In the cold aftermath of the verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman, many who disagreed with the exoneration of Zimmerman found themselves staring sternly at the blindfold wrapped around the eyes of Justitia.
Once again, she failed to protect the life of another young black kid. Americans have always been fed the line that “justice is blind,” but she always seemed to have an affinity for the color brown. Allowing Trayon Martin’s killer to walk free was just affirmation of that opinion.
In Raphael’s portrait of Lady Justice, she’s wielding a sword, holding the scales of justice with her eyes closed. In that depiction, it would seem that justice has her wrath set on some one or some thing. I think I may have an idea of what it may be.
Whether it’s a blindfold or eyes closed, her inability to see is supposed to represent balance and impartiality. For far too many Americans, particularly black Americans, she’s only been partial to three colors: Black, brown, and green. The balance on the scale that she holds isn’t there when it came to sending scores of black men to prison for petty drug crimes.
So that’s why so many black Americans felt the scale tip in their favor when Attorney General Eric Holder made a monumental announcement.
