A lot of attention is being given to the issue of Trayvon Martin’s death. If you haven’t heard Geraldo Rivera has recently been quoted making comments about the “hoodie” the young man wore being to blame for the incident. Whether you believe the act was justifiable or not; Mark Zuckerberg, even Geraldo himself has worn a hoodie. What makes it acceptable for us to pass the buck and say the hoodie or any other attire labeled “thug” worthy is to blame for our judgements. When do we look deeper? When do we try and have the real conversation about classism, racism, or social fear?
ShaperSpeaks 
I agree the “hoodie” has become the issue in many conversations rather than whether a young African American man doing what teenagers do around this country was gunned down in cold blood by a vigilante who went rogue.
The conversation that Geraldo was having is the same one women have dealt with for years…that clothing and attire and societal perception…invite rape and abuse.
Some of what Geraldo is saying IS true. Society judges all of us. I am judged as less intelligent because I am fat. Others are judged because of their skin color. Some are judged by the clothing of their profession. My daughter was teased unmercifully because she was judged “too white” all of her life. She actually had a judge at a competition write that on a score sheet!
I hear what Geraldo is saying as a parent. “Protect yourself. Reality is reality.”
If society says that if my child is dark complected and covers his head with clothing associated with the thug culture makes him a thug whether true or not, it makes him a target for danger. It may not be fair but Is this any different than me warning my college daughter to be careful how she dresses, to not drink and socialize, because if she is raped, society and the court system will judge where she was, what she had consumed, and what she was wearing and believe she was asking for it?
Rape is wrong. Murder is wrong. Racism is wrong. Prejudice is wrong.
Will we ever change this? As a Christian, I continue to believe in HOPE. Yet, I am judged even as a Christian by others. Some believe if I have a cross around my neck that I am automatically prejudiced against some people. They do not know that I voted for President Obama, that a gay friend of my children felt safe enough with me to tell me before his parents, or that I advocate for social justice.
No, it’s not the hoodie. Trayvon did not deserve to die. Neither did Demetrius Green, who was gunned down as little boy, right here in our city. Or any of the other children who have been gunned down. It’s the anger. It’s the violence.
It’s not the hoodie. It’s not the short skirt.
Still, if I had a little boy or girl again of any color, he would not own a sweatshirt with a hood. Not anymore.