just four hours north of the site of Trayvon’s death; another young man by the name of Robert Champion was killed. Champion, a 26-year-old drum major at Florida A&M was said to have died due to complications from an alleged hazing incident. There hasn’t been any marches, protests, Facebook events or demonstrations on Champion’s behalf. Champion as well, a victim of violence, innocent blood shed and in some cases “authority racism.”

What then differentiates the two victims? Race. An individual of another race killed one victim and an individual (or perhaps several individuals) of the same race killed the other victim.

There’s a popular song by the Williams’ Brothers that says “sweep around your own front door, before you try to sweep around mine.” I applaud the black community for stepping in and taking a stance against injustice. However, individuals of another creed may state that African-Americans are quick to take a stance when race is involved in a killing but no one says anything when they kill each other.

Now, I am by no means excusing Zimmerman and the heinous crime he committed. Nor am I saying that race did not play a role, however, I am saying why are we not just as furious at the people responsible for the killing of Robert Champion. He was a young man, taken far too soon. He wasn’t causing trouble or bothering anyone. His killers were just black or minorities as well.

Now, I am not making a case against hazing, fraternities or sororities; but I am making a case against blacks assessing all issues fairly. Follow me. Negativity and degradation in our community has become acceptable. It’s okay for us to kill each other, call each other “Ni**er” and call our females “B****es” but no one else better do it. Explicit colloquialisms and community racism has become socially accepted. We don’t correct each other because that would be too much like doing the right thing. We have become bold in standing our ground for wrong but we have become mute and silent when standing for righteousness. The same reason individuals with the most Twitter followers degrade women and lead examples of poor life styles is the same reason we don’t take a stance against one another. Affirmation. No one wants to rock the boat. We all want to be accepted in the community. We all want to be the crème de la crème of a willowing crop, unbeknownst to us. We dare not speak against the norms of wrongdoing in our own social circles and communities for we run the risk of becoming the elephant in the room. No one wants to be the elephant…that is unless everyone is an elephant.

I understand that we as a minority, as a people have been fighting for equality for years. I understand we as a minority, as a people need to uplift each other because of the fear that uplift will not come from anyone else. I understand that we as a minority, as a people must ban together in times of tragedy. Trust me, I do. But what I do not understand is why we are biased in our battles. Why are we continuing to use suffrage as an excuse to war in certain instances, when we should use suffrage as a catapult to grow every day? Yes, there will always be individuals with more money, more power who don’t believe we can achieve and who do not believe we are equal…but these individuals aren’t always of another race…sometimes that look just like you and I. And sometimes, just maybe sometimes if it’s not too hard to believe, there are individuals who do not look like us who will help us.

I’m not saying racism doesn’t exist. It is alive and well. It has been passed on and recreated into new waves and new forms. But my dear patrons, my brothers and my sisters, that does not mean accountability is unexcused.

While eating lunch today, God began to speak to me. He showed me the relationship between the Trayvon Martin Case and the FAMU Case because He wants us to see while we are fighting for equality against others, there’s still fighting to be done for equality with one another. A man’s ways is a reflection of his heart. A man willing to kill is a man willing to kill…no matter what race he is.

We can say that the individual(s) responsible for Champion’s death didn’t intend for him to die or didn’t intentionally kill him as Zimmerman did Martin but whatever the moral reasoning, the people responsible did mean to inflict harm. The consequence of that “playful harm”, that “usual harm”, that “routine harm”, was an innocent life. Martin is dead and so is Champion. This topic doesn’t bring about the war of physicality but the war of psychology. If you believe that one death is less important because of the back information, then imagine your loved one being in either…it would still hurt the same. Let’s continue marching and taking a stance for equality and against injustice…no matter the source.