Not a punchline, a scholarly explanation from the incomparable Thomas Sowell; Black Rednecks and White Liberals. In the first 50 pages the reader will learn that the colonial American South was mostly populated by immigrants from the highlands of the Celtic Fringe of what is today the United Kingdom. While Englishmen, and women, from the lowlands and Thames river area of southeast England mostly went to colonize New England. Immigrants who brought their very different cultures with them to the 'new world'.
From the Celtic Fringe, it was a culture, in large part, of impetuous, reckless, prideful, boastful, short-sighted, violent behavior. Insults, real and perceived, were likely to degenerate into a fight, which might include weapons such as clubs, knives, and guns. The death of a combatant was frequent in these fights, and rarely did the victor suffer any legal repercussions from killing his adversary.
Prideful boasting and self-dramatization were common in the South, much to the bafflement of visiting New Englanders of the day. Something also noted by Alexis de Tocqueville when he visited America in the 1830s. Frederick Law Olmstead wrote, of his travels in the South, that the people there were, 'greatly disinclined to exact and careful reasoning.' Such people began to be called 'crackers', short for 'wisecracker'.
This culture, originally Scottish and Irish, was passed on to negro slaves imported, against their will, from Africa to work the white's plantations. In addition to the penchant for violence, even the language passed to them. Words like, aks (for ask), acrosst, y'awl, dis, dat, I be, all originate from white 'crackers' or rednecks.
Therein lies the tale, told by an economist, that helps to explain why in February, 2012, a young black male--a descendant of Southern Redneck culture--found himself assaulting a stranger on a sidewalk in Sanford, Florida. Unfortunately for the young assailant, the person whose head he was smashing into the concrete was armed with a gun. When his cries for help went unheeded, that man somehow got his pistol from his concealed holster and defended himself by shooting the man who had him pinned to the ground. That ended the assault, and arguably saved the intended victim's life. We are, of course, referring to the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case. Just concluded in a courtroom in Florida with a verdict of not guilty due to self-defense. A conclusion reached by the Sanford police several months earlier.
Pace Sowell, George Zimmerman judged Trayvon Martin, on that dark, rainy night, by the content of his character; probably a redneck, prone to violence, who might have overheard Zimmerman's conversation with a police dispatcher and was insulted by it. Thus the vicious attack on Zimmerman that left him bruised, cut and bloodied. Zimmerman feared he could be killed, or seriously injured by what Martin was doing to him. As did Jenna Lauer who immediately upon hearing the fight break out ran to her phone, in the comparative safety of her home, and called 911 to summon police. The fear in her voice on the recording of that call is apparent.
Thomas Sowell, in one of many, astute comments on the history he documents in his book, notes that this violent, redneck culture had started to die out, not only in the South, but in the Northern cities to which it had been exported by descendants of slaves who moved to cities like Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York early in the 20th century. However, changes toward law enforcement that began in the 1960s reversed that improvement in the culture. With consequent devastation for, mainly, black Americans who found themselves living among violent predators who were now less likely to be caught and punished for crime. More likely to go free to continue their mayhem.
White liberal intellectuals aiding and abetting that all along the way. So obviously, that even Jerry Lewis noticed it and made it the theme of his 1957 film, The Delicate Delinquent. Lewis's character being treated with condescension by a white, middle class social worker who knows the proper way to minister to such wayward youth. The film is a comedy. The results, not only in the Trayvon Martin incident, but for millions of other Americans, not being anything to laugh about.
"Therein lies the tale, told by an economist, that helps to explain why in February, 2012, a young black male--a descendant of Southern Redneck culture--found himself assaulting a stranger on a sidewalk in Sanford, Florida."
ReplyDeleteSo by your own admission he saw Martin and immediately presumed that based on his skin color he must be a descendent of 'Southern rednecks' and therefore up to no good.
You might want to enroll in a course in elementary logic, guy. What he did presume, based on the EVIDENCE introduced into the trial, was that Trayvon was acting suspiciously, that he might be on drugs--about which he was proved correct by the autopsy.
DeleteHe also fit the bill for being one of the thugs who had been terrorizing his neighborhood, so he did what he was taught to do by the police; he called the non-emergency operator and reported his suspicions.
There has been no evidence that Zimmerman had read Sowell's book, btw.
I never said he read the book. You imputed the action of rightfully suspecting a 'descendent of rednecks.'
ReplyDelete"Therein lies the tale, told by an economist, that helps to explain why in February, 2012, a young black male--a descendant of Southern Redneck culture--found himself assaulting a stranger on a sidewalk in Sanford, Florida."
That's why said that-I was just following your argument-I had no belief that he read the book.
What evidence is there that Martin acted suspiciously? I remember back when we were at Scott's you said something about 'looking about.' I know that's suspicious not keeping your eyes to yourself when you're the wrong hue.
In what way did he 'fit the bill' for being a thug who was terrorizing the neighborhood? Keep in mind that he thought everyone that 'looks black' fit the bill-even called the police about six or seven year olds with a skinny build.
'You imputed the action of rightfully suspecting a 'descendent of rednecks.''
ReplyDeleteNo, I didn't. You are an extremely poor reader. You've even quote it above; 'a descendant of Southern Redneck culture--found himself assaulting a stranger on a sidewalk...'
What part of 'assaulting a stranger' is so difficult? It has nothing to do with Martin's suspicious behavior observed by Zimmerman earlier while in his pickup.
'What evidence is there that Martin acted suspiciously?'
Listen to the call with the police operator, it's asked and answered there.
' Keep in mind that he thought everyone that 'looks black' fit the bill-even....'
His next door neighbor of 2-1/2 years, who went out of her way to testify from her sickbed that they were 'friendly neighbors'? Captain Carter, the JAG officer who greeted him in court with a friendly, 'Howya doin', George?'?
But, Trayvon did meet the description of the two thugs who invaded Olivia Bertalan's home in broad daylight. And, as we now know, Trayvon was caught in his Miami school with stolen property--jewelry--in his backpack. One of the reasons he was in Sanford, rather than home, in school.
We also know that Trayvon was a fighter, from the recovered text messages on his cell phone.