7 Things Trayvon Martin Can Teach Us

Over the past few weeks, the tragic story of Trayvon Martin has dominated news organizations and social conversations.  Although many of the facts are still in question, one thing reigns true, a young man died to way too soon.  As PR professionals, Americans, and individuals, what can we learn ?

1. Social media has tremendous power.  This is not a surprise. We’ve known it for a long time , but every once in a while an event will take place that reminds us of the global influence it has.  Trayvon was shot on February 26, but the country and the world didn’t learn about his story until almost three weeks after the incident had occurred. Through various tweets and Facebook posts from his supporters, news influencers became aware of the story and started to report it. Since then, there is not an hour that goes by where Trayvon isn’t tweeted or posted about.

2. In a crisis tell your story, and don’t let anyone tell it for you.  The Sanford Police Department broke the number one commandment in handling a crisis. They have let the media dictate the direction of this case and how they handled it.  As details about the case begun to emerge the Sanford PD has had to react to certain allegations of impropriety.  From the first accusation, Sanford PD should have been the main source of information.  Many of the details about the case have come from outside sources making it appear that the police have something to hide. unfortunately because of this, no matter what the special investigation uncovers, the Sanford PD will be considered a corrupt police force unable to properly investigate crimes.

Furthermore, George Zimmerman has yet to release his own statement regarding the incident. Instead he is relying on his friends and attorney to recount his version of the event. While they can attest to his character, only he can provide answers to critical questions .

3. Your past, sometimes unfairly, can harm you. Over the past 48 hours, troubling stories have emerged about Trayvon Martin.  Information about his suspension from school for an alleged drug offense are beginning to tarnish(intentionally or not) this young man’s reputation.   As a professional under the communications umbrella, I believe that all sides of a story should be investigated fully and accurately. Facts should be reported in such a manner that is informative and does not condemn. Regardless of Trayvon’s past indiscretions, the ugly truth is he’s dead and the focus should be on justice. Whatever that happens to be.

4. When there is a national tragedy, people will find a way to capitalize. Nothing horrified me more than to read that the New Black Panther Party had put a bounty on George Zimmerman’s head.  Like many Americans I am upset about the handling of this investigation, and I want to see justice served. By seeking revenge on Zimmerman, the New Black Panther Party is perpetuating the cycle of vigilante justice. You don’t have to agree with Zimmerman’s actions, but he is entitled to due process under the law.

Moreover, the New Black Panther Party is not helping to bring positive awareness to their organization and the causes they represent. This move just solidifies in some minds that the Black Panther Party, no matter how “new” is a radical organization whose sole mission is to bring about change through violence.

5. In an election year anything can become fair game for politicians.  With all the problems facing this country, it saddens and enrages me that Trayvon Martin has become another bullet point in campaign speeches and rhetoric. 

Last week, Pres. Obama responded to a question from a reporter about Trayvon Martin. He responded by saying “you know, if I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon Martin.”  He went on to that this is a time when all Americans should do some soul-searching about how something like this was allowed to happen.

It wasn’t long before GOP candidates  began to criticize Pres. Obama for his comments.  Santorum and Gingrich accused the President of playing the race card and making statements that were “disgraceful” and “divisive.”  The truth of the matter is Pres. Obama is an African-American male who in one degree or another has been in Trayvon’s shoes. He was not being divisive, but rather he was giving Ian honest non political opinion about an issue that has gained  national attention.

7. This too shall pass.  Remember Sean Bell, Jena Six, or Troy Davis? These are just a few of the cases that gained some degree of national attention in recent years regarding race and justice in America. For days and even weeks, they placed the country in an uproar with demands for sweeping changes in the judicial system and greater accountability for law enforcement. Sadly after a few weeks of hoopla, we as a nation forgot about their plights and our crusade for “liberty and justice for all.” As a result, there are more Sean Bells, Jena Sixes, and Trayvon Martins.

We cannot continue to ride the wave of justice during high tide and then leave when the fervor behind it has died down. For any real change to take place we must continually work for and seek out justice. Not only for Trayvon, but for the thousands of Americans, red, yellow, black and white who have been denied the right of justice guaranteed by the Constitution.

Signed,

Laniece D. Williams