This testimony, in order to extract 'the truth' past 'the shame' takes a great deal of understanding, acceptance of the witnesses 'status,' and patience to work through what divides this witness from 'normal court status/demeanor.'
Her greatest enemy is 'shame.' She is ashamed of her lack of sophistication. She dresses up and does her hair to compensate for other deficits. Sorry this is hard to read, but, if those interested are to understand why Rachel appears to be deceptive and underhanded, one has to understand her status.
Rachel is not deliberately seeking to lie. She has a lot of ego defenses and getting past those no matter her willingness to be truthful is a maze. So, this is a new experience for her and she is having difficultly submitting to 'the shame' she feels about her status.
She is also anxious to move past this experience in her life because she is feeling her shame in a very deep and profound way. She also has to face in her mind of minds the fact her future has no promise. It is easy for her to live day to day without confronting her deficits, but, to face her future as she speaks through her deficits is a sincere and profound challenge for her. I have a great deal of empathy for Rachel. This is how profound racial issues still exist in the USA. If she is an example of the African American community in Florida, there is a long way to go.
For me this brings to mind the Voter ID issue. Imagine now, this lovely young woman seeking to have a Voter ID. She has to confront so much emotion to even permit herself to vote as she believes she is mostly unworthy, it would be near impossible for her emotionally to actually walk into a government office for application of a Voter ID. Those are my thoughts. The USA is not finished with it's racial issues.
In reflection of Trayvon Martin and his affection for her, knowing his parents and their love of their son, I can fully appreciate how wonderful a young African American man he was becoming. Imagine being the man that was able to reach into Rachel's life in a profound way to move her from her deficits to be the man in her life. Trayvon added enormous sophisticated prowess to Rachel's life. He made a difference in her life. He was a hell of a guy. He wasn't looking for perfection in his life; he was looking for purpose and Rachel was a profound purpose to him. Isn't that what life and relationships are all about. They were wonderful young people together with a great deal of potential. I like them a lot.
This African American Community in Florida have raised their families in a parallel world from the mainstream. That is not uncommon in a void of acceptance by the status quo.
African Americans of Sanford (click here) have served in the building of this great nation since their participation in the three Seminole Wars. They were a large part of the labor force that earned Sanford the distinction of “Celery Capital of the World.” The residents of Sanford and its surrounding communities of Goldsboro, Georgetown, Bookertown, and Midway/Canaan work tirelessly to nurture and protect their families...
As Crooms Academy (click here) confronts the role of preparing students for a high tech world, it emerges on the grounds of one of the oldest high schools in Seminole County. Founded in 1926 by Professor Crooms as Seminole County's first high school for black students, Crooms has a rich and varied past. Professor Crooms and his wife, Wealthy, donated the land on which the school was constructed. Under their guidance and teaching, many doctors, lawyers, teachers, and business people graduated from Crooms.
