In an effort to discredit any claims of bigotry on the part of George Zimmerman, Mark O’Mara, Zimmerman’s attorney,
has provided proof that he believes demonstrates that Zimmerman was not motivated by racial prejudice. Mr. O’Mara has said that “nothing supports the conclusion that he’s a racist.” The use of the phrase “f#cking coon” seems to have escaped him.
However O’Mara has taken the next step to prove that Zimmerman couldn’t possibly be racist. He said that Zimmerman’s great-grandfather was black. The implication is that because 1/8 of Zimmerman’s heritage is African-American, that makes Zimmerman Black, and therefore he couldn’t possibly be racist. By virtue of this admission, O’Mara unintentionally revealed one possible explanation for why Zimmerman could have been motivated to disparage Blacks, treat them as inferior, think they always get away, or even shoot one. First, O’Mara seems to embrace the notion that one-drop of “negro” blood causes a person to be black. O’Mara is an attorney so he must know that the rule of law in Plessy v. Ferguson was overruled by Brown v. Board of Education. Even Republicans have complained that even if a person has some distant relative who was a minority, that person is not justified in calling himself a member of that minority.
The second and even more compelling argument is that “Colorism” is a form of prejudice or discrimination that is alive and well in America. Colorism is the type of prejudice or discrimination that attributes social status to the lightness of your skin. The lighter a person, the higher their status among people who have this attitude. Colorism is prevalent throughout the world. It is evident in cultures in the United States, Latin America, Asia, the Arab World, and Africa.
Clearly Trayvon Martin was darker than George Zimmerman.
Most people would not identify Zimmerman as Black. Thus it is possible that Zimmerman was intent on distinguishing himself as different, and better, than Trayvon Martin, or any other Black. To suggest that Zimmerman wouldn’t be prejudiced against Blacks, would be like saying that Zimmerman would never sexually molest a young girl, because he had a young female cousin.
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October 2, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Julian
Unbelievable logic, or lack of. You might just as well say “All dogs are black. This cat is black, therefore this cat is a dog”.
October 2, 2012 at 6:35 pm
malialitman
Julian,
Great example! Thanks.
October 2, 2012 at 9:36 pm
DobieTracker
Playing devil’s advocate here as I think Zimmerman is a P.O.S. and guilty as sin, but:
Todd Palin is 1/16 native and gets native benefits, health etc.
If Todd is legally considered native with only 1/16 then why cannot Zimmerman claim he is black with 1/8.
Even if he is legally considered black at his 1/8, I don’t think that makes it impossible or even improbable that Zimmerman is not prejudice.
I know lighter skinned blacks who discriminate against darker skin blacks–BUT not ALL lighter skinned blacks discriminate against darker skin blacks.
I fail to understand how you think that any of this shows that Zimmerman IS discriminating —-Please keep in mind that I DO believe Zimmerman has a dislike for blacks but I just fail to get why what you said in the article proves things EITHER way.
I dont think anything his attorney said proves things either way BUT I REALLY DONT GET WHY ANYTHING THE ATTORNEY SAID SHOWS THAT ZIMMERMAN IS PREJUDICED.
“Thus it is possible that Zimmerman was intent on distinguishing himself as different, and better,…” Yes, this IS possible, but that is a big “MAYBE” and has no basis other than pure speculation.
I think it is just as likely, maybe (maybe not) more so that he simply is a bigoted racist and his ancestry is not involved in any way, either way.
Need some better critical thinking on this way I am afraid.
October 2, 2012 at 11:59 pm
malialitman
Dobie Tracker,
I have thought that “Zimmerman was a bigot ever since I heard that recording when he said “they always get away” and “f*cking coons.” Zimmerman’s attorney has now suggested that Zimmerman couldn’t be prejudiced because of his black ancestry. My point is not to decide that he is “black” “white” “hispanic” or something else. My point is to say that just because he has SOME Black ancestry doesn’t mean that he is NOT prejudiced. The point is that some people who are fare complected…regardless of their race…think that they are superior to people of the same race who have darker skin. Thus, Zimmerman could be prejudiced against darker skinned blacks.
October 3, 2012 at 7:30 am
Beaglemom
Zimmernman could also have been angry perhaps at Martin because he thought in those moments that “black people” get away with everything – in that warped way that irrational people have of seeing the world as permanently skewed against them.
October 3, 2012 at 8:25 am
malialitman
Beaglemom,
Absolutely!