'Angry Trayvon' App Removed From Google App Store

Google recently pulled its 'Angry Trayvon' app from the Google Play Store.

Yes, this game surrounded the slain teen, Trayvon Martin. The 'Angry Trayvon' character gathers weapons, wallets, and commits murder all while wearing his powerful hoodie. 

The game creators apologized, arguing that the game was "by no means a racist game." Right.

Tacky, stupid, and disgusting are just a few of the words that come to mind when we think about the people thought this was a good idea or even an acceptable creation. Granted, we all know that the quest for the almighty dollar can often override thought, reason, and tact but this is just wrong.

Shame, shame, Google. Read more here.

Trayvon Martin's DNA Not Found on George Zimmerman's Gun

On Wednesday, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported that there was no trace of Trayvon Martin's DNA on George Zimmerman's gun. In fact, the only DNA that could be identified on the 9mm grip was that of Zimmerman.  Zimmerman's DNA was also present on the holster, although the forensics team could not determine if Martin's DNA was present there. The results of the DNA test seem to contradict Zimmerman's account of the February 2012 events, where he said Martin grabbed for the gun before Zimmerman took it away and 'had to take [Martin's] life.' Zimmerman is currently being charged with second-degree murder in Sanford, FL. He is arguing self-defense.   

More here.

"Not to Be Racist But..." Questioning the Casting Choices of 'The Hunger Games'

The Hunger Games set records this past weekend when it raked in $155 million at the U.S. box office.

Fans of the book series were more than a little miffed by some of the producers' casting choices.  The lead role of Katniss went to Jennifer Lawrence.  No problems there as the book version of Katniss and screen version of her arguably matched. 

However, the supporting roles of Rue and Cinna caused a bit more consternation. 

The roles of Thresh, Cinna, and Rue went to Black actors. 

For example, Lenny Kravitz plays Cinna, whose racial makeup was not discussed in the book.  Rue is played by newcomer, Amandla Stenberg, also Black.  The book describes her as having "dark brown skin and eyes."  Thresh, a male character, is described as having the same dark skin color as Rue.   

[Sounds like the author intended for them to be people of color.]

 

While many fans expressed approval of the film, many others were left annoyed, disappointed, and angry.  Why? 

One person asked via Twitter, "why did the producer make all the good characters black smh"?

[I can't really tell if this person means good as in 'good versus evil' or good as in characters with good story lines that people should care about.]

These fans claim to have read the books and are dismayed because the author did not stay true to what she had written in the stories. 

[Even if these scamps couldn't comprehend the complete depth of what they were reading, "dark brown skin" is a pretty clear descriptor in a book with a majority of white characters.  Plus, it's not as if the books aren't available on Audibook for the literacy-challenged.  It really seems as if many of these disgruntled moviegoers just took out the parts of the books that they didn't like and replaced them with "cleaner", more palatable versions of what they would like to read.  After all, we know all heroes and beloved characters in fantasy books for young adults must be of the porcelain-skinned variety.]

The sad thing is that these bigots have no problem with calling Stenberg the N-word and the B-word publicly on social media forums.  As I always say, I like an open racist.  And these people aren't hiding the ball.  There doesn't seem to be much subtlety here.    

Here are some examples:

John Knox IV

@johnnyknoxIV

I was pumped about the Hunger Games.  Until I learned that a black girl was playing Rue.

Lexie Browning

@lexiebrowning

And for the record, im still pissed that rue is black.  Like you think she might have mentioned that..? Is that just me, or….

Nikki Eggers

@nikki_eggers14

After watching the hunger games preview 6 times in a row, I realized Rue is black. Whaaaat?! #shocked

Joe Longley

@Joe_Longley

@KatrinaOrsini EWW rue is black?? I’m not watching

Cliff kigar

@Clif_Ford_Kigar

Sense when has Rue been a nigger

EJ Santiago

@freakinej

HOW IN THE WORLD ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE RUE A FREAKIN BLACK BITCH IN THE MOVIE ?!?!?!??! lolol not to be racist buuuuut…. I’m angry now ;0

 Haylee Franklin

@FrankeeFresh

Why is Rue a little black girl?

#sticktothebookDUDE @The HungerGames

jashper paras

@jashperparas

Kk call me racist but when I found out rue was black her death wasn't as sad #ihatemyself

Maggie Mcdonnell

@maggie_mcd11

why does rue have to be black not gonna lie kinda ruined the movie

Seriously, people, you may be able to whitewash things in your mind but you can't do it in the real world.  

--

Read more here. 

Also, see this great post by Jen of Disgrasian here.  She relates these fans' disappointment and lack of sympathy for the Black characters with the current Trayvon Martin controversy.

Walking While Black: Justice For Trayvon Martin

Prior to a few weeks ago, I thought it was an obvious fact that you don't need a semi-automatic weapon to do neighborhood watch in a gated community.

However, George Zimmerman, a volunteer neighborhood watch captain in Florida, seemed to think otherwise.

On February 26th, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was walking home from a store.

Zimmerman spotted the teen and called 911.  He told the dispatcher that Trayvon looked like a burglar and a drug user, that he must have been up to no good.  In actuality, the teen carried only a bag of Skittles and some iced tea.  

The 911 operator told Zimmerman not to pursue the boy but Zimmerman refused and approached Trayvon.  [You can hear Zimmerman's 911 call to police as well as the neighbors' call to 911 after the murder here.  On the tapes, you can clearly hear a boy screaming for 'HELP'.] 

Zimmerman shot Trayvon in the chest. 

Since January 2011, Zimmerman has called 911 46 times.  He has called in open garage doors and 'suspicious characters' who were walking too slowly.  [Can you say 'vigilante'?]  He has also been convicted of assaulting a police officer.  Trayvon had no criminal record. 

Trayvon's English teacher described him as "an A and B student who majored in cheerfulness." 

His only crime was minding his own business and looking 'suspicious' to a wannabe law man with a semi-automatic weapon.

Under Florida's exceptionally broad 'Stand Your Ground' law, a person, such as Zimmerman, is excused from such a crime if he felt threatened.  Zimmerman reported to the police that Martin jumped up and attacked him from behind.  The police did not make any arrests and Police Chief Bill Lee said that there was no probable cause.  "We have not done anything but conduct a fair and complete investigation," Lee said.

Finally, after pressure from community members and others around the country, the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division and the FBI are investigating.

Let us hope Trayvon's killer will be brought to justice.  

  

Read more here.