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Tyrell Reiman
Jennifer Leo
Writing 990
6 December 2013
Stereotypes on hoodies
There are many different types of stereotypes in the world. Some are more deadly than
others when it comes to people having a stereotype on others for no reason. A stereotype that
stands out and is kind of recent is the Trayvon Martin case. Now there are many racial
stereotypes that this case involved, but the one that stood out to me was when George
Zimmerman, 28 at the time, stated about Martin that he looked suspicious because, he was
wearing a hoodie. In different parts of the country, children suddenly remembered their parents
telling them, dont keep your hands in your pockets too long or people will think you have a gun.
This is similar to parents warning children not to make faces at other drivers while in the care or
that driver could get offended and take violent actions. However, in this case the stereotypes
about hoodies and the type of kids who wear them lead to the shooting and death of Travon
Martin, a 17 year old boy walking home in his neighborhood. The problem with this issue is that
innocent people may start feeling the need to do things that they enjoy simply because of the fact
that people will assume something negative about them.
Zimmerman had been placed on neighborhood patrol earlier in the year and he truly
believed that all he was doing was keeping his neighborhood safe. He had previously placed
multiple phone calls to the police claiming that there were suspicious characters peaking around

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peoples houses. And in certain situations, things would turn up missing the next day. When he
saw Martin walking home with his hooding up and hands in his pocket, he had a feeling he had
stolen something. He could tell that there was something in his pocket and so while on the phone
with the police he started following Martin. This caused the kid to run which eventually
escalated to Zimmerman shooting him a mere 70 yards from Martins home. Come to find out
that all Martin had was a bag of Skittles. Police questioned Zimmerman extensively and the case
was not taken lightly, in the end however, Zimmerman was released and found not guilty based
on the evidence of self-defense.
The first 10 days after this event, media coverage was viral. Everyone everywhere was
talking about this case. During an interview on Fox and Friends Geraldo Rivera stated, "Every
time you see someone stickin' up a 7-11, the kid's wearing a hoodie. Every time you see a
mugging on a surveillance camera or they get the old lady in the alcove, it's a kid wearing a
hoodie. You have to recognize that this whole stylizing yourself as a 'gangsta.' You're goanna be a
gangsta wannabe? Well, people are going to perceive you as a menace. That's what happens. It is
an instant reflexive action" (Martin 1). His idea that every time something bad happens the
person is wearing a hooding is the pure definition of stereotyping. Just because a handful of
people do something, does not mean that everyone does. To assume so is taking rights and
chances away from people who enjoy doing things such as wearing hoodies and do not do the
negative things associated with doing so.
In fact, a lot of athletic teams give out hoodies to their team members. Yet, people accept
these children as role models in our society. Yet the second a hood goes up, it doesnt matter who
you are according to people like Zimmerman and Rivera because the chances that you are, have,
or will do something wrong are too likely. After this shooting, middle schools started holding

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rallies making children aware of the consequences that may be attached to what people think
when they look at you. Since hoodies are a rising trend among teenagers, it is important not only
for them to know how people might assume things about them but also for people to think twice
before assuming that these children are being defiant or partaking in illegal actions.
After one of these rallies shortly after the Martin incident students were asked what they
thought of the whole ordeal. On student, Keion Jones, 18, stated, You dont know what to
expect, Jones said. You think youre going to be robbed. Its not a racial thing. Anybody could
wear a hoodie, but as long as its dark outside and you are wearing a hoodie, anybody would
think that you are a suspect. Its not fair, but thats just what happens (Superville 1). While this
statement is apparently true, it is also heartbreaking. The fact that people worry about others
wearing hoodies is much like racial stereotypes that we dealt with back in the 20s and 30s.
There is no solid proof behind it, only assumptions and stereotypes that have been formed over
many years with only a few actual cases to back it up.
The biggest problem is that statistics are easy to find about what people were wearing
when a crime was committed and then use that to increase the stereotype. But no one is going to
be able to find out how many times a hoodie was worn in public when there was no crime
committed and no intent of any violent or malicious crime what-so-ever. It is just so simple to
come up with a list of negatives, but no one is going to say that a man stopped and fed the
homeless while wearing a hoodie. That isnt the important part of feel good stories but the as
soon as the tables are turned, the clothing of a person is seen in a whole new light.
Another student who was questioned was Jimmy Javier, 22. He said that, I dont think
there is a reason for me to get shot at all because of what I am wearing, said Javier, who was

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wearing a black hooded sweat shirt with an Adidas logo on the chest. I wear a hoodie all the
time, so am I putting myself in the same position that that kid was in? (Superville 1). The point
he brings up about, whether or not he is putting himself in the same position is exactly why
stereotypes are so negative. If the whole world has to live in fear of what other people with think
or what they may do if they are seen doing something that is associated with negative acts then in
could not only ruin their reputation but end their life.
Another huge problem with stereotypes such as this one is that when something out of the
ordinary happens, it is claimed to a one time experience or an unexpected event. For
example, if Martin had been wearing a suit and tie Zimmerman may not have expected anything
about him. However, what happens if he had been wearing a suit and tie and had actually stolen
something? No one would have expected that twist because when things do go missing, no one
suspects the person in the nice clothes even if it really is them. No matter what, it is going to get
pinned on people in hoodies.
After all of this evidence the stereotype of wearing a hoodie is just preposterous. If
stereotypes continue controlling peoples thoughts about others, then no one will be able to fully
live their life without feeling threatened or in danger. If something as small as wearing a hoodie
can justify a death, then what will come next. These stereotypes are taking away our rights. We
should have the right to wear an article of clothing without getting accused of being part of a
subcategory in which we do not fit. There are too many good people out there getting caught up
in the negative effects of these stereotypes to just pretend we have them for the right reasons.
The truth is that they are hindering our society and the Martin Zimmerman case is the perfect
example of what can and will happen if nothing is done to reverse these ideas.

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Work Cited
Martin, Roland. "A Fight for Trayvon Martis Is a Fight against Stereotypes."
CNN: n. pag. CNN. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/
24/opinion/roland-martin-stereotypes/>.
"Shooting of Trayvon Martin." Wikipedia: 1-3. Wikipedia. Web. 6 Dec. 2013.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Shooting_of_Trayvon_Martin#George_Zimmerman>.
Superville, Denisa. "Defending the Hoodie." Prospectus News [New Jersey]: n.
pag. Prospectus News. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. <http://www.prospectusnews.com/
defending-the-hoodie-garment-no-reason-to-stereotype-students-say-1.2838577?pager
eq=1#.UqK2b9fn9Dw>.