Heed Magazine Fall 2013 Aug. 1st - Submission
Geneviève Talks by Geneviève A. Nixon Trayvon Martin. When Trayvon’s name is heard it conjures up strong emotion, opinion, and thankfully a call for action and change in America. February 26, 2012, the night George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin, under the guise of the “Stand Your Ground” law, was a night that reignited and amplified a public outcry to protect our youth. Whether one believes it was just or unjust, the majority will agree that his death was an unnecessary act of violence that did not have to result in a loss of life. People across America and around the world, from different races, cultures, religions, and socio-political beliefs began to converse about a common cause and undeniable problem that has been perpetuated throughout American history. The rampant stereotype of black youth as “suspicious” is far too common. Racial profiling has plagued this country and has been the cause for the death of many notable victims such as Ramarley Graham, Rekia Boyd, Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell, DJ Henry, Archie Elliot, Darius Simmons, Oscar Grant and countless others. So what about Trayvon Martin was unique to sparked a public outcry across the world, particularly on social media? How did the chant “I Am Trayvon Martin” grow to encompass girls, boys, men and women of all races? Well, there are several reasons, but one symbol became iconic to this case and to public protests that grew across the country, the hoodie. The hoodie sweater, a common article of clothing now became a prolific symbol for personal protests. Which was in direct relation to Trayvon Martin, since that was the article of clothing he was wearing when killed and perceived suspicious. The topic of the hoodie took on a life of it’s own, conjuring debates and stories of how someone wearing a hoodie can be observed as dangerous, or in Zimmerman’s words “up to no good”. In true rebellious American tradition, many took that supposed negative image of someone in a hoodie and flipped it into a positive image of strength and justice. From NBA teams, to notable celebrities, to your common everyday person, people began posting viral images of themselves in hoodies. But here is where the tide turns, and a tragic story began to foster unity amongst people from all walks of life. In particular, a 25-year-old black male, Daniel Maree, is a Florida native with first hand experience of being racially profiled. Maree, decided to take action in his own way by starting a social media campaign, Million Hoodies Movement for Justice (#MillionHoodies), a campaign that instantly trended on twitter, collected over 2 million signatures for a petition demanding the arrest of George Zimmerman, then spread to
twelve chapters across the nation and created a platform for over 50,000 people to rally across the country in protest; gaining the interest of President Barack Obama. On July 31, 2013, Daniel Maree, was one of five social activists honored by the Do Something Awards. An annual awards ceremony, which airs on national television and utilizes public text-to-vote polling to choose the winner of a $100,000 grand prize, to support the nominee’s particular cause or organization. As hundreds of thousands of votes came in Daniel and his #MillionHoodies Movement earned the grand prize to grow the organization, with the goal of becoming a leading non-profit in America. This is exemplary of the power of one young man who wore a hoodie, Trayvon Martin, whose death triggered a national outcry that sparked a young man, Daniel Maree, to do something that in turn unified a nation of diverse individuals for a common cause. With immediate action such as this, one must believe that the love and respect of an individual’s life is a unifying thread that will continue to embody the undying chant, “I Am TRAYVON MARTIN”. May he rest in peace. *We welcome your feedback and suggested topics. Please email: _________