The Problem We All Live With ( circa 2012)

The Problem We Live With ( circa 1963) Norman Rockwell

What would Norman Rockwell the pitchman for conservative imagery for almost fifty years have thought about the shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman? The shooting  took place on the night of February 26, 2012, in Florida. Martin was an unarmed 17-year-old African-American Male. George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old multi-racial Hispanic, was the appointed neighborhood watch coordinator for the gated community where Martin was temporarily staying and where the shooting took place. Trayvon was wearing a hoodie and had just purchased Skittles and iced tea. Zimmerman tells police he killed the teen in self-defense after a scuffle.  Zimmerman told a police dispatcher that he was following a young black male (who, according to Zimmerman, “appeared to be on drugs”), the dispatcher responded, “We don’t need for you to do that.” Zimmerman even said, “These assholes always get away.” But not this time. 

In my interview of Norman Rockwell I would inquire about his thoughts on how far America has come in terms of  race relations. I would ask him to explore what challenges and what responsibilities if any he thinks we own today in America. Does he believe that we have achieved the dream of Martin Luther King? If so , when did we achieve it and if not how close are we. Should America remain hopeful?

The Problem We Live With (circa 2012) Gay Pasley
In memory of Trayvon Martin.

In this image my teen aged model is wearing a hoodie while carrying a bag of skittles and Arizona tea just as Trayvon Martin had when he was killed. When I first conceived the image I called it, Last Supper. I wanted shadows and to have a dark ominous feel. 

While serving in the military, I recall a conversation with a white fellow soldier. He shared with me that he was often mistaken for a skin head due to his blonde hair and military hair cut by African-American’s.  The problem we live with is not as black and white as it seems.