Innocence In Brother, Francis, And Trayvon Martin Story

Aldous Huxley once stated that “There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.” The determination of one’s innocence is heavily influenced by perception. There are numerous aspects that can be held against one when determining if one is the victim or the villain. As displayed throughout the novel Brother by David Chariandy and the documentary Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story, Francis, and Trayvon encounter debilitating obstacles due to preconceived notions of masculinity. These obstacles become the determining factors in their innocence. More specifically, they are judged on their physical appearance as well as their past, and their assumed gang affiliation results in their demise.

When

In the line, “He had broken into a sweat with new pain. He coughed and spat something from his mouth, but badly, something thick and stringy, clinging to his lips. I saw a cop undo his holster.” (Chariandy 158). The cops had no reason to involve themselves in this situation, but when they saw what had happened, they instantaneously decided that the incident involved them, putting themselves in that position of evaluation. As they had no prior insight into the situation, they had to use their own thoughts and perspectives. Trying to develop what had played out prior to their arrival. Taking everything into consideration, including the physical appearance of Francis and those surrounding him. At first glance, it probably looked as if Francis had gotten into a fight, but judging by his clothes and race, that automatically put him out to be the villain and violent offender. A black man in sportswear. This event just shows how one's judgment can become twisted, ultimately, in this case, resulting in the horrific death of Francis. Although this may be a fictional scenario, a similar real-life occurrence took place on February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida. The Trayvon Martin shooting, a widespread case throughout

Brother and Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story displays how harmful preconceived notions of masculinity and perceived identity can truly be. Emphasizing one's physical appearance, past, and assumed gang affiliation can have a negative effect on one's bias. By acknowledging the complexities, innocence can be proven, providing the correct person, with the correct punishment. Taking time to listen to an individual’s story, can help them change how they perceive the world around them, making them feel accepted for who they