89.3 KPCC Southern California Public Radio recently asked listeners and sources in the organization’s Public Insight Network to describe the kinds of conversations they were having with friends and family as a result of the Florida jury’s verdict on the trial of George Zimmerman.

Here are a few of the responses:

“As an African American male, I've been the focus of and now the purveyor of these conversations as long as I can remember. The Zimmerman case just drove the point home further. Now the kids know I wasn't just making things up to scare them.” —Anthony Rucker, Los Angeles

“We are talking about the days when police [used] to arrest young black men for really no reason. We also remember and [talk] about how we overcome this with our behavior. Wonder why the young African Americans will defy and challenge law enforcement? We wonder why the youth won’t take the proactive approach? The focus should be on education and making the community better.”—L P Simmons, Long Beach

People also voiced their opinions on social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter.

@KPCC rioting in response to this verdict is not the way to combat the problem; its silly and immature.

— David Fair Jr (@DFJridesbikes) July 16, 2013

Read more of the responses on the KPCC website.