August 1, 2013 - 2:04 pm

The George Zimmerman verdict in the Trayvon Martin case makes us reflect on our perceptions of people within our own communities.  What perpetuates certain stereotypes of black men and women?

On one hand, Zimmerman was acquitted in Florida for “defending himself” by shooting and killing someone he allegedly felt threatened by.  On the other hand, Marissa Alexander, a black woman in Florida was sentenced to 20 years for firing a gun to no harm for allegedly defending herself from her husband whom she had a restraining order on.

Our guests on Music + Ideas:

• Dr. Daudi Abe, Professor at Bellevue College and Author of 6 ‘n the Morning: West Coast Hip-Hop Music 1987-1992 and the Transformation of Mainstream Culture
• Anne Slater, National Organizer for Radical Women and part of the Free Marissa Now Campaign

Listen here.

Photo of Trayvon Martin: Courtesy of Global Grind

Photo of Marissa Alexander: Courtesy of Time Magazine