The September issue of Ebony Magazine aims to honor Trayvon Martin and keep the conversation of race in America alive, according to Huffington Post. The magazine has four different covers for the issue, including one featuring Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, and his two sons. Wade’s sons Zaire and Zion are both wearing gray hoodies in the photo, which is what Martin was wearing when he was killed during an alleged struggle with George Zimmerman.
“It was a pleasure to stand with my 2boys on this issue for Trayvon Martin. #Wearetrayvon #standforwhatyoubelievein” Wade wrote on Instagram.
The headline “We Are Trayvon,” is featured on all four covers. One cover features Martin’s family, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin with their son Jahvaris Fulton; movie director Spike Lee and his son Jackson; and actor Boris Kodjoe and his son Nicolas, in addition to Wade and his sons.
The Miami Heat were one of the first groups from the sports world to bring attention to the case. The entire team posed for a photo in March — less than a month after the shooting — with the players all wearing hoodies.
Since Wade and the Heat have expressed their thoughts on the matter, I’ll share mine. I think Ebony Magazine and others have acted wrongly by turning the case into a racial issue, which plays on the emotions of the masses. I don’t believe Trayvon Martin was racially profiled nor killed because he is black. I think Zimmerman, despite being a neighborhood watch leader in a community full of problems, went too far in following Martin after calling police, and that the death could have easily been avoided. Based on Zimmerman’s injuries and statements, I don’t think Martin was an innocent victim in their struggle. I think there was enough doubt in the case to acquit Zimmerman, and I think the verdict was more of a reflection of the legal system than whether or not Zimmerman was wrong.
I think it’s terrible that a young man was shot and killed in a struggle. I feel terribly for his family. But I don’t think this case should have been turned into a racial issue. I honestly have serious doubts about how much research people like Wade, Roddy White, and Victor Cruz put into the case before voicing their opinions. I think they were told that a 17-year-old kid went to the store to buy some snacks, was racially profiled as he was walking home because he was wearing a hoodie, then got shot by a white guy for not reason. Who wouldn’t be pissed after being told that story? The problem is the case wasn’t that simple.
