Five Years Later, Trayvon Martin’s Parents Haven’t Even Started to Grieve – Vanity Fair

Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin speak at Peace Fest 2014 in St. Louis on August 24, 2014.

By Richard Perry/The New York Times/Redux.

Its been nearly five years since 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed on his way home on a rainy evening in Sanford, Florida, a bag of Skittles and a can of Arizona watermelon fruit juice in hand. The ensuing trial in 2013 of George Zimmerman, and his acquittal for second degree murder, sparked a national debate around gun violence, racism, and the controversial stand-your-ground law. After the verdict, President Barack Obama spoke personally and powerfully about Trayvon: This could have been my son. Another way of saying that is, Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.

A few weeks after Trayvons death, hundreds took to the streets of New York to protest the shooting and to honor his memory in what was called the Million Hoodie March. Trayvons parentsSybrina Fulton and Tracy Martinhave worked to build a legacy that goes beyond their personal loss, grief, and anger. Theyve started a foundation in Trayvons name, which has dedicated itself to putting an end to gun violence. Their leadership has been integral in their sons death becoming a rallying cry for a new generation of civil-rights activists, eventually inspiring the Black Lives Matter movement. (A USA Today report last week said they were both considering running for office.) Their new book, Rest in Power, published last week by Spiegel & Grau, is a testimonial to their sons life and the inspiration drawn from his death that furthers their work. Its pages chronicle Trayvons youth, and the events of February 26, 2012, that set them on their ongoing quest for justice. Vanity Fair spoke with Fulton and Martin this week, shortly after the books publication.

Vanity Fair: It was Trayvons birthday yesterday.

Tracy Martin: Yes, yesterday was his 22nd birthday. It was a tough day . . . we got through it. I got up there [to Trayvons grave] and did the flowers and everything . . . It was tough. I went out there early, our family was still at church. Sometimes you just have to be by yourself, you need a little space and time, so yesterday I just needed a little time to myself.

What kind of impact do you hope to have with this book?

Sybrina Fulton: We want to encourage people to talk to their teenagers about the book. We know that it speaks to the heart of parents, not only to parents who have lost their children to senseless gun violence but also parents who have a child that committed suicide, or died as a result of an illness, or car accident. As parents, we all too well know the everyday worrying about our children. Now that worrying has been amplified by our children being shot and killed, and nobody is being held accountable. People are going home and sleeping in their beds as if [our childrens] life didnt matter. We just want people to be encouraged by this book, [and experience] the resilience and love that we have for our son.

James Baldwin said, history is not the past. It is the present. Do you feel like history was thrust upon you, and how do you live that history presently?

Martin: I definitely feel like history was thrust upon us, but we dont look at it as history because this is more than just a story to us. This is our son. This is our life. This is who we live for. So its not history to us. Its history to many people, but this is our life, this is our child that was taken away from us unjustly. So we have to learn to live with that. We havent grieved, we havent sat down and started to grieve yet. Its real important that people understand that, true, it may be history for some, but for us, this is our life, our son.

Historically, people of color have rarely been afforded the opportunity to control the narrative of their stories. How did it feel to write this book, to be able to tell Trayvons story exactly as you wanted to?

Martin: The importance of this book was that [we wanted to challenge] those who had a misconception about Trayvon, because they really didnt get to know who Trayvon was through the court system, and so as parents we wanted to characterize exactly who he waswho he was to us. We know that he wasnt a perfect child, but he was our child. We know that he wasnt an angel, but he was our angel. So through our eyes, as parents, we felt that it was important to tell who he was, to tell our story, and just let the public know that this wasnt a bad kid who got taken away. This wasnt a kid that wasnt doing what he was supposed to be doing. We wanted to let the world know who he was to us.

Fulton: For me it was very emotional, it was hard to write. It took us about a year and a half because we would start, and stop, and we would start again . . . it was an emotional rollercoaster for me, and it just reopened the wounds that were trying to heal.

The chapters alternate between your two perspectives; what was the writing process like?

Fulton: We wrote the chapters separately, and we wanted to give both parents point of view. My point of view as a mother, and Tracys point of view as a father. We wanted to show the country, the world, the kind of unity [that we have] for our children, and how close and tight-knit parents come together for the love of their child, even during the death of their child.

Do you feel as if what happened to Trayvon reflects a truth that we are living through this country?

Fulton: We absolutely believe that what happened to Trayvon can and continues to happen to our young black and brown boys, and even some of our young ladies are being shot and killed, and nobody is being held accountable. So we understand that although this happened to our son, that Trayvon Martin represents so many other young adults and teenagers. Even with the verdict, we feel that the justice system sent an awful message to our young people, and thats what makes them so afraid to just walk home from the store in their own community, because they dont feel safe. We gotta create a safe environment for our children. I remember when I was young we played at the park, we played in the street, we went from house to house, there was no fear about getting shot. But now, our young people are afraid to be shot, to be shot by the police, theyre afraid of so many things that we didnt have to worry about. This country needs to get back into a space where our young people feel safe again.

Martin: I think that the fallout after our sons death has definitely brought some type of awareness, but we still have a long way to go because there are many instances that have occurred since the death of Trayvon that are embarrassing for us as a country, simply because it sends a bad message, that our childrens lives have no value. We have to change that narrative. We have to shift that paradigm. And until we do that, this country will still view us in the manner that they view us. As an African-American parent, we have to really, really worry about our children and how our children are perceived in this country.

After the verdict, President Obama said that we must ask ourselves if were doing all we can do to widen the circle of compassion and understanding in our own communities. How do we go about that today, especially in this political climate?

Martin: I think its important for people to just stay encouraged, and stay uplifted. I know that for many that may be a struggle because were coming from an administration that has spoken out and that has been there for all communities alike. For us to make this transition into this new administration and hear some of the things [they] are speaking about . . . its important for us to stay encouraged and stay hopeful. We know as well as anybody that you cant just place your faith and your hope in one system, because when that system fails you, what do you do? Its important for us as people to be hopeful that this administration will continue the progress that our last administration did.

Is this new administration a dramatic shift for you?

Martin: Its a big shift, but at the same time I think that we have to remain open-minded and stay hopeful. I cant say what this administration will truly do toward the progress that weve made, but all I can say is that Im very hopeful that this administration does reach out and does try to continue the progress that President Obama and his administration made.

Are you considering running for office?

Fulton: We are researching the possibilities to see what positions we think might be a good fit for us. Were considering it, but we have not made any decisions, were not campaigning at this time. Were looking at whats available and how we can be the most effective to help our community. Were going to start with local government, here in Miami, and then, eventually, the state of Florida, and then wherever it leads. We just want to be a part of the change, so were going to make sure that we are abreast of whats going on and be a part of that change.

What is your hope for the future, and where do you see the journey going from here?

Fulton: My hope for the immediate future is that we repeal the stand-your-ground law. Im hopeful. I want to see everybody treated fairly when it comes to the justice system . . . If its a 17-year old with a hoodie: his life matters. I want to see people in politics doing more to change these unjust laws. More judges making decisions that are more fair and not leaning to one side or the other. I want to see people respecting one another, regardless of their religion, their sexual orientation, their educational background. I just want to see people getting along in harmony, and not with so much fighting and wars and shooting. There just needs to be overall unity in this country, and thats not what Im seeing right now. There needs to be unity.

Martin: We hope to see a more diversified country, where people can view everyone as equal individuals, where people can start seeing our young black and brown boys and girls and valuing their lives as we would value other lives. I would definitely like to see the education process more enhanced in African-American communities, because we need to be educated on laws that are relevant to our communities and our people, as well as to any other ethnic groups. A broader view of how people perceive African-American boys and girls in this country is what Id like to see.

Ron Davis, Jacksonville, Florida: I want the world to change, instead of being so violent. Im here basically for the young people. The young people have made a decision: were not going to accept our family members being gunned down by law enforcement whose duty it is to protect and serve us.

Yusef, Brooklyn: Im out here marching because I dont feel safe. I dont believe in the practices the N.Y.P.D. is implementing for their officers.

Miasha, Philadelphia: Nieces, nephews, younger brothers, uncles, cousinsI cant even imagine anything like this happening to them. The thought of it brings tears to my eyes almost. We have to get this in the papers, and on the TVs. Everyone needs to know about this.

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