The Last Time I Write About the Zimmerman vs. DMX Fight Posted by Nathan S. on 02/06/14 | Filed under Opinion

I didn't want to write this. These days something becomes "a story you have to write about" and every site on the interwebs feels obligated to do a slightly different version of the same piece. 

David D. over at Smoking Section already wrote an article that sums up my feelings and thoughts, probably better than I could have, and I didn't want to pile on, especially over such a treacherous topic. If I was going to write something, it was going to be because I had something original and powerful to say, not because it would bring in some traffic. The Zimmerman vs. DMX fight is disgusting precisely because it seeks to capitalize and sensationalize on tragedy, and I'll shut down RefinedHype before we do the same thing in search of some pageviews or video views (hey Complex and XXL). 

Has any site done a "25 People We Wish Zimmerman Was Fighting" gallery yet? First one to do it gets banned from the internet.

— Refined Hype (@refinedhype) February 6, 2014

But after thinking it over more, RefinedHype Nation is a community, and the entire reason that community exists is to be able to talk about the things we're thinking about, whether they're serious issues or completely ridiculous. So here's the deal. 

I completely understand the desire to watch, and talk and write about this fight. I'm not above it, I feel it too. Watching Zimmerman get knocked out, as I think we all hope, feels like the closest thing to justice we'll get. But in truth, at best it will be a completely false comfort. Even if DMX TKOs Zimmerman, absolutely nothing will have changed. Trayvon Martin will still be dead, his family will still be grieving, Zimmerman will still be free, and all of the injustices and problems that, directly or indirectly, lead to his death will still be in place. 

Actually, one thing will be different. Regardless of the outcome, Zimmerman will be richer, as will the promoter who's putting together the fight. That's disgusting, and I refuse to participate in their enrichment in any way. I won't be watching the fight, I won't be writing about it, and by extension neither will RefinedHype. This will be the first and last time this fiasco is mentioned, no matter what happens. I was going to make this a true. 100% boycott and not even acknowledge that I'm boycotting the subject, but ultimately I thought it was only right that RefinedHype Nation knew and had the chance to weigh in. 

So this will be the first and last time this fight is mentioned; let's get it all out now. After this, I'll be doing everything possible to ignore the fight so I don't get distracted from what really matters. A human being, someone's son, was killed, and young men continue to die everyday. That's what really matters, and I refuse to become so wrapped up in this horrible hucksterism that I forget it, even for a moment.

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