The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. (the 100) is profoundly troubled and dismayed with the verdict reached by the Sanford, Florida jury in the death of Trayvon Martin. “The fact remains that another young Black man’s life, which had much promise and potential, was tragically cut short, and there is no culpability or responsibility,” said Curely Dossman, Jr. Chairman 100 Black Men of America, Inc. “It is unjust when there is no culpability or responsibility for such an unnecessary tragedy, and therefore is likely to be repeated from community to community. As an organization that has mentored thousands of African American youth in a movement that goes back 50 years, we find this unacceptable.”
As an immediate next step, the 100 Headquarters and its chapter network will join the call with the national coalition that is asking the U.S. Justice Department to look into Trayvon Martin’ s death for civil rights violations. Together we will develop and unified strategy for further action to demonstrate our solidarity around this injustice.
As a further response to this tragedy, we are calling for a new broader dialogue in our communities on race and racial profiling. The circumstances around the senseless death of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman spotlighted what most people of color experience: some kind of profiling. As the 100 called for when the killing occurred, we need to continue to sensitize our your people to a duality in the society they live in; that not everyone will judge them by their character or accomplishments, and many will judge them on how they look or what they are wearing. On the other hand, many people need to understand and appreciate that simply wearing a “hoodie” does not make one a criminal. This is a conversation that we need to have nationally and locally, and the 100 is prepared to participate and contribute.
Through our 100 chapters across the country, we are rededicating our efforts to reach young Black males, many in at-risk situations, and influence them through one-on-one and group mentoring with role models through our Mentoring the 100 Way Across A Lifetime platform. We are also calling on those in our communities who are like-minded to join us so that we can broaden or reach. There are hundreds of thousands of youth who need mentoring, and not just in times such as these.
As we did at the outset of this tragedy, 100 Black Men of America, Inc. and its network of chapters continue to express our deep-felt sympathy for the Martin family, and we urge all people to demonstrate their support for them through peaceful expressions of their discontent over the verdict.
Community partners, organizations, and individuals who want to mentor you to make a verifiable difference, can contact their local 100 chapter through this link: http://www.100blackmen.org/hunchapters.aspx or email our Headquarters office at info@100blackmen.org.
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