The Trayvon Complex

First let me start by saying RIP to Trayvon Martin, I'm sure by this point most know of the situation surrounding events that that resulted in the death of Trayvon, a 17 yr old. The reason he is dead however, is something that many have varying opinions about. If you look throughout history you can see countless examples of how "fear of the black male" has contributed to his death. The picture that you see next to Trayvon's above is also that of a 17 yr old (like Trayvon) named Jesse Washington who was killed in 1916 in Waco, Texas. Jesse Washington , a mentally handicapped farm hand,  was a victim of a speedy trial in which he "signed a confession" saying that he murdered a white woman in Waco. He was brutally beaten and lynched in front of a crowd of over 10,000 people and his body parts were taken as souvenirs by onlookers. Read more about Jesse Washington's Lynching here.  These two murders have similarities and differences but the main connection is the purported claims that black males are inherently violent and are a danger to the rest of society. It's this same fear that causes events as simple as women clutching their purses when you walk by to events as extreme as these murders. I couldn't think of or find any terms to specifically label this fear of Black males, so made up my own term in light of this recent tragedy.... The Trayvon Complex