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A teen was shot by a watchman 5 years ago. And the Trayvon Martin case became a cause Miami Herald Five years ago this week, a Miami-Dade teen was shot and killed by a neighborhood watch captain outside a Central Florida apartment complex. The events that night, involving 17-year-old Trayvon Martin and 28-year-old George Zimmerman. Here are ... and more »

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A teen was shot by a watchman 5 years ago. And the Trayvon Martin case became a cause - Miami Herald

Students stroll around the campus of Spelman College, a historically black college in Atlanta. Chris Shinn/Courtesy of Spelman College hide caption

Students stroll around the campus of Spelman College, a historically black college in Atlanta.

Tales of talented black students on majority-white campuses running through a racial gauntlet that has them questioning their brilliance, abilities and place are familiar to parents like me who have a college-bound child at home.

The trauma that sometimes comes with being a black student at predominately white institutions is tangible. In their 2015 paper, "Reimagining Critical Race Theory in Education: Mental Health, Healing and the Pathway to Liberatory Praxis," Ebony McGee, a professor at Vanderbilt University, and David Stovall, a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, found that black college students who weather the effects of studying and living on predominately white campuses suffer from a "physical and mental wear-and-tear that contributes to a host of psychological and physical ailments."

"We have documented alarming occurrences of anxiety, stress, depression and thoughts of suicide, as well as a host of physical ailments like hair loss, diabetes and heart disease," McGee said in an article on Vanderbilt's website, adding that calls for black students to draw on mental toughness and perseverance what researchers are referring to these days as "grit" overlook the additional burden black students bear as they face off against overt and covert racism.

"We have witnessed black students work themselves to the point of extreme illness in attempting to escape the constant threat of perceived intellectual inferiority," McGee said. "We argue that the current enthusiasm for teaching African American students with psychological traits like grit ignores the significant injustice of societal racism and the toll it takes, even on those students who appear to be the toughest and most successful."

At a historically black college or university (HBCU), students with diverse economic, social and geographic backgrounds share similar cultural and emotional frames of reference that can take the edge off the rigors of college life.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that over the past three years, nearly a third of HBCUs have seen at least a 20 percent increase in applications a spike that correlates with nationwide protests over high profile incidents like George Zimmerman's acquittal in Trayvon Martin's shooting death and Sandra Bland's jail death after a controversial police traffic stop.

Those protests spilled onto college campuses after students at the University of Missouri, citing volatile racial aggression against students of color, demanded and got the November 2015 resignation of the school's president and chancellor, who protesters said failed to address racial problems on campus. Success by Mizzou's students sparked sit-ins, rallies and protests at more than 100 colleges and universities, reverberating all the way through to earlier this month, when Yale University announced that, after campus-wide unrest, it would rename a residential college originally named after an alumnus who was a fierce slavery advocate.

And black parents are lockstep with their children including famous ones like Taraji P. Henson, who publicly announced she decided against sending her son, Marcell Johnson, to the University of Southern California after he said he was racially profiled on the USC campus. She chose Howard University, an HBCU and her alma mater.

"I'm not paying $50,000 so I can't sleep at night wondering is this the night my son is getting racially profiled on campus," Henson said about her decision.

Like her, black parents readily admit to sleeping better at night, too, knowing that their babies are reasonably protected from possible racial violence physically, emotionally, mentally on a campus where they can engage in political, social and creative movements, and still have some modicum of room for joy in an affirming environment amid the political and social upheaval unraveling across the country America.

For black families, the choice of where a child should attend college is every bit as much about self-care as it is about getting a solid education, and HBCUs are building on their reputations for offering both in spades.

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For Black College Prospects, Belonging And Safety Often Top Ivy Prestige - NPR

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) -- *Editor's Note: A previous version of this article wrongly said Geroge Zimmerman used "Stand Your Ground" as a defense in his trial for the killing of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman's attorneys used a self-defense justification that did not include the "Stand Your Ground" provision, though jurors said afterwards it was a factor in their discussions before acquitting Zimmerman.

Anyone in Iowa could use deadly force anywhere if they believe such force is necessary to avoid injury or risk to ones life or safety under a bill including a stand-your-ground provision.

A subcommittee in the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature approved the comprehensive gun measure, House Study Bill 133, on Thursday, and supporters said the law provides much-needed clarity on the right to protect and defend. But opponents worry its giving a license to kill.

Its a good idea for our laws to be strengthened up, said Tom Hudson, manager of CrossRoads Shooting Sports. Right now, there is nothing that specifically speaks that you have the ability to make the discerning judgment your life is in jeopardy, and you can take necessary steps to defend yourself.

Under the proposed bill, Iowans could use deadly force anywhere if they believe its necessary to avoid risking their life.

People could use deadly force even if an alternative course of action is available, and it allows people to be wrong in that estimation of danger.

But opponents like Veronica Fowler, of the Iowa American Civil Liberties Union, said the legislation would open doors for a lot of tragedies.

This bill, were concerned, could embolden people to basically shoot other people in situations where they might not otherwise, she said.

Fowler said since states like Florida adopted stand-your-ground laws, justifiable homicide rates have tripled.

Stand your ground came to prominence in the George Zimmerman killing of of Trayvon Martin.

Hudson argued this doesnt justify disparity of force. The intent would be for people to use the lowest level of force necessary.

They will have the right to defend themselves, Fowler said. If somebody invades your home and there is a shooting that happens, the self-defense law is in place. We feel that covers it.

The bill would also allow people to carry concealed weapons without a permit, prohibit colleges from banning weapons on campus, allow firearm permits to last a lifetime, prohibit local governments from passing gun restrictions, allow children under age 14 to use guns with supervision and allow guns on the Capitol grounds.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Iowa panel OKs gun bill with stand-your-ground provision - KCRG.com - KCRG

Remember Trayvon? He wouldve been 22 by now. He more than likely would have graduated from high school and entered college by this date. If he studied hard, maybe he would have entered an Ivy League school, graduated from Harvard and entered the spaceflight-training program during his downtime between law school classes.

Im sure there are wypipo reading this and commenting how preposterous this sounds; that we are making a superhero out of a regular child. They would say that we have ascribed supernatural powers to a regular-ol 17-year-old and that it is highly unlikely that a child like Trayvon would have become a lawyer or an astronaut.

This criticism can be answered with the simplest logic and the least complex rationale:

How the fuck you know?

Five years ago, while walking home after buying candy and soda, Trayvon Martin was lynched in public by an overzealous, half-crazy, racist neighborhood watchman who was not in the neighborhood watch. He was killed by a grown man who stalked him with a gun andafter being told by a 911 operator to leave Trayvon alonesomehow shot the teen in the chest.

Then he went home and took a nap.

We have all heard that old saying, Time flies when you are living under the rule of a dim-witted dictatorship, but it doesnt seem like Trayvon has been gone for half a decade.

Remember when the outrage wasnt about how George Zimmerman wasnt convicted of murder, but about how long it took for cops to simply arrest him?

Remember how white people found it perfectly plausible that a 17-year-old jumped on a man 20 years older and 50 pounds heavier than he was?

Remember how simple the Zimmerman case seemed? Remember how we thought the prosecution only had to ask two questions:

Remember when people were so upset about how Zimmerman killed a boy and went home, they created the phrase, Black Lives Matter?

Remember how they demonized him for wearing a hoodie? For gold teeth? For being 5 feet 11? For being too imposing? For being too black?

It has been five years since the senseless slaughter of an 11th-grader happened in Sanford, Fla., and the world erupted. We shouldnt forget about the fight for black lives, and we should always recall what happened to that little boy with a pocketful of Skittles, walking home and talking on the phone.

He was 17.

Wherever you are on Feb. 26, whatever the weather, grab a hoodie out of your closet and wear it. Eat some Skittles. Drink some Arizona iced tea. Fight for your life.

Remember Trayvon.

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Remember Trayvon? - The Root

Before the stunning and dramatic ending to the Oscars, host Jimmy Kimmel, presenters and winners took the opportunity to make political statements. (Clips courtesy A.M.P.A.S. 2017)

This year, the Oscars seemed destined to get political. After all, the nation seems more divided than ever, and Hollywood stars, who are overwhelmingly liberal, have been vocal opponents of many of President Trumps policies (to say nothing of his opinion about Meryl Streep).

So how long would it take for things to get political? Not long at all. It happened long before the speeches even got started.

Heres a rundown ofall of the Oscars political moments (and well keep updating this list during the broadcast):

The blue ribbons

On the red carpet, Ruth Negga made a statement by pinning a blue ribbon onto her dress. The message was support for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). It made sense for Negga, whos nominated for best actress for Loving; Negga played real-life Mildred Loving, a black woman jailed for marrying a white man, and the ACLU represented the couple in its 1967 Supreme Court caseLoving v. Virginia.

But Negga wasnt the only one sporting blue so were Karlie Kloss, Lin-Manuel Mirandaand Busy Phillips and the ribbons werent the only political things about the ceremony.

Before the stunning and dramatic ending to the Oscars, host Jimmy Kimmel, presenters and winners took the opportunity to make political statements. (Clips courtesy A.M.P.A.S. 2017)

[Oscars 2017 live coverage]

Ava DuVernay

Before the red carpet even began, director Ava DuVernay, nominated for the documentary 13th, tweeted out a picture of herself holding up a sweatshirt that read Trayvon. Sunday marks the anniversary of the death of Trayvon Martin, who was shot by Florida neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in 2012.

[Ava DuVernay honors Trayvon Martin before the Oscars]

DuVernays fashion choice for the evening was also political. It was from a Lebanese designer.

Jimmy Kimmel

Host Kimmel did more than dabble in politics during his opening monologue. The most pointed comment: I want to say thank you to President Trump, he said. I mean, remember last year when it seemed like the Oscars were racist?

He mentioned that the Oscars were airing in 225 countries that now hate us, and said he was happy that Homeland Security let French Oscar nominee Isabelle Huppert into the country.

The U.S. is divided right now, Kimmel said, and people have been telling the host that he needs to say something to unite everyone.

Lets just get something straight off the top: I cant do that. Theres only one Braveheart in this room and hes not going to unite us either, Kimmel said referring to Mel Gibson. Then Kimmel said that the best thing to do would be for people to reach out to someone they disagree with and have a conversation. That could make America great again, he said.

[Jimmy Kimmels most biting monologue jokes]

Last but not least, Kimmel joked about President Trumps tweet calling Meryl Streep overrated.

Meryl Streep has phoned it in on more than 50 films over the course of her lackluster career, he said before forcing her to stand up for a round of applause.

Nice dress, by the way, he said to her. Is that an Ivanka?

Chery Boone Isaacs

The president of the Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences didnt get overtly political, but her message was clear. It was all about inclusion.

Tonight is proof that art has no borders, she said after noting that, after two straight years of #OscarsSoWhite, the nominees are more diverse this year. She also detailed how art brings people together regardless of country of origin.

All creative artists around the world are connected by an unbreakable bond that is powerful and permanent, she said.

Asghar Farhadi

Farhadi, who won for The Salesman, didnt attend the ceremony, but he still made a political statement. The Iranian filmmaker chose not to travel to the United States because of President Trumps travel ban, but he sent a speech to the person accepting the award on his behalf.

Dividing the world into the us and our enemies categories creates fear, the statement read. But he said that artists have the power to bring people together. Filmmakers create empathy between us and others, an empathy we need more today than ever, Farhadi wrote.

Iranian director Ashgar Farhadi won the Oscar for best foreign language film for "The Salesman," but he did not attend the ceremony in protest of President Trump's travel ban on seven Muslim countries. Instead, two Iranian American engineers, Anousheh Ansari and Firouz Naderi, accepted the award on his behalf. (Clip Courtesy A.M.P.A.S. 2017)

Gael Garcia Bernal

The Mexican Neruda actor gave a somewhat unexpected intro for the best animated feature award. Rather than talk about the contenders, he made a political statement.

Im against any form of wall that wants to separate us, he said.

The ads

A few of the commercials seemed to be directly addressing Donald Trump and his America-first policies. Hyatt had an ad set to the song What the World Needs Now Is Love that showed people of different races and backgrounds seemingly eyeing each other suspiciously before ultimately finding a special connection. The ad concludes with the words For a world of understanding.

Meanwhile, Audible had Zachary Quinto reading a passage from George Orwells 1984 and the New York Times launched an ad campaign its first television commercial in a decade about the importance of truth. (Trump tweeted about the Times ad earlier in the day.)

Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney

The Miami natives took home the Oscar for best adapted screenplay, and they had a message for viewers at home.

All you people out there who feel like your life is not reflected, the Academy has your back, the ACLU has your back, Jenkins said. For the next four years we will not leave you alone, we will not forget you.

McCraney, a gay playwright who wrote the semi-autobiographical play that Jenkins adapted for the screen, added, To all the black and brown boys and girls and non-gender-conforming individuals, this is for you.

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The Oscars' most political moments - Washington Post