What the Trayvon Martin "Am I Suspicious?" Campaign Video is really saying(?)

[DexterMorgan]

Howard University Trayvon Martin "Am I Suspicious?" Campaign Video - YouTube

This has bugged me:

Spoiler :

Some of us are going on to be doctors, lawyers, dentists and even politicians

An engineer is below doctors, lawyers, dentists and even politicians (?)

Why arent engineering and science valued? Has it always been like this?

[Melody]

That's what stuck with you? lol

I don't think it's that engineering is "below" anything. In fact, I don't believe in "ranking" majors or professions. Most majors exist because they contribute in one way or another to society and are needed to accommodate some need. Just so happens that like doctor, lawyer and such are the "big" professions which are renowned and recognized easily. I'm sure engineering is up there though. I mean, then you get things like ergotherapist or systems analyst and it gets more murky for most people

But seriously, that's not really what the video was about so I'm surprised that stuck with you

[Ichinenjuu]

Yeah, I'm not really getting that from that. The attitude I get is that engineering and science are valued higher than other fields, especially in regards to majors, with non-science majors seen as "jokes".

[2.0™]

You can't expect that all professions would be covered. It was just a sampling. [But scientists and engineers are not as valued in society because of the behind the scenes nature of their professions. Considering their true value, they should make more than say, a socialite turned celebrity.]

Though, not a single individual in that video looked suspicious in the least.

Problem is, the context in which they are wearing their hoods up. It sort of destroys part of the point the video is making. If you're being followed and then put your hood up after recognizing that you're being followed, yeah, "duh", it looks suspicious. It says in unequivocal terms that you don't want to reveal your identity and are trying to conceal it.

Considering that their target audience is those to whom they might dispel a stereotype, they fail in that regard. But at least they might start a conversation about what might make a person feel threatened and why. Something both sides should SERIOUSLY consider.

You know, it's like making a video with middle aged white men shooting assault rifles at a shooting range and saying, " do we look suspicious?" Well, no, not in that context. But if they were walking down a street with the rifles slung over their shoulders, yeah, that'd be suspicious and a guaranteed call to the police.

Wearing a ski mask in Aspen during ski season makes sense and wouldn't arouse much suspicion. It would be considered rude and inappropriate if one did it indoors for longer than is reasonably necessary. Wearing a ski mask to CVS or Walgreens to get some Benadryl would arouse suspicion.

It should be common sense. But when you have propagandists trying to make a point, reasonable and rational discourse is set aside. Naturally. It invariably kills the force of a propagandist's argument.

[Shobster]

It's because engineering wasn't mentioned? I'm pretty sure there's a much more bigger issue in that video.

[masterchef341]

Howard University Trayvon Martin "Am I Suspicious?" Campaign Video - YouTube

This has bugged me:

Spoiler :

An engineer is below doctors, lawyers, dentists and even politicians (?)

Why arent engineering and science valued? Has it always been like this?

What about teachers? Do you not value teachers? Are teachers below engineers? What about firefighters? Nurses? How long was this video supposed to be?

----

Alternate answer: scientists always wear labcoats (always), and engineers don't go outside, so it wasn't relevant in either case

[Threshold]

I agree with the others that it's merely that high profile jobs were chosen. Which is another issue entirely, and not something specific to this video.

If you're being followed and then put your hood up after recognizing that you're being followed, yeah, "duh", it looks suspicious. It says in unequivocal terms that you don't want to reveal your identity and are trying to conceal it.

Your other points are spot on, but this one gives me pause.

I suppose that's one way of looking at it, although I suspect in the real world that's a reaction you'd invariably see due to feeling threatened. Most of us don't like being followed.

masterchef341, I laughed at your alternate answer. It makes me want to wear a lab coat with a hoodie now.

[2.0™]

I suppose that's one way of looking at it, although I suspect in the real world that's a reaction you'd invariably see due to feeling threatened. Most of us don't like being followed.

It's a tactical error to conceal yourself when being followed and is not a natural response in the least. It considerably reduces your situational awareness and lends nothing towards your safety.

And it's almost invariably perceived as a deliberate maneuver to conceal your identity.

[Johnny T]

It's because engineering wasn't mentioned? I'm pretty sure there's a much more bigger issue in that video.

^That.

[Sphinx]

Not this again....

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