I am Treyvon Martin

I am sure that my father in his wisdom would frown if i told him that I went out to go and show my support for Treyvon Martin. A teenager that was profiled and killed unjustly because he was black... After all it is an "American" Problem.. An American race problem.. In an America that has a BLACK president.*

America will sort itself out!

America has a legal system and laws, that allow people to speak out loud and sort themselves out... This logic sounds sound to me, throw in the fact that there is no need to for me to be placed on some sort of watch list for attending a rally that technically has nothing to do with me as a Zimbabwean New Yorker
Besides in relative terms, there are worse problems back home, the thing is...



I am almost 30 years old...



The scary thing about that is that, this was my very first protest (insert side-eye here)...



Maybe Long overdue but here is my argument to my dad assuming we had this conversation.

well...

1
there where lots of "I like art type girls" in attendance

2
I live in a predominately white eastern European Jewish neighbourhood, where they look at me funny and have said racist things AT me at my local bar having a drink

3
There is a 93% chance i made it to someones youtube channel today**

4
I have lived in my building for 4 years now, I still see some of my neighbours hold onto their purses a little tighter when i get into the elevator.

5
Lots of "I like art type girls" there

6
I am more likely to get stopped and frisked because I am black

Racism is still alive and well.... Close Hispanic/White/Asian friends have admitted their parents are a little biased. This is the reality of the world that we live in 2012... Even here In New York City, the most culturally diverse city you will ever come across in the post Nokia 5110 era! Our neighbourhoods are STILL segregated all over the tri-state area, and as much as certain groups call themselves progressive or "cool" with different ethnicity's the honest truth is that it is not a universal truth.

I was touched today when Treyvon's mother said that this is not a white or black thing.. It's a human thing... Which equalled 5 exclamation marks to cap off an emotional event. Today was Human Rights Day, & on Human rights day everyone deserves to see some Bohemian "I like art type girls", and take a stand for something while doing it. In its essence is not an American Problem, African problem, but a universal problem.

It's a problem in Australia, Asia, Africa, North America (except Canada - i get this vibe everything is dandy overt here), Europe and Some other Continents i cant remember right now,

Profiling and prejudice is a universal reality, one we have all lived through.. I have been Trayvon Martin in the past.. I will Be Trayvon Martin again.. I pray circumstances will be kinder to me, as they will be to every Asian, White, Black & Latino person in the future.


* My dad would ask me these questions i am sure only to challenge my conviction, because we where brought up to have our own opinions and definitions... Although i have not spoken to him about this issue, i already know he is disgusted by what happened to Treyvon Martin (The old man lived in NYC in the 70's but more importantly a segregated and blatantly racist Rhodesia)

** will also probably have to explain to my dad what YouTube is