From streets to courtrooms, African Americans have been treated like threats before they’re ever seen as victims.
Elijah McClain, Trayvon Martin, and Sandra Bland are only a few black men and women that have been killed at the hands of a white person strictly because of the color of their skin. So, when it comes to the case of 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, who fatally stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, the public response highlights the deep-seated racial biases and hypocrisy within society.
According to the Frisco Police Department, the incident began when Metcalf and his twin brother, both athletes from Memorial High School, asked Anthony, a Centennial High School student, to move from sitting under a tent designated for Memorial High School athletes. Anthony reportedly refused to move, explaining that it was raining and he needed shelter. As the confrontation escalated, Anthony, who weighed only 165 pounds, was faced with two boys visibly bigger than him, both around 220 pounds; he warned Metcalf not to touch him, but when Metcalf persisted, Anthony fatally stabbed him in the chest. Anthony later claimed self-defense, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. According to The New York Post, his bond was set at $1 million but was later reduced to $250 thousand, and he was allowed house arrest after his family posted his bond.
This case has received an immense amount of attention, sparking a clear racial divide online. On one side, white people have hidden behind racism to defend Metcalf, painting Anthony as a violent black criminal, and ignoring the fact that their outrage only seems to appear when the suspect is Black. This brings up the question, “Where was this energy for the act of violence done by Daniel Penny, Kyle Rittenhouse, or George Zimmerman?” All of them are walking freely after committing acts of murder against unarmed individuals, making self defense claims, and being aggressively backed by white supporters praising them as heros. “Video evidence showed that Kyle Rittenhouse acted in self-defense and only shot at those that attacked him first; the court proved his innocence and scum are dead,” said @d_t_1_7, referring to the case where 17-year-old Rittenhouse drove from Illinois to Wisconsin and killed two people during the BLM protests.
On the other side, black people have rightfully called out this hypocrisy. They are not staying quiet about the blatant racism Anthony and his family are receiving, with derogatory comments against Anthnoy floating around the internet. “The Karmelo case is like white people’s Trayvon Martin moment. It highlights the injustice Black people have faced for decades but rarely sparks the same impact,” said @roypontiac on Instagram. Many are pointing out how sympathy for Metcalf quickly turned into racially motivated hatred for Anthony. This reaction isn’t just about Anthony, it’s a reflection of a larger pattern in media and public discourse.
In another example of selective outrage, a comment about Martin’s death highlights how deeply embedded these biases are: “If only Trayvon didn’t use racial slurs and attack George Zimmerman he’d still be alive today,” said user @johnbramudo, placing the blame on Martin for his own death despite Zimmerman initiating the confrontation. Such statements reveal how narratives can shift to suit a harmful agenda, with some claiming that Black victims are always at fault.
Another X user, @martinez_clips, posted a picture of Anthony beside Martin with the caption, “Angry black teens are a menace to society,” reducing an entire group of people to a stereotype and reinforcing the idea that Black teens are inherently dangerous. Similarly, another individual posted, “Karmelo Anthony deserves the death penalty,” further showcasing the extreme punitive measures some are eager to impose on young Black men without regard for justice. These harmful statements demonstrate how public perception can be twisted by racial prejudice.
I and many others do not agree with how Anthony chose to defend himself. Lukas Villegas, senior, said, “I don’t think you have the right to kill somebody, but you can defend yourself.” However, whether or not one agrees with Anthony’s self-defense, Texas law is on his side. It has one of the strongest “Stand Your Ground” laws in the country. Under Texas Penal Code 9.31 and 9.32, a person has no duty to retreat if they are in a place they have a legal right to be, and they may use deadly force if they reasonably believe it’s necessary to protect themselves from serious harm. Anthony had every right to be under that tent. He was threatened, outsized, and outnumbered. Under Texas law, it’s possible for him to claim self-defense.
The public reaction to Anthony’s case has been further intensified by protests organized by the group “Protect White Americans.” On April 19, they held a rally at David Kuykendall Stadium, the site of the incident, demanding that Anthony be returned to custody until his trial, according to The New York Post. The protest attracted approximately 40 attendees and featured speakers such as Jake Lang, a Jan. 6 rioter turned senate candidate. Tensions escalated during the event, leading to the arrest of two counter-protesters: one for pepper-spraying an attendee and another for antagonizing participants.
Notably, Jeff Metcalf, the Metcalf brothers’ father, publicly condemned the rally. He criticized the group for exploiting his son’s death to advance a racial agenda, stating, “You’re trying to create more race divide than bridging the gap. I do not condone anything you do.” He also demanded the removal of his son’s images from the group’s materials, emphasizing that the demonstrators were disrespecting his son’s memory and had no genuine concern for his family or the incident’s true circumstances.
The truth is, many people speaking up now stayed silent when it was the black community hurting, and that silence speaks volumes. Their selective outrage isn’t about justice. It’s about finally having an excuse to paint a young Black boy as violent and dangerous, just like they’ve always wanted to.
