Wearing privilege
Wearing privilege
- July 18, 2013
- An article by Jennifer Lee, sociology professor, is featured in the Society Pages July 18, 2013
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From the Society Pages:
Trayvon Martin was a black teenage boy. He was walking home from the convenience
store when he caught the attention and ire of George Zimmerman. Perceived as a “punk”
and a threat, Martin was accosted by the older man, and a physical altercation ensued.
Trayvon Martin died when he was shot through the heart at close range. Though Florida’s
expansive “Stand Your Ground” laws were invoked in media conversations, that defense
never even entered into the trial. Zimmerman was acquitted when a jury decided he’d
killed Martin in self-defense. Zimmerman has since said Martin’s death was “God’s
plan.” Some Americans believe that race was not central to this killing or to the
case that followed—they have believed it from February 2012 right up until today.
But ask yourself: How many times you have been stopped and harassed because you looked
threatening or suspicious wearing a hooded sweatshirt? For me, an Asian American female,
that number is zero.
For the full story, please visit http://thesocietypages.org/specials/wearing-privilege/.
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