Am I George Zimmerman?



The sun emerged, radiating energy on the Olympic Range as I rattled in my dirty Chevy truck toward the neighborhood market this morning to buy orange juice and donuts for my children, five of whom look a lot like Trayvon Martin.

I paused at the silhouette of a young black family waiting for the 128 in West Seattle in the early morning sunshine. All dressed in their Sunday best, on Saturday…I wondered what great adventure they had planned for the day.

My smile extended to them without expectation as I moved closer to my destination. The events of the past month ricocheted through my head as I drove past the family.

February 26-Young boy in hoodie shot dead in Florida.

Police-No response because there is no reason “not to believe” the shooter.

Questions of social justice—would a black man who shoots a white boy wearing Hollister be treated the same way?

March 22-Thousands march, requesting justice for Trayvon—still no action

March 23-Woman in crowd shouts to Rick Santorum as he rallys the GOP at a shooting range, “pretend it’s OBAMA” as he pulls the trigger and squeezes off rounds

March 24-No justice for Trayvon.

The family at the 128 must wonder…is the 40 something guy in the dirty Chevy truck another George Zimmerman?

Am I George Zimmerman?

Do I judge people and especially youth based on how they look and what they wear?

Do I believe that “MY” justice outweighs the laws and policies of my community, state and country?

Does my stereotypical bias drive me to assumptions that are based solely on fear or lack of understanding?

Do I value human life over property?

Do I value human life?

Do I see other peoples’ children as a precious commodity or an awkward threat/distraction?

Do I reach out to and embrace ALL people of all races and backgrounds?
            Even the ones who don’t look like me?
            Even the ones who speak a different language than I?

I pray my smile-extended today without expectation-affirmed to the family, whose children look a lot like Josiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremy Kelly that I am NOT George Zimmerman.

I am NOT George Zimmerman.

Are you George Zimmerman?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Washington Educator's Feedback and Questions for Secretary of Education Nominee Betsy DeVos through US Senator Patty Murray

Thank you for the invitation to share my thoughts with Senator Murray for Ms. DeVos. As a point of reference, this is my 26 th year as a public school administrator/teacher. I have served students in Washington, Oregon and Nevada. I have served as a music teacher, Middle School Assistant Principal, High School Assistant Principal, Director of Alternative School, High School Principal, Director of Educational Non-Profit, Assistant State Superintendent (supporting WA under-performing schools—285 schools holding 250,000 kids) and currently Superintendent in the Lyle School District. I have six children. 2 have graduated from public schools and 4 are still enrolled in WA public schools. I have served as a Union President for school administrators in Nevada and am currently the President Elect for the Washington Association of School Administrators for ESD 112. Thoughts on Ms. DeVos: There are a myriad of data points about her absolute lack of qualifications to serve as our nati...
Read more

Faces in the Crowd

Image
493 faces in the crowd from 1306 SW Webster Street to the Starbucks on Westlake at South Lake Union, Seattle, WA. Even gender division, well-dressed and disheveled, young and old, tired and alert, black, brown, white and in-between. 493 faces in the crowd. On the street corner. Metro bus route 125. South Seattle Community College. Westlake Center. Sidewalk passing Fantasy Girls adult theater. 493 faces in the crowd. I noticed 493 different faces in the crowd this morning. Counted them actually. I was struck by the enormity of the work within our public schools in Washington State and around the country. I paused this morning to consider the differences portrayed on the faces I passed. What is it that creates "the look" of each face I passed. What role did/will teachers play in the attitudes of fellow human beings that crossed my path this morning? There really seemed to be no "in between." Faces were filled with joy, hope and optimism or sadness, despair...
Read more

Leadership and the Danger of "I" and "Me"

Leadership matters. Leadership matters in all sorts of ways. Leaders give us hope. Leaders help us have the courage to make challenging choices and decisions. Leaders are selfless. Leaders promote others, care, have empathy and don't belittle those who are different than themselves. Leaders acknowledge their success only in relationship to the overall growth and improvement of those who they lead. As a school and district leader for the past 22 years I have worked diligently to try and improve the school communities that I've served. The goal has always been to work in collaboration with all stakeholders for better outcomes for kids, families and communities. Through each of these roles some degree of success and progress has been experienced. I've never believed for even a moment that "I" held the key, magic potion, or silver bullet. Leadership matters and what I know to be true about the leaders that I've watched in my lifetime succeed in serving their r...
Read more