Justice for Trayvon Martin: When I was 17

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When I was seventeen, I was a junior at the largest high school in our county.  I was an honor student in National Honor Society, Beta Club, vice President of DECA, and an officer and/or member of several other clubs.

I was no longer playing basketball because I injured my knee the summer before my junior year, and didn't think it was worth it. I worked at Hardees as a cashier, and thought of college often.  I already knew where I would attend.

I went to Presidential Classroom in DC that year.  It was a great experience.  And added to my resume :).   I was a little rebellious at home, because I had been sheltered a lot.  I was still a child, wanting to be grown, yet wanting the protection of my parents at the same time.

I still loved candy and sports, and was just really getting into fashion, since I had my own money to buy clothes.  Most people would say I was a good kid with a bit of an attitude at times.  I had a lot of pain inside, having suffered the loss of a couple family members and a dear friend.  A couple of years before my homeboy, had died in a car accident.

Schools were scouting me, not for my athletic prowess lol, but for my academic prowess.  I received letters from M.I.T., Harvard, Yale, NCCU, NCAT, UNC, DUKE, Princeton, Washington in St. Louis, Emory, etc., filling up my parents' mailbox.  I just had one more year, and I'd be out on my own.

But I still was somewhat afraid of strangers. I didn't necessarily love leaving home when I didn't know anyone else around.  But I went on trips because it helped me in the long run.

When reading about how Trayvon Martin's parents loved and kissed on him, I would imagine he felt protected and cared for and safe.  Then I think about how a child raised that way, was probably warned about strangers.  Told not to talk to them as a little kid, and warned that there may be danger if approached.

I see the pictures of him in his football uniforms, smiling holding his younger siblings, surrounded by friends.  Though he was seventeen, he looked younger, weighing a mere 140 lbs.  He still had a baby face.

It breaks my heart that Trayvon was accosted by a man almost twice his weight, wielding a firearm, who had struck a deal in the past after attacking a police officer, to have his record expunged.  I imagine, Trayvon was scared when George Zimmerman started following him.  I'm sure Trayvon wished someone were there to protect him.

Apparently he had been taught self defense, so when Zimmerman accosted him, Trayvon weighing only 140 lbs, protected himself, attempting to fight off his attacker.  Zimmerman, unable to win a fight with a child that he attacked, then pulled out a gun.

Neighbors saw the fight, and heard Trayvon scream for help.  They told police this very thing.  Before anyone could rescue Trayvon, George Zimmerman pulled the trigger.  Police are claiming that Zimmerman has immunity under the Florida "Stand your ground" law.  The law says you don't have to retreat if you are attacked or you're protecting someone who is attacked, no matter where you are.  The question is: Was George Zimmerman attacked or was he the attacker?

When I was seventeen, I'd known for eleven years that I wanted to be an attorney.  Trayvon wanted to be  a pilot. I wonder where he would have flown.  I wonder how his friends are coping...going back to school, with his seat being empty.  No longer seeing his baby face in the hallways.  I wonder if the teachers consoled them, the way I was consoled when my homeboy passed.

I wonder if they felt the same sick feeling in their stomachs and knots in their throats, the way my classmates had.  I wonder if they will have nightmares about death, like I did for years.


Sources: ABC News CNN Huffington Post

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