the gar spot

fiction and musings from a gay black dude with delusions above his station

Menu
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • SIN AGAINST THE RACE, a novel
Menu
the gar spot fiction and musings from a gay black dude with delusions above his station

Confess to Bigotry

Posted on June 13, 2013June 14, 2013 by gar

Last year I wrote that I just wanted George Zimmerman to face trial for shooting Trayvon Martin. This was when a trial seemed doubtful because no one seemed willing to file charges against him. Mr. Zimmerman was allowed to remain free and unencumbered from February 26, 2012, the date of the shooting, to April 11, 2012, when charges were finally brought against him. Enabling him were Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law and the largely uncontested assumption that Trayvon, though unarmed, was a Big Scary Black Man who got what was coming to him.

But now I’m growing increasingly of the opinion that George Zimmerman should drop all pretenses of a defense and just confess. A confession that he acted out of wanton bigotry, and not self-defense, would not only save time but may also help heal the societal wounds he inflicted when he killed Trayvon Martin in cold blood.

I have a hunch that Mr. Zimmerman knows he has no defense, that his life was not in danger, and that he shot an unarmed teen out of panic based on prejudice.  His defense team was recently banned by the judge from bringing up Trayvon’s past — the clothes he wore, the pot he smoked, the middle finger photos he took. Of course the judge banned this stuff. None of it has anything to do with anything, except to further paint Trayvon as a Big Scary Black Man who needed to be killed.  That’s their sole defense.  But that’s no defense.  That’s blatant bigotry.

Blatant bigotry has been the rotted core of this whole tragedy from the start. And I think Mr. Zimmerman knows it. So the best thing he could do is to simply cop to it, admit that he panicked, admit that he used the Big Scary Black Man excuse for his actions, admit that he precipitated the whole affair by defying police orders not to pursue Trayvon in the first place, admit that he behaved badly, plead guilty, and apologize.

None of this will bring back Trayvon Martin from the dead. But it may help put a much needed spot light on the whole phenomenon of the Big Scary Black Man Syndrome.  I and others can scream about this prejudice until doomsday, but it would be much more powerful for someone who lived by this creed to suddenly come out and denounce it. If Mr. Zimmerman did that, then some like-minded folks might begin questioning their own assumptions and prejudices. Many won’t, but some might.  That would be a start.  Confessing his bigotry, and the bigotry of his supporters, is about the only useful thing left that George Zimmerman can do.

I can’t imagine that he would do such a thing. And I completely recognize that it is his right to mount a defense against the charges before him. But a confession to bigotry would be the most helpful thing he could do. Exposing the ugliness behind Big Scary Black Man bigotry is one of George Zimmerman’s few roads to redemption.

© 2013, gar. All rights reserved.

2 thoughts on “Confess to Bigotry”

  1. William J Urmson says:
    July 6, 2013 at 4:31 pm

    This music video tells why Trayvon Martin is dead~
    http://youtu.be/OqZqGql9ml4

    Reply
  2. Bizzam says:
    June 30, 2013 at 2:05 pm

    that is what is frustrating about bigots, racists,nationaslists ,bullies, etc.

    they are too blind to even see their own hatred. the best we can do is confront them, convict them and deny them any dignity. they only respond to aggression and humiliation. give it to them with love and kindness.

    and never … absolutely never … expect them to take responsibility for themselves. they can’t. it is part of their thinking. it is integral to being a bigot. they can deny, they can project. but they cannot see themselves.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

SIN AGAINST THE RACE, a novel–Click image for info

Sin Against the Race

Contact

  • email gar

Twitter

Follow @the_gar_spot

Instagram

garmcveyrussell

Pride brunch. #pride #pridemonth #pridesunday #pr Pride brunch. 
#pride #pridemonth #pridesunday #prideday #pancakes #brunch
Dug up from the archives. I can’t believe we hav Dug up from the archives. I can’t believe we have to fight for this again. 
#abortionrights #abortionishealthcare #cisgaymanforchoice
Time to write more letters to encourage people to Time to write more letters to encourage people to vote. Tempus fugit.
#abortionrights #abortionishealthcare #roevwade #mymarriageisnext #voteblue #voterepublicansout
Pride flag over the Claremont Hotel. Don’t think Pride flag over the Claremont Hotel. Don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. 
#pride #pridemonth #berkeley
New outdoor dining set. #backporch #alfresco #hom New outdoor dining set. 
#backporch #alfresco #homedecor
Consulted with my editors this morning. I value th Consulted with my editors this morning. I value their feedback. 
#trees #hiking #oakland #writersofinstagram #iputmyfaithintrees
Remembering Roger Ebert on what would have been hi Remembering Roger Ebert on what would have been his 80th birthday. 
#rogerebert #writer #legend #cancersucks
Fly me to the moon (not pictured) Let me play amon Fly me to the moon (not pictured)
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter (the brighter one) and Mars
#backyardastronomy #jupiter #mars #predawn #goodmorning
A gorgeous day at the #oaklandgreekfestival #oakla A gorgeous day at the #oaklandgreekfestival #oakland #greekfestival #greek #music #food #ilovemycity
I used to rock the hell out of these. Cards of dis I used to rock the hell out of these. Cards of discovery and endless possibilities. I still miss them. 
#cardcatalog #library #knowledge #og #searchengine
A sunny Saturday in 1990 found my sister Tania (@m A sunny Saturday in 1990 found my sister Tania (@makeuptogoblog) and I outside of the Julia Morgan Center waiting. I had seen the great Maestro Pt. Shivkumar Sharma in LA—he even autographed an album for me. And I was studying tabla with his accompanist Ud. Zakir Hussain at the time. We couldn’t wait. But wait we did, because the maestros weren’t there. As my sister and I stood at the front of the line, they came. Ud. Zakirji was laughing and joking. Pt. Shivji looked as if he floated in as he passed and entered the theater. After we got settled in our seats, it was on. A beautiful concert with the two maestros playing rapturously, holding us spellbound. Pt. Shivji floated in like a deity and played to the heavens, taking us all with him. By far one of my favorite concerts. 

Words cannot describe how devastated I am at the great master’s passing. His gifts to music and the world are incalculable. My condolences to Panditji’s family, to @zakirhq9 , and to all who loved his beautiful music. #ptshivkumarsharma #indianclassicalmusic #santoor #rip
This makes me very happy. #oaklandgreekfestival # This makes me very happy. 
#oaklandgreekfestival #theyreback #yahoo #greek #oakland #ilovemycity
Happy 85th Birthday to legendary Maestro Ron Carte Happy 85th Birthday to legendary Maestro Ron Carter! The most recorded bassist in history, he was a huge inspiration for my late brother Robert. And he continues to inspire bassists and musicians to this day. 
#happybirthday #roncarter #legend #bassist #jazz #music
Dinner on the back porch. #alfresco #dinner #pizza Dinner on the back porch. #alfresco #dinner #pizza #arizmendi #evening
My sacred music day where I pay homage to Duke Ell My sacred music day where I pay homage to Duke Ellington (1899-1974) and Ustad Alla Rakha (1919-2000) on their shared birthday. This year I’m also celebrating the 100th birthday anniversary of harmonica and whistling maestro Toots Thielemans (1922-2016). Enjoy the music of all of these legends! ✌🏾 ❤️ 🎶 
#dukeellington #allarakha #abbaji #tootsthielemans #centenary #happybirthday #music
Happy Birthday Ella Fitzgerald! Born on this day i Happy Birthday Ella Fitzgerald! Born on this day in 1917. 
#ella #ellafitzgerald #firstladyofsong #jazz
It’s the only home we got. Let’s treat it with It’s the only home we got. Let’s treat it with respect and love. 
#earthday #earthday2022 #home #planet #environment
A harrowing day, but it ended safely. I’m home n A harrowing day, but it ended safely. I’m home now with a nice cup of tea. ☕️ 
#berkeley #shelterinplace #allclear #home #tea #murchies
This pale blue beauty is destined to become part o This pale blue beauty is destined to become part of my #sundaybrunch #pancakes. Fresh from my next door neighbor!
Celebrating the centenary of a great musician. Hap Celebrating the centenary of a great musician. Happy 100th Birthday Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Sahib!!! His great legacy lives on. 
#aliakbarkhan #centenary #indianclassicalmusic #sarode
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Facebook

Subscribe by email:

Archives

Blogroll

  • Life During Wartime – The Trump Years
  • Patricia Dunn – Author
  • Philip Robinson, poet
  • The Outspoken – You're Welcome
  • Uppity Negro Network

Interests

  • Cassini Probe @ Saturn
  • Daily Kos
  • Doctor Who
  • KCSM – Jazz 91
  • Makeup to Go!
  • The Root

Tags

99% african-american AIDS Bay Area bigotry Billy Strayhorn black Black Lives Matter climate change Duke Ellington dystopia dystopian fiction gay growing up gay healthcare history homophobia jazz LGBT LGBTQ literature marriage equality music North Korea novel Oakland police brutality politics queer queerlit queer lit racism rant reading Religion Republicans Romney SATR science fiction Sin Against the Race Trayvon Martin Trump women in jazz writing

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
©2022 the gar spot | Theme by SuperbThemes