Crime

OP-ED: After the “Murder” of Trayvon Martin, Healing Will be Difficult

Published

13 years ago

July 29, 2013

“Too Many White-Americans Still Don’t Understand”

During the Zimmerman Trial, it was revealed that Trayvon Martin called Zimmerman a “cracker” and many white-Americans were shocked. In the 1970s, my father, who is the grandson of a slave, often called white men “crackers.” Back then, I wondered why my dad said this word with such pain in his voice. When my dad was dying in the year 2003, I asked him why he called white men “crackers.” He answered: “…because white slave masters were crackin’ that whip and f***in’ our mothers. That’s why we also call them mother f***ers.” How can white-America produce dreadful situations that create horrible words, such as “nigger” and “cracker,” then criticize African-Americans for using these words? White-America’s unending racial hypocrisy stinks to high heavens.

Despite these devastating truths, many white-Americans callously say African-Americans need to move beyond slavery, racism and “get over it.” I’ve got news for them; most African-Americans would love to move on. But too many ill-effects of past racism remain. Too much racial clutter continues to exist within present-day $y$tems. Too many race realities continue to prevent African-Americans from moving on. As we attempt to heal, too many white-American actions and $y$temic conditions keep ripping-off the scab of racism.

Despite these truths, many white-Americans can’t seem to understand why some African-Americans continue to speak in terms of race. When white-on-black racism completely goes away, white-Americans can rightfully protest that African-Americans overly-focus on racism. Until then, too many white-Americans are the ones who need to “get over it” in at least two ways. They need to realize African-Americans have justified reasons to focus on race. And, white-Americans need to get over their lingering racist thoughts and actions.

After thousands of years of discrimination, black slavery, and continued (though-decreasing) racism, various sources report: “Between the years 2000 and 2011, white-American hate groups rose from 602 to 1,018.” May 2006: “Racial discrimination still plagues U.S. mortgage market.” May 2007: “African-Americans are charged higher car loan rates.” June 2007: “Race disparity in medical care persists.” July 2013: “NYC principal called black teachers ‘nappy-headed,’ then fired them.” Please stop me at any time. Add continuing cases of “economic redlining”; “racial biases in law enforcement”; on and on and the racism scab constantly gets ripped-off. Racial wounds can’t heal under these conditions.

Throughout July 2013, various white-Americans complained that Trayvon demonstrations too-often turn into “protests against capitalism.” Too many white-Americans disregard the fact that racism is married to class within capitalism. Too many white-Americans overlook studies such as “Are Emily and Brendan More Employable than Lakisha and Jamal?” which, in 2001, found that “job applicants with white-sounding names are 50-percent more-likely to get called for an interview than applicants with African-American-sounding names.”

It’s difficult enough surviving and coping under capitalism, while capitalism plus racism can be unbearable.

Enough African-Americans clearly see that capitali$m perpetuates many socio-economic inequalities that were produced by past $lavery and oppression. But then, when some disenfranchised African-Americans react by turning to crime or drugs, too many white-Americans unfairly blame only this behavior for socio-economic inequalities that are habitually-generated by past and present-day raci$m.

After all this, for Zimmerman to racially-profile Trayvon, follow him, incite Trayvon’s “justifiable” anger, then “murder” Trayvon during a fight that Zimmerman promoted: this can’t be “justifiable” homicide. Zimmerman had no right to “murder.”

But after Zimmerman’s acquittal, too many white-Americans support Zimmerman’s ambition to become a police officer. This nonsense should surprise no one. After the original O.J. Simpson trial, Fox News hired N-bomb-dropping cop, Mark Fuhrman. White-America’s continued denial of obvious racial truths is offensive. This too must change for African-Americans to heal and move on.

Anthony Vaughn is the Author of “The Last Testament of Racism in America” and “The Way to FIX Our World”. He can be contacted at w.anthony@mail.org

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Oakland Post: Week of May 6 – 12, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of may 6 – 12, 2026

Published

5 days ago

May 10, 2026

Oakland Post

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Up to the Job: How San Francisco’s PRC Is Providing Work Opportunities That Turn Into Lasting Stability

Each year, PRC serves more than 5,000 clients through a wide range of programs. These include housing navigation, legal advocacy to ensure access to health and public benefits, supportive housing, job and life-skills training, and residential treatment programs.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 26, 2026

Oakland Post

Black Leadership Council (BLC) Advocacy Day in Sacramento. BLC works to advance meaningful change through policy engagement to unlock the full potential of Black and low-income communities. Photo courtesy of PRC.

By Joe Kocurek, California Black Media

Seville Christian arrived in San Francisco in the 1990s from Kansas City, Mo., a transgender woman coming from a time and place still hostile to who she was.

San Francisco offered a deeper LGBTQ+ history and a more visible community of people like her, but even in a city known for acceptance, building a stable life from scratch was no small task.

After arriving in the city, she turned to Positive Resource Center (PRC) looking for work — and for a foothold — in a new place.

“PRC gave me my first job,” Christian said. “A simple gig — passing out magazines at the San Francisco Pride Parade.”

That first opportunity marked the beginning of a decades-long relationship with PRC, one that has seen Christian grow from client to valued employee, and eventually to policy fellow.

“Today, I’ve been with PRC for 27 years, going on 28,” she said.

Seville Christian’s decades-long relationship with PRC includes as a client, fellow and beloved employee. Photo courtesy of PRC.

Helping people access employment and build sustainable careers has been a cornerstone of PRC’s mission since its inception nearly four decades ago. In its most recent annual impact report, PRC served 443 clients through workforce development services, including career counseling, educational programs, hands-on training, and job search assistance. The average wage earned by PRC clients is $26.48 per hour — approximately 38% above San Francisco’s minimum wage.

To advance this work, organizations like PRC have benefited from funding through California’s Stop the Hate Program, which provides direct support to community-based organizations leading anti-hate initiatives.

Christian’s path was not without challenges. During some rocky years, she experienced periods of housing instability and struggled with addiction. Through PRC, she enrolled in a life-skills program that emphasized using her own lived experience as a means of helping others. The program helped set her on a path toward completing an associate’s degree and ultimately launching a career in case management.

“Today, whether someone is new to the city or has lived here their whole life, I know how to help them navigate to where they need to be,” Christian said.

Members of PRC’s Black Leadership Council meet with a lawmaker in Sacramento. Photo courtesy of PRC.

While PRC was founded to serve people living with HIV, its mission has expanded over the decades to meet the needs of people with disabilities, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those facing mental health and substance use challenges.

According to PRC’s Chief of Public Policy and Public Affairs, Tasha Henneman, some of the organization’s earliest programs remain as vital today as they were at the start.

“Our emergency financial assistance program helped more than 1,200 people this year pay rent, cover medical bills, and keep the lights on,” Henneman said. “And over 1,400 people reached out for legal advocacy, resulting in more than $2.5 million in retroactive benefits unlocked.”

Beyond direct services, PRC is deeply committed to community empowerment and policy change. Programs such as the Black Leadership Council support community leaders in advocating for systemic reform, while the Black Trans Initiative focuses on addressing the unique challenges faced by Black transgender individuals.

A recent study from the Williams Institute highlighted findings that 71% of transgender homicide victims in the U.S. between 2010 and 2021 were Black and that nearly a third of the transgender homicides during that period were confirmed or suspected hate crimes.

PRC’s direct and indirect services can be a lifeline for people experiencing hate and are an example of the resources people can get connected with through the state’s CA vs Hate hotline.

PRC is now also producing a film project that centers the lived experiences of Black trans clients, including individuals like Christian.

PRC welcomed guests to their annual Open House in April, an evening dedicated to connection, reflection, and learning more about the programs and people working every day to support San Franciscans experiencing housing instability, unemployment, and behavioral health challenges. Photo courtesy of PRC.

“Our film highlights the health journeys and lived experiences of some of PRC’s Black trans clients,” Henneman said. “Our goal is to give voice, visibility, and agency to the participants — and to bring their stories, both harrowing and inspirational, to policymakers and the broader public.”

The film, expected to be released later this year, is directed by Yule Caise, with assistant director Zarina Codes, a Black transgender San Francisco resident.

Today, Christian continues her relationship with PRC as an ambassador, reflecting on a journey that began with a single job opportunity and grew into a lifelong commitment to service.

“Sometimes I’ll be riding the bus or standing in a grocery store, and someone will come up to me from a women’s shelter,” she said. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, Miss Seville, I just want to thank you. You really helped me with what I was dealing with.’”

She paused, smiling.

“And in those moments,” Christian said, “I think to myself, “Well!.”

A single word that sums up pride in a journey to find the best in herself.

Get Support After Hate:

California vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hotline and online portal offering confidential support for hate crimes and incidents. Victims and witnesses can get help anonymously by calling 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. PT, or online at any time. Anonymous. Confidential. No Police. No ICE.

This story was produced in partnership with CA vs Hate. Join them for the first-ever CA Civil Rights Summit on May 11, 2026. More information at www.cavshate.org/summit.