This is gonna sound cold, but --
Dude was killed in a bar fight. Happens all the time. Someone punched him... He punched back. The rest is history. Same thing could've happened if the bar was all black, right here in America.
Hope the guys who killed him are convicted. It would be a disgusting injustice if they aren't.
...But what would I tell my son? Don't fuckin' get into bar fights. Period. Especially if you're in a foreign country, out of your element, standing out like a sore thumb as the "other". If the guy Bakari punched had fallen down and died, Bakari would've been on trial in a foreign country. Point is -- punching back is a no-win situation in a bar in a foreign country, no matter how it turns out. There is no way this could've turned out positively.
Dude should've been aware of his surroundings -- aware of the sensitivities of the locals -- aware that testosterone and alcohol are a volatile mix --and aware that fights often spin out of control.
THIS INCIDENT IS NOT BAKARI'S FAULT -- but he should not have punched back. He should've reported the incident to security, and left when it was safe. I know I'm "monday morning quarterbacking" but dude should've understood this shit when he first decided to travel.
Is this a racial incident? I'm sure race played a part. And I'm sure racists are delighted at the outcome, and happy that blacks will hesitate to visit that town and mix with "their" women. ...But I think the takeaway is, as a black man, you have to be realistic about the human animal, and use your head.
It's also worth noting that a Brit (white) guy tourist was stabbed to death in that same town. The town is known for being raucous.