In light of the recent George Zimmerman verdict the issue of racism and discrimination has once again made its way to the fore-front and reared its ugly head.  The opinions of many are being plastered over almost every social media.  Once again lines are being drawn attempting to separate what should be a cohesive nation.  “United we stand, divided we fall,” is just as true now as it was when John Dickinson wrote it in 1768.

“Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all,
By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall;
In so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed,
For heaven approves of each generous deed.”

Sadly enough, even after 200 years, the concept of brotherly love and kindness is lost on so many.  Discrimination is alive and well in America.  The trials of both George Zimmerman and O.J.Simpson caused racial uprising.  The “race card” was seen in both trials just at opposite ends of the spectrum.  If racial injustice was seen in one trial, then we must conclude that it was equally unjust in both trials.  I did not sit in on the trials of either Zimmerman or Simpson.  I was not privy to the details that the members of each jury sat in on but I have to believe that the jurors did the best they could with the information they received.  I may or may not agree with the verdicts but as I stated previously, I was not there day after day listening to the witnesses.  I was only given the bits and pieces the media fed to me.  Realistically, I can not make an informed decision on either trial; the only thing I can do is offer my opinion just as everybody else can offer their opinion. 

Now, there are many statistics one can find concerning white on white crime, black on black crime, white on black crime and black on white crime.  What is the real purpose of stating those statistics?  I can’t help but wonder if the reason those statistics are readily stated is to instill fear and keep our nation separated.  The one statistic that all races share is this:  most victims of crime know their assailant.  That’s right.  Black or white, generally the victim knows the perpetrator. 

Amazingly enough, many of those that cry out that they are the victims of discrimination (black, white, yellow, or polka dot) are the same ones who discriminate against others with an “acceptable” form of discrimination.  In many social circles it is “acceptable” to make fun of or shun people who may be “different” than the main stream.  Fat people are discriminated every day.  If you are fat and black or fat and white, you are an equal target to negative comments and snide laughter.  Although this country wants to say that “gay is okay” our actions indicate otherwise.  Dykes and lipstick lesbians as well as Queens are still faggots and easy marks for ridicule without people being “appalled” at the name-calling.  These are but a few examples but the list goes on. 

We, as a nation, must move beyond playing the race card and institute the human card for all of mankind equally.  As Bill Cosby so wonderfully states:  It is NOT about color; it is about behavior.  This statement is true about all people!

Honest Bill Cosby Tells
US Blacks The Truth
5-21-8 

‘They’re standing on the corner and they can’t speak English. I can’t even talk the way these people talk… Why you ain’t Where you is What he drive Where he stay Where he work Who you be… And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk. Everybody knows it’s important to speak English except these knuckleheads. You can’t be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth. In fact, you will never get any kind of job making a decent living. People marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an education, and now we’ve got these knuckleheads walking around.   The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal.   These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids. $500 sneakers for what?? And they won’t spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics. I am talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit. Where were you when he was 2?? Where were you when he was 12?? Where were you when he was 18 and how come you didn’t know that he had a pistol?? And where is the father?? Or, who is his father? People putting their clothes on backward, isn’t that a sign of something gone wrong? People with their hats on backward, pants down around the crack, isn’t that a sign of something? Or, are you waiting for Jesus to pull his pants up? Isn’t it a sign of something when she has her dress all the way up and got all type of needles [piercing] going through her body? What part of Africa did this come from?? We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans. They don’t know a thing about Africa . With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed and all of that crap, and all of them are in jail. Brown or black versus the Board of Education is no longer the white person’s problem. We have got to take the neighborhood back. People used to be ashamed. Today, a woman has eight children with eight different ‘husbands’ — or men or whatever you call them now. We have millionaire football players who cannot read. We have million-dollar basketball players who can’t write two paragraphs. We, as black folks have to do a better job. Someone working at Wal- Mart with seven kids… you are hurting us. We have to start holding each other to a higher standard. We cannot blame the white people any longer. It’s NOT about color… It’s about behavior !!!   – Dr. William Henry ‘Bill’ Cosby, Jr., Ed.D.