Co-authored with L. Song Richardson
As the facts surrounding Trayvon Martin's death continue to emerge, one truth compels us to watch the investigation -- riveted: yet another Black child has been shot to death, and yet another set of grieving parents are left wondering if their boy would still be breathing were it not for his race. While the events of February 26 in Sanford, Florida increasingly suggest that the shooter was a rogue wannabe police officer whose actions caused Martin's death, we would do this young man, his parents, and America a disservice if we reduce discussion of his death to the motives of his killer. Although it is tempting to fixate on the spectacle of George Zimmerman's outrageous behavior and potentially racist intentions, the science of race and violence suggests that using race as a proxy for suspicion is not the exception, but the rule.
This results from what we refer to as the "cascade of suspicion," the waves of psychological errors that can warp the perceptions of otherwise reasonable individuals. For instance, in a series of psychological studies, Jennifer Eberhardt, colleagues and I found that merely thinking about crime causes individuals to attend to Black male faces and ignore White ones -- a kind of subconscious racial profiling. Similarly, race can also literally shape what we see when looking at Black men, with research by other researchers demonstrating that both civilians and law enforcement are more likely to "see" weapons in the hands of unarmed Black men than unarmed White men.
In my own recent research, these same biases can cause even otherwise gentle individuals to literally perceive Black children as less than human -- mentally associating them with apes and seeing them as far older than they actually are. Importantly, in each of these bodies of research literature, a bigoted heart is not required to "see" suspicion in Black faces. Just as importantly, these psychological processes affect the vast majority of individuals -- and not just "those people" outside of our social circles. That is, many of us with genuinely non-racist hearts still make these mistakes. Our minds are colored by race -- and there is no running from it. Without knowing the science, every Black parent understands what that means for Black boys: making someone else afraid can be deadly.
The fear that this inspires in Black males and the women who love them -- mothers, lovers, sisters, and daughters -- can provoke odd behavior. The African American essayist Brent Staples once spoke of "Whistling Vivaldi" to assure his neighbors in Chicago that he was not coming to rob them. Fathers tell sons not to handle anything in stores or walk too closely behind women after dark. Mothers tell sons not to speak too loudly in public or play with water pistols outside. "Imagine if a cop -- or just someone in the neighborhood sees you?!" they say. And when you are taught this at an early age, another wave of the "cascade of suspicion" takes hold. The urge to run away from a world that tacitly calls you a criminal and makes you terrified that someone will be terrified of you, makes you look all the more suspicious. This (and not respect for the law) is why so many parents tell their Black children never to run from police. And, though George Zimmerman was not the police, running away from him may have led to the confrontation that cost Trayvon Martin his life.
With racial bigotry in decline, it is seductive to imagine that the horror of this situation rests in some relics of the past -- with neo-klansmen or sinister police cover-ups. And we have come a long way from the days when both of those were ever-present -- which should give us some space for optimism. But our challenge now is to recognize that Trayvon Martin did not run from George Zimmerman because he feared a psychotic bigot was hunting him. He was not running from a specter of the past. He ran because, when you are Black and you suspect you have been labeled suspicious, even the most reasonable people can be killers. The tragedy of Trayvon Martin's death is the loss of such a young life. But the tragedy of his last moments is that he had every reason to run... from Zimmerman or nearly anyone else. Our challenge now is to make that fact history as we have with so much of our bigoted past. Our challenge is not to run from race in our minds. Ignoring the work that remains to be done risks overlooking that Black males' terror of inspiring fear is justified -- unlike the fear that many Black males too often inspire.
Phillip Atiba Goff is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at UCLA and Executive Director of Research for the Consortium for Police Leadership in Equity.
L. Song Richardson is an associate professor of law at American University.
In several major media markets the first 8 minutes of local news is dedicated to crime committed by blacks and this could possibly play a role in the mindset of Americans whether we consciously or subconsciously know this or not.
Urban areas in America have changed little over the years as crime remains a hugh problem, perhaps we need to change the way we do things. The breakdown of the family may contribute to these problems. Black males need positive male role models, we need to show ourselves that its okay to not be gangsters and hurt other people.
The majority of serial killers are white males. Yet, we do not implore the white community to make sure their sons have good role models, not to wear whatever serial killers wear, teach their white sons not to be killers and harm others.
I not only fear for my sons encountering a Zimmerman (what should his parents have taught him) but the psychological damage of being seen as a dangerous threat no matter that you have never done anything wrong.
For those who specialize in serving up such omelettes, there will never be enough obvious, irrefutable facts to dissuade them from their mission.
They will create any scenario to make Zimmerman the victim.
Further, I recognize that I would be among those whose perceptions are altered by race. Denial of that fact won't help me. Saying, "I am not a racist" will not change the fact that measured objectively, I am.
as a adult zimmerman without a gun would have done things differently, he would not have follow in attempt to question a teenager.
http://news.yahoo.com/video/orlandowesh-16122564/sanford-police-speak-out-in-trayvon-martin-case-28640523.html
Under Florida law, it probably does unless you take the position that this broadly worded law is basically a license to murder under any circumstances.
We know that Zimmerman is over 200 lbs, 28 years old with a gun snd had been told to stop by the police. Martin was 140 lbs, 17 years old with skittles and a cell phone. If Martin was your brother what would you think?
"increasingly suggest that the shooter was a rogue wannabe police officer"
I say this with no racial overtones. You are only inciting segregationist attitudes amongst those who are trying to draw a non-racial view of this story. Where in the he!! did you get the information that Zimmerman is a rogue wannabe police officer? I would say you can not verify or substantiate your descriptive rendition of Mr.Zimmerman. This is entirely your own "opinion". Then of course you are the media and the media has created this now volatile atmosphere that will continue until it has played itself out. You are a part of that problem, P.A.Goff. People like you have helped to heighten the Zionist, Nazi, and Neo-Nazi hatred. You, in your subtle way would have been a star in the Black Panther movement of the '60's. I know, I fought and lived through the chaotic and turbulent days of the '60's. You are nothing more than a negative instigator of human emotions. You need to find another profession. But you won't. You poison forums such as these. I would only "assume" you were GIVEN your position through "affirmative action". I think you have always known this but could not face up to it. The job came first before any self respect, right?
You should read the article again. The world Blacks live in is not the same world whites live in.
Those who read and march are not and should be pacified with any further feeble attempts to quell the RIGHT to be angry about the hundreds of years of Racism/Colonialism both subtle and gross enacted on 'minorities' by authorities, politicians, and hate groups/minds. And if any 'minority' is they need to re-think this matter. There is no OUTRUNNING a BULLET at close range from a GUN of a MADMAN on a RACIST MISSION.
Digress, in the sense of rant, as to why the 'nation' is scared:
[FEAR mongering - yet again. If any Bigot was comfortable in their skin and felt ok with who they were - they would have no reason to fear a black/American Indian/Latino or Asian Man. Due to the YEARS of dogmatic programming via education/religion/politico -social or some inherent superior traits in Whites or pushing a 'Psuedo-peaceful' agenda of the colonial mindset. (continued)
Teaching the Lie of Thanksgiving to toddlers - when whites were eating their people and then began to eat the American Indian - used the heads of our children to kick in the street for sport. Lincoln declares Thanksgiving a Holiday because he was happy the soldiers came home safe after exterminating American Indian 'tribes' in New England.
Leaving this and various other truths for the scholar/individual to find it for themselves. ( oh my bad-ya think if you wanna hide something from a black person-put it in a book).
Treaties with American Indians are STILL not respected nor ARE honored...in the last 10 years the Supreme Court had to force various counties to INCLUDE votes in the political process from American Indians. African Americans still have NOT received the 40 acres and a Mule and various inalienable rights - RIGHT alongside other nations of color. Dooley was arrested in 2 days for killing James -
This is NOT, I repeat not a time for cowardice or RUNNING. (continued in comments.)
Whites who are defending Zimmerman feel the same way and that what he wore got him shot, they have no respect for the constitution of the United States and feel that only a white kid's life has value. Since we won't form communities like the Amish, Hazidic Jews and the Mormons to spare ourselves from the racist actions and bogus defenses of our fellow white citizens, we have to take actions to defend ourselves from both the gang banging criminal element and those white/non- black people who would put our lives in peril. Trayvon Martin and his family deserves justice, but I highly doubt they will get either unless there is a Civil Trail and sues the city, neighborhood and police department.
But inside our minds, it does. So as a mental phenomenon, race does exist.