General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: What White People Don't Understand About Rachel Jeantel [View all]frazzled
(18,402 posts)I am a white person (and a woman), and I found Rachel's testimony to be compelling, consistent, and strong. I could actually relate to her, or at least to her as a teenager.
Let's not racially profile what all white people think.
Even if they thought she was diffident or defensive, even if they didn't understand her, that doesn't mean they didn't believe what she said.
And let's also remember that she is not the total crux of this trial. There's a dead boy; there was someone with a gun and someone without a gun; there are police tapes; there were three other "ear" witnesses; there are tons of conflicting statements by Zimmerman that have not yet been addressed.
For disclosure's sake: I am a white woman who spent a lot of time tutoring kids, many of whom were a lot like Rachel, in an inner-city public school. So maybe I'm just more familiar with her style and background.
I'm far less familiar with gung-ho vigilante gun culture than I am with the Rachels of the world. I have to admit I am biased against Zimmerman, and have been since the beginning. And not because he is Hispanic.