About Me

America’s attitude towards racism has evolved extensively throughout its history. Although an obvious presence of racial bigotry has faded within American culture, a more complacent reliance on stereotyping still survives today. Similarities between crimes committed against African-Americans of pre-integrated times and those of the present are easily observed in terms of motivation and verdict. The post-mortem photographs of Emmett Till and Trayvon Martin tragically prove that racism has taken the lives of Black youth throughout our history and will continue to do so until a united front is formed against prejudice and racial profiling.

Our story as a group begins as individuals, who particularly want the American youth to question what they perceive as their reality and how they would like to create their future. Will it be a future of continued racial tension and violence or will it be a future where everyone is seen as more than the amount of melanin their DNA contains? Throughout our lives we have grown up studying slavery and the Civil Rights Era. We’ve seen that racial profiling and discrimination still exist today through the more recent shootings of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.  We chose to analyze the photographs of Emmett Till and Trayvon Martin in our blog, because although there is little overt racism in America, it still lurks in the fabric of American culture.

We began our blog by establishing a time sequence based on what the viewer perceived first while looking at the photos. The initial reaction of the viewer to the photos was one of shock, hence our decision to begin with pathos. A closely related rhetorical appeal was Kairos, which established why the images are relevant to the viewer today. Logos came next. After moving our reader with the initial shock value of the photographs, the reader next questions how could this have logically occurred. Appeals to Logos, along with Pathos, can account for why this image moved millions of people of all races to rally for racial equality. Style quickly followed because we wanted the reader to see past the photographs, and provide the boys with a concrete identity. After the viewer’s analysis of pathos, kairos, and logos, they can form an opinion of what these two pictures are actually about. They have been provided with enough information to form a valid opinion, leading them to unconsciously consider the stases. Our blog concluded by analyzing both photo’s appeal to ethos. After thoroughly observing the image the viewer now questions its credibility. That being established, the viewer has formed a concrete and credited opinion on the message of the photographs.

These photos are relevant to people in modern day America, who may have assumed racism is no longer a major issue in our culture. Although the death of Trayvon Martin occurred two years ago, the death of Michael Brown occurred only a few months ago, stressing this need to continue conversation on the value of Black youth. Though conversations about racial violence occur after a tragedy, nothing is done to stop these events from happening in the first place. Inevitably the discussion dies down and we wait for another murder to occur before stirring fruitless conversation once more.  We expect readers to pause and reflect on their own lives and how they, as individuals, can perpetuate the discussion of racism in America.

Our blog, ‘A Picture of Injustice’, aims to show the recurring theme of both Emmett Till and Trayvon Martin being victimized children. They were perceived as a menace to society because of the stereotypes and accepted ignorance of the times. Although, people may not wish to accept this reality, it is true that anyone can be a victim of prejudice and racism. You can be Trayvon. Your child can be Emmett. The effect of racism is a disease that no one is immune to.

The post-mortem photographs of the two boys claim that the issues that the Civil Rights Movement sought to solve haven’t been eradicated at the root. The images are a call to action. They command the reader to examine how these murders could have occurred, and what must be done to prevent their reoccurrence. Our blog argues that racism spans through time, and is a current issue in America. Discussion of racism has been swept to the side for far too long, and only erupts momentarily, after a tragedy occurs. Soon afterwards, the American people push aside their grievances, and settle back on their complacent attitudes.

American citizens in the present day have access to unlimited channels of information. They need to be aware of current events and take more action against injustice than just “liking” an article on facebook. These posts and images are important because they show the necessity of ending racism at the root. As much as people would like to believe that racism has ended, Trayvon Martin’s murder proves that we are still living in an America where racism is socially acceptable. The 1960’s spirit of protest needs to be revived in order for America to become a nation, where every person is judged not by the “color of their skin, but by the content of their character”.