Retro Post: On this day, February 26, 2012, one year later, Trayvon Martin, a teenager, was shot and killed by Wanna Be Cop, George Zimmerman. Here I share my post from last year and my special poem I wrote in memory of #TrayvonMartin.
Written on March 16, 2012:
I just realized that I haven’t been affected by a teenager’s death and I haven’t felt compelled to write about one specific young person’s death since high school, when a young girl in Cleveland named Diah Harris was killed by her sister back in the early 90s. There was just something about that case that haunted me, bothered me, made me feel like I had to be connected to her in some way, even though I had never met her. I feel the same way about Trayvon Martin. I write this poem today in recognition of the terrible injustice that took place in Sanford, Florida on February 26, 2012 when a vivacious young African American boy, Trayvon Martin, was shot down in a claim of self defense. How shameful it is that once again, America is gripped by the untimely death of another child who was an innocent bystander and who’s death quite possibly, may go away without being avenged by our criminal justice system.
I also felt compelled to write this poem after viewing this haunting photo of Trayvon which, to me, speaks volumes about the innocence of our youth in America and how we should
value and love all of them, and not just a chosen few. His face reminds me of the little boys I grew up with, my cousins, my friends children and all of the little Black boys I see walking around everyday. I hope that you are as appalled and outraged as I, and others across the globe are, and I hope that you will never forget his face.
A Poem For Trayvon by Kellea Tibbs
in his eyes, you can see every kid in America
you can see his hopes, his dreams, his wishes
you can see him playing with other kids his age
shooting hoops and having fun
how unfortunate
to be taken away so soon
he’s our child
he’s America’s child
not just another black child
but his untimely demise
represents us all
and if you love everything
about being an American
all of the rights
and privileges
even the option to walk down the street
free and clear of harm
or the notion that
you might be shot down senselessly
then you WILL cry out
you SHOULD cry out
you should cry
for this beautiful child
another gone too soon
who will speak for Trayvon
who will speak for all of the parents
all of the grandparents, aunts, uncles
all of the sisters, all of the brothers
all of the cousins, all of the classmates
all of the teachers, all of the neighbors
who will miss him
we must speak up
even those of us
who didn’t even know him
but know him in our hearts
who love him
despite never meeting him
rest in peace
beautiful
thank you for reading march thirty one poetry
follow me on twitter: @ivywriter
Related articles
- Trayvon’s parents: ‘Let the jury decide’ (cnn.com)
- Trayvon Martin did not die in vain (cnn.com)
- Grief Still Very Real For Trayvon’s Mom (npr.org)
- Florida town remembers Trayvon Martin a year after killing (oddonion.com)
- Trayvon Martin: TrayDay ~ Hoodies UP 4 Trayvon ~ (theobamacrat.com)
- A Year Later, Trayvon Martin’s Mother Hopes For Justice And Change (wnyc.org)
- Zimmerman case: 5 things you didn’t know (wptv.com)
