Just before the 183 pages of documents surrounding the Trayvon Martin case were revealed to the public yesterday, ABC World News tweeted, “#BreakingNews: Trayvon Martin Had Drugs in System, Autopsy Found.”

My first reaction was… SHIT!

Not because Trayvon had weed in his system, but because I knew everyone would focus on such an inconsequential detail that adds nothing to the case.

And I’m not mad at ABC for reporting the news, it had to be reported. It’s news, but something like that can and has changed the perception of Trayvon in some people’s eyes. He’s gone from the innocent teenage victim shot to death for being considered “suspicious,” to a blunt-smoking thug up to no good.

Perception is reality and everything blasted through the media becomes reality, whether it’s fake or true – especially now as we live in a constant 24 hour news cycle.

The point is, if we were all judged by what we did at 17 years old a lot of people would be looked at differently. If the conversation is about perception, let’s look at George Zimmerman.

Judging by Zimmerman’s medical report compiled by the family physician he visited the day after he killed Trayvon, I can make the assumption that he was a pill popping, angry, narcoleptic gun nut who needed psychiatric help.

According to Zimmerman’s medical reports, prior to the shooting he had been prescribed Adderall and Temazepam, medications that can cause side effects such as agitation and mood swings, but in fewer than 10 percent of patients.

The doctor also noted that it was “imperative” that Zimmerman “be seen with his psychologist for evaluation.”

So perception isn’t reality and trying to change the mind of someone who believes something is like trying to scoop up water using chop sticks, it’s useless.

Hopefully the grand jury of society can focus on the facts and evidence of the case instead of the minute details that mean nothing to who Trayvon was as a person. It still doesn’t change the fact that he was shot for being “suspicious.”

-S.G.

Shaka Griffith is the News/Politics Editor of GlobalGrind.com Follow him on twitter @Darealshaka.



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