Living black in gawd-forsaken USA.

White Americans aren’t facing up to the truth. The fact that America is a racist country. Racism is deeply engrained in the nation’s white psyche. Unfortunately, many, many whites are in denial. They think great strides have been made since the days of slavery and the Civil war.  And therefore, racism no longer exists. But that’s poppycock. It’s pretense. Take the white jury that acquitted George Zimmerman of second degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Trayvon Martin. Really, Zimmerman should have been on trial for racism. For being a bigot. Secretly. If not openly.   Of course, that’s a hard case to prove. Delving into one’s soul/spirit/psyche ain’t easy. One’s true nature can be effectively hidden.  Racism comes in many forms. Some subtle. Some overt.  The judge in the trial ruled out references to racial motives in the killing. Instead, the case was decided on the technicalities of law. In fact, laws designed to make it relatively easy to kill someone, and then claim self-defense. That puts blacks at a distinct disadvantage in a racist society. Makes it much easier for a self-appointed neighborhood watch wanna-be cop to track down a 17-year-old black youth and shoot him dead.  And get away with it. Indeed, that’s a disgrace. But it’s all part of living black in gawd-forsaken America. –Jim Broede