Guilty! On four counts of attempted murder. The most important count was First degree murder. This was left undecided and therefore a hung jury. This was the verdict that would determine the fate of Michael Dunn for killing unarmed Jordan Davis. Basically, Michael Dunn is going to jail for leaving the other three teens alive. Quite the irony, huh? This ignited a firestorm across social media and people all over the country.  Many asked “Was justice really served?” I simply asked “”WTF?!!!!!!”

The events of that fatal summer began when Dunn asked the teens to turn down their loud music, and the teens refused which led to a heated argument. Now we all know the story of Jordan Davis. Another young black teenager shot and killed by a racist white man who claimed he saw a gun and feared for his life. This case closely resembled the Trayvon Martin story. We cannot forget about the public outcry when his killer, George Zimmerman, (who is half white, half Hispanic) walked free. For Dunn however, he would not suffer the same fate. He will serve at least 60 years and will more than likely die in prison. In both these cases, nobody wins.

However, when these tragedies happen, the black man murdered is often labeled the “thug.” His white killer however, is usually seen as the victim.  Was Jordan Davis on trial? Or Michael Dunn? These were some of the questions asked as the trial unfolded. But the question no one asks is, “Who are the REAL thugs?” Many would argue that “thug” is code for the N word. I would argue this to be true.

The word “thug” is derived from India. It means one who is a “hoodlum”, “or violent.”  Thugs were a group of robbers and assassins who were known to use strangulation as their form of murder. They were worshippers of the Hindu goddess of death Kali. They were banished in the early 1800s by the British.  ”I hate that thug music,” said Michael Dunn to his fiance before he shot Jordan Davis.  I guess listening to rap makes you a thug now. Even Richard Sherman who doesn’t have a criminal record,  but has a bachelor’s degree, and graduated at the top of his class was labeled as a thug after going on a winning rant. When will we ask ourselves, “Who’s the REAL thug here?”

In Florida, there is the Stand Your Ground Law which many feel is the modern day Willie Lynch Law. The law states you have the right not to retreat and that if you feel threatened, you can shoot first. I see. So now this gives racist old GROWN white men the right to feel they can shoot young black CHILDREN and say its justified. Both Martin and Davis were only 17 when killed. Lets look at history. Emmet Till (A TEEN) and countless other black men were tortured and killed. Jim Crow made it easy for their killers to walk free or barely be prosecuted. Fast forward to 2014.  The media continues to portray  negative images of young black men and perpetuate the idea they are all thugs.  The racist Ted Nugent even called Obama a thug (of all things to call our first black president). I never see the KKK get labeled as thugs. I NEVER see these racist skinhead groups labeled as thugs. Nor do I see mass murderers, serial killers and rapists who happen to be white labeled as thugs. These so-called black thugs didn’t blow up the twin towers, or start pointless wars with other countries, and kill MANY innocent soldiers and civilians either. So what exactly makes them thugs?

Its time we open our eyes as a country, and use our common sense. STOP paying attention to what the media tells you. STOP listening to politicians and PAY ATTENTION to the facts. FACT: Jordan Davis did NOT have a gun nor did the three other teenagers in the car with him. Also, Dunn continued to fire rounds after the teens sped away. Meaning – He INTENDED TO KILL. FACT:Trayvon Martin was on his phone walking home with a bag of skittles and Arizona juice. Zimmerman was told to STAY IN THE CAR by the police and NOT pursue Martin. We all know if the roles were reversed, Davis and Martin would be in prison -no questions asked. One could argue that maybe this isn’t about color (although we have seen this scenario over and over again.) It’s RIDICULOUS. “It isn’t about race or color though,” the jurors and a few others say. I disagree, but lets look at this from another angle. Maybe it is mostly about right and wrong. Maybe one day this country can make decisions based and focus on RIGHT and WRONG. Maybe we can one day get to a place where we see past color, culture, or the fact that you like Hip Hop. Maybe then we can put the REAL THUGS behind bars -where they belong.

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