Larger issues in Martin debate need attention

As you know, a media firestorm has been created regarding the outrage from the black community resulting from the killing of Trayvon Martin by a white/hispanic man in Florida. Of course, this is a very sad and tragic event. According to an article by Juan Williams’ in the Wall Street Journal (March 28, 2012), he questions why there is no outrage from the black community regarding the black on black killings every day, and most importantly the culture that makes this type of crime happen in the first place?

Blacks accounted for 13 percent of the U.S. population in 2005, yet they were the victims of 49 percent of all the nation’s murders. And, 93 percent of these black murder victims were killed by other black people, according to this report by the Justice Department that Mr. Williams cited.

Mr. Williams also cited that this year, 22 percent of blacks live below the poverty line, and a shocking 72 percent of black babies are born to unwed mothers. The article suggested possibly the emphasis and demonstrations should be on the larger problems facing black America, such as drugs, lack of education, unemployment, the importance of marriage, and the affects of entertainment culture. He has a good point.

D.M. JAMES

Sandpoint