1. While I agree the cartoon is flawed in portraying the Martin and Zimmerman camps as being equally bad (I found the Zimmerman camp to be worse, if only because it seemed to attract so many wingnuts), it nevertheless calls for dialogue and understanding, which I find to be admirable. Furthermore, we don't know exactly what happened. If you want my perspective, I think Zimmerman was the one at fault, because of his violent track record.
2. It's not 1965 anymore. While we're not at the mountaintop yet, African-Americans have made incredible strides. Just twenty years ago, the idea of a black president was almost inconceivable. Institutionalized racism still exists, there's no doubt about that, but things have changed for the better, and I think they'll continue to do so.
3. In my humble opinion, Affirmative Action is worthy of criticism. But I don't think so because of misapplied quotes. Rather, I think the degree to which race-based Affirmative Action (at least for African-Americans) is still necessary ought to be examined. Nothing is above being questioned or criticized.
1.1: My only real issue with this is that it's less of a "lack of mutual dialogue" issue and more a "Black are desperately trying to get people to listen to them" issue
2.1: i wouldn't call the "incredible strides" more like decent ones. Cops and vigilante still kill them at an alarming rate, poverty is still widespread, voting rights for them are getting taken away faster and faster, and they still face stereotyping and discrimination.
3. Race based affirmative action is still totally necessary. Blacks still face a shitton of poverty and discrimination.
1. I guess that's a valid objection. It's the same old story: the media focusing on the vocal minority and distorting the facts to try and push an agenda.
2. Police brutality and vigilantism are not inherently racial issues. Neither is voter suppression. There's definitely a racial component to both issues, but to claim they're all about racism ignores the facts. As for poverty, it should be remembered that the economy's still in bad shape. And while stereotyping and discrimination still exist, things are improving every day.
3. The way I see it, anything worth doing is worth questioning. If Affirmative Action can't stand up to scrutiny, then it's not worth preserving.