Finally, what we all have been waiting for. President Obama speaks out about Trayvon Martin. This story has been elevated to a level where our country - the world - must now pay attention. Finally, thanks to social media and the ability it creates to mobilize millions, this senseless tragedy may find justice, and a national conversation on race relations is exploding. Finally, millions of white people may now have an awareness about and a better understanding of "the talk" parents of black and brown children must have about "no matter how amazing and wonderful you are, you are not safe in this world" as their children are coming of age. Finally.
National Public Radio reports the story here, but below is an excerpt:
"When I think about that boy, I think about my own kids" and that "if I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon," President Obama just said when asked about the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin and the national discussion it has reignited about race relations in America.And here is a video clip of his comments:
Without commenting on what happened in Sanford, Fla., on Feb. 26, when 28-year-old George Zimmerman shot Martin, the president said it is "absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this" to determine "exactly how this tragedy happened."
"All of us have some soul searching" to do, said the president, "to figure out how something like this happened."
And Obama said he has a message for Martin's parents: "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon. I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness this deserves and get to the bottom of what happened."
I would just add this: Yes, if President Obama had a son he would look like Trayvon. And at 17, the teenager who would become our president could have been Trayvon. Think about that and let it sink in...
The child who would be President
As a little kid.
At Trayvon's age.
And now our president. He made it.
I wonder what Trayvon might have become?
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