And for all you who say that here justice was done,
Here is something for you to consider
When an officer shoots an unarmed black man to death
They do not define it as murder
-The Ballard of Trayvon Martin

The evening began with these words from a folk song written by Bethlehem native Sam Steffen, which details the events that led to the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman in 2012.  

The panel discussion that followed at Zoellner Arts Center’s Baker Hall Tuesday was titled America’s Most Wanted: Hip-hop, the Media & the Criminalization of Black & Brown Youth. Part of a series organized by the MLK Committee that focuses on social justice, the event was hosted by Bakari Kitwana, executive director of Rap Sessions, an organization that brings hip-hop activists, scholars and artists to various cities to spark debate about issues that matter to the hip-hop generation.

With the recent shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, still on everyone’s minds, the timely discussion included calls to help change the country’s perception of young black and brown youth. Discussion also included social media and how it has ignited a nationwide debate on racial profiling.

Among the panelists was Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, who addressed what happened in Ferguson as well as what happened to her son. Regardless of what Michael Brown did, and I don't know the full story, and nobody does right now, but I think he had a right to live. Just like Trayvon had a right to live, she said.

Fulton wrote to Brown’s mother after he was killed to warn about “character assassinations.” Referring to her own son's saggy pants, his hoodie and the trace amounts of marijuana found in his system, she said: A lot of times people like to justify what happened. They like to justify the murder by making a person seem like they were so bad. Nothing my son did should have caused his death.... I'm certain that Trayvon did not have a weapon. I'm certain that Trayvon was minding his own business because he was on the telephone....Do you want a pretty lie or the ugly truth? The ugly truth is he was murdered because of the color of his skin.

In addressing the rioting in Ferguson that had followed Brown’s death, she said, I'm for protest, but it needs to be peaceful protest so that you can get your purpose out. If you're tearing up your own city, people don't understand that, and later you realize that it's your community you are tearing up.

The panel also included Carlito Rodriguez, a writer/producer who is currently writing for HBO’s “The Leftovers;” Michael Skolnik, political director for Russell Simmons, editor-in-chief of GlobalGrind.com and the son of a Lehigh alumnus; and Niaz Kazravi, national director of criminal justice for the NAACP.

 

Moderator Jasiri X, a hip-hop artist and activist, performed a rap song that included references to the deaths of Martin and Brown, as well as Renisha McBride, Jonathan Ferrell and Kendrick Johnson.Kitwana emphasized that young people need to strive to be part of the solution and not “sit on the sidelines and be a voyeur.”

“Getting involved is crucial, but many people see it as ‘that’s happening somewhere else not in my life,’” added Fulton. “It’s important that we don’t wait until it happens to your home or to your family or your friends.”

Social media has been instrumental in getting people involved. “With social media, information moves a lot quicker,” said Rodriguez, adding that sharing powerful images and seeing other communities show solidarity makes “people wake up.”

Skolnik praised the young people on social media who have “forced the mainstream media to pay attention.” Speaking to the high school and college students in the audience, he added that, because of this, “I am deeply in love with your generation. I think you are the greatest generation this country has ever seen.”

After the discussion, a long line of audience members queued up to ask questions. One person asked what Fulton does to remember her son. She replied that every year in early February, a Peace Walk and Talk is held to show “that our young people have a right to walk in peace without being followed, chased, pursued, profiled, and shot and killed.”