Transformative Darkness: Fear, Vigilantism and the Death of Trayvon Martin

Abstract

On 26 February 2012, seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot by neighbourhood watchman George Zimmerman. Zimmerman spotted Martin on a late evening walk through the gated Sanford, Florida, community in which his father lived. Martin was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and had recently purchased a pack of Skittles and an Arizona iced tea from a local store. Zimmerman was convinced that the black teen looked suspicious and called the police after trailing Martin through the area. Minutes later Zimmerman approached Martin and shot him. Martin’s death led to national outrage about the flagrant policing of black males in the USA. It also sparked endless questions about race, vigilantism and Zimmerman’s intentions when he encountered Martin that dusky evening. This chapter examines emcee Chosan’s song “Hoodie On” (2013). Chosan eulogizes Martin and critiques the perception of black youth as threatening and dangerous figures in suburban settings. Moreover, Chosan demonstrates the heightened sense of fear surrounding night-time encounters with black males. He emphasizes that a transformative darkness occurs where darkness is metaphorically converted into light. The darkness that Chosan refers to represents negative assumptions about black males, ensuing fright, and the violence emerging as a consequence. I will use lyrical analyses, musical analyses and personal communication with Chosan to explore the depiction of Martin in this nocturnal context. Additionally, I will address how documentation from the Trayvon Martin case illuminates how such ideas contribute to fatal incidents triggered by unwarranted policing and increased incidences of racial profiling.

An earlier version of this article was delivered as a presentation at the 2017 Harvard University Graduate Music Forum, Black Lives Matter: Music, Race , and Justice. The event organizers published the video of my presentation on YouTube (https://youtu.be/qMTpezXL6Qg).

Appendix: “Hoodie On” Video Log

• [0:03] The phrase “Dedicated to all the soldiers lost in the struggle” appears on a black screen in white text.

• [0:06] A necrology of black males killed as a result of police violence is shown: “Trayvon Martin : Sanford Florida, USA; Oscar Grant: Oakland, California, USA. It is followed by “Sean Bell: New York, New York, USA” and “Smiley Culture: London, UK”.

• [0:17] The scripture “For thou art my lamp, O Lord: And the Lord will lighten my darkness” is displayed. Chosan’s name appears on the screen and the “Hoodie On” video title is spotlighted.

• [0:29] The beat starts and is paired with a recorded police report describing a sighting of a suspicious teen. A teenager in a black hoodie enters a store. He passes an ice cream cooler and heads towards the drinks.

• [0:33] The teenager bends down to take an Arizona Iced Tea. He requests a pack of Skittles. The store clerk bends down to retrieve them.

• [0:47] Rows of flickering candles are lit inside the church. A statue of Christ crucified on the cross hangs on the wall.

• [0:51] Chosan begins rapping in front of rows of candles and a painting of two haloed angels (“This is for the soldiers who are dead and gone”). He is wearing a black Paint Soul baseball cap and a black hoodie.

• [0:53] Chosan sits on a pew in the church rapping.

• [0:55] The setting changes and Chosan is seen rapping outside at a park.

• [0:57] The teenager in the hoodie walks across a parking lot in a gated community holding the Arizona iced tea.

• [1:00] Chosan appears outside with a group of people wearing hoodies sitting on the steps of a park.

• [1:04] The teenager crosses the gated community. He moves past a white picket fence.

• [1:06] A faceless man stares out the window of his home at the teenager.

• [1:12] Chosan begins the first verse (“What if it was me up in Florida?”) while sitting on park steps.

• [1:13] The man who is watching the teenager from his window puts on his vest and heads outside. He descends the front steps of his home.

• [1:24] Chosan raps in front of the candles and the angel picture at a church.

• [1:27] The man is now in his car. He picks up his cell phone and makes a call. The man pulls his car out of the parking lot and begins driving slowly.

• [1:53] Chosan raps in front of a crowd of people wearing hoodies at the park.

• [2:02] The man sees the teenager walking wearing his black hoodie and holding the Arizona iced tea.

• [2:06] The teenager begins running when he sees the car trailing behind him.

• [2:13] The teenager sprints along a grassy path behind a house. He is still holding the iced tea. He stops for a moment and peers around the corner of the house.

• [2:26] The teenager speaks someone on his cell phone. He pauses and then begins running again.

• [2:40] The car slowly creeps through the community before coming to a stop. The man exits the car.

• [3:01] The teenager resumes running and stops to catch his breath. He bends down, squatting slightly, and rests his hands on his knees.

• [3:07] The man bolts towards the teenager. He approaches him from behind, pulls him around by the shoulder and faces him.

• [3:22] The teenager raises his hands and points to his Arizona iced tea. The man continues approaching him, gesturing and waving his arms.

• [3:35] The teenager turns around and begins to run holding his Arizona iced tea in one hand and his pack of Skittles in the other. The man advances in his direction.

• [3:37] A painting of Jesus and Mary surrounded by a halo of light is shown.

• [3:40] The man dashes after the teenager.

• [3:44] The edge of a pew with the cross etched into it is shown.

• [3:58] The man grabs the teen from behind. The teenager and the man engage in a tussle.

• [4:27] The man reaches inside of his vest to seemingly pull out a gun. The teenager holds up his hands. The Skittles and Arizona iced tea are visible.

• [4:34] The Skittles slip from the teenager’s hand, falling to the ground. The Arizona iced tea drops and splashes on the grass. The teenager collapses.

• [5:00] A teenager wearing a durag and a black hoodie walks towards the camera. Several others also approach in the middle of pulling up their hoodies. Once they have pulled their hoodies all the way up, they bow their heads.

• [5:07] Another image of Christ crucified on the cross is shown.

• [5:09] Chosan pulls his hoodie up over his baseball cap and turns to walk away. He jogs up the park steps. In the next scene , he walks off the church into the light outside.