By Ja’Bree Harris, MSW, NASW Public Policy and Advocacy Manager
Today, we pause to remember Trayvon Martin – a young life full of promise, extinguished too soon. His memory is not just a distant echo but a call to action that reverberates in my heart.
As someone only two years older than Trayvon, his story has shaped my lived experience and deepened my commitment to social justice. I see his face, his hope, and his pain. And I see my future – my future children, my nieces, and nephews, who may one day look like Trayvon, navigating a world that too often fails to protect Black and Brown lives.
This is not just a personal reflection; it is a national reckoning. My advocacy is rooted in the lessons of my grandmother, a revolutionary and an educator, who taught me that the most revolutionary act is to love yourself and your people. Love is the most powerful force in the world. My love for advocating for Black and Brown political power was emboldened by Trayvon’s death and the many tragedies that followed – Eric Garner, Alton Sterling, Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor. Each name represents a life stolen, a family shattered, and a movement reinvigorated.
But with my passion comes an unbearable fear: My greatest goal in life is to one day be a good husband and father, yet I live with the haunting reality that my son or daughter may not come home one day. That I may not come home. I think about the countless men and women who didn’t get to come home because of senseless gun violence – violence that we refuse to confront. Instead, we demonize drag queens reading books to children while allowing weapons of war in our schools. We arm teachers rather than invest in them. We enact policies that criminalize Black and Brown students, forcing them to walk through metal detectors rather than address the root causes of violence in our communities.
The failures of our government are not just policy missteps; they are moral failures. Today, we confront an administration whose policy agenda and cabinet nominations have demonstrated a callous disregard for the safety and well-being of marginalized communities.
False liberal ideals promised change but instead left many disillusioned and betrayed. We have seen toothless policies passed – laws that lack the necessary regulation and enforcement to create meaningful change. Policies intended to curb gun violence, police brutality, and racial profiling have often been diluted, leaving Black and Brown communities vulnerable.
Meanwhile, we still have archaic and dangerous laws like Stand Your Ground, which allow racist and bad actors to take lives without consequence. We continue to enforce outdated citizens’ arrest laws that disproportionately target and police Black and Brown bodies, further perpetuating cycles of systemic violence and injustice.
We have a long road ahead in the fight for true justice. Protecting our children requires robust, localized interventions that empower communities to mobilize, organize, and practice collective care. We must build strong, grassroots networks that not only demand accountability from those in power but also provide tangible support to those affected by systemic injustice. Our communities deserve more than empty promises—they deserve concrete action that addresses the root causes of inequality.
At the core of this struggle is our responsibility. We must be vigilant in recognizing and confronting our own biases, committing wholeheartedly to the principle of doing no harm. We must take responsibility for our actions and our complicity in systems that have long oppressed marginalized voices. More importantly, we must create space for those who have been directly affected to share their lived experiences authentically. Their stories are not just testimonies of hardship; they are blueprints for a more equitable future.
Trayvon Martin’s life—and murder—reminds us that being Black in America still means living in fear. But it also galvanizes us to fight harder for a society where every child is safe, valued, and empowered. It is time to reject the hollow rhetoric of false liberal ideals and embrace a vision of justice that is proactive, inclusive, and transformative.
Let us stand together, not only in memory of Trayvon but in pursuit of a future where all children, regardless of race, creed, or color, are given the protection and opportunity they deserve. Our collective action today will pave the way for a safer, more just tomorrow. The time for robust community mobilization, sincere reflection, and fearless advocacy is now.
Take time to learn about the Trayvon Martin Foundation, an organization founded in 2012 that is committed to creating awareness of gun violence, promoting social justice, and providing educational and support programs for families who have lost loved ones to senseless violence.
