Riff Rant: DMX Boxing George Zimmerman Will Inflict More Pain
Recently, it became known that George Zimmerman, the wannabe cop that shot and killed unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin only to be acquitted of murder, was going to be the next headline whore to engage in a Celebrity Boxing promotion.
While we will have to wait until next week to learn more regarding the when and where of the pay-per-view fight, what we do know is that often-jailed rapper DMX has been selected as the opponent. According to multiple news outlets, thousands, if not tens of thousands of people, applied for the chance to punch Zimmerman in the face before DMX was selected by organizers.
In an ever so eloquent statement ahead of being appointed the opponent, DMX said that he was going to “beat the living fuck” out of Zimmerman and urinate all over him, for “every black person who has been done wrong in the system.”
DMX is seemingly volunteering feelings for the faction of society that believes the murder of Martin was primarily a result of racial profiling, and that the legal system wrongly deemed that Zimmerman had the right to defend himself.
While noble in theory, DMX taking an interest in this spectacle only hurts those he is trying to speak out for and defend. By participating in this nonsense – as entertaining as it could become – does nothing more than add to Zimmerman’s time in the public eye. Not only did he actually get away with murder as a result of some questionable U.S. legalities, now he’s been given the platform to flaunt his freedom in a shallow, narcissistic, hurtful manner.
Yes, there are people out there who would say that Zimmerman was acquitted and should be allowed to live the American Dream as he so chooses. However, the collective of Celebrity Boxing Founder Damon Feldman; George Zimmerman; and now DMX, are only adding to the hurt still likely radiating through Martin’s loved ones and supporters. And for what? Fleeting fame and some capital gain?
And let’s be brutally honest about a few more things here. Firstly, this fight would not have happened with anything but a black opponent…especially a famous one. From a marketing standpoint, an angry black man recognizable to the 
public for his hard exterior; legal troubles; and aggressive sounding music, is going to spike the pay-per-view numbers greatly, as well as build the necessary buzz to make an event such as this fly.
Secondly, DMX isn’t fighting for the common good. He too is being exploited in this instance – and willingly so. DMX is playing into the script that Feldman wants to write and see get acted out, while probably also carrying home a bag of money in the process. If DMX isn’t taking whatever he earns from this fight – win, lose, or draw – and giving it to Martin’s family or a charitable organization, his whole speech about wanting to fight Zimmerman on behalf other black citizens who have been wronged by the system becomes absolutely worthless. There are better, less disgusting ways to go about it. Like, I don’t know, write and release some songs that pull from such a circumstance and are meant to raise people up; inspire them to stay strong; and find some resolve?
Would it be hilarious to see DMX urinate all over Zimmerman in the corner of the ring as he rests against the ropes all bloodied and beaten? To some, maybe. But to most, I’d imagine it’ll just be another cruel reminder of how awful of a place America can be when it becomes the environment for such despicable exhibitions.
-Adam Grant
Please be sure to follow us on Twitter @riffyou and at Facebook.com/riffyou.
