Could race could have played any role in the confrontation that resulted in Treyvon Martin’s death and in the jury’s interpretation of the evidence that led them to acquit George Zimmerman? … “Race” can work in ways that are exceedingly difficult to detect. White opinion of blacks contains important implicit biases as well as stubbornly persistent explicit prejudice. Although no firm conclusions are possible about Zimmerman and Martin, I will note two features of their altercation and Zimmerman’s trial that could have exacerbated implicit bias. And I will describe new research showing how explicit prejudice toward blacks singles out black males like Trayvon Martin in particular. [cont.]
Corrine McConnaughy (Ohio State U.), The Monkey Cage