TRAYVON ! -EBONY MAGAZINE interview with the parents of the youth

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Ebony’s September issue has four covers: one featuring Trayvon’s parents and brother, and three with photos of prominent black men and their sons wearing hoodies. The covers are to honor the teen who was shot to death by George Zimmerman last year in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman’s recent acquittal sparked nationwide protests and boycotts of Florida by celebrities such as Stevie Wonder. “Our groundbreaking September 2013 issue will explore concerns around racial bias, how to find solutions for those concerns and how to heal and move forward. We are honored to have Trayvon’s parents and his brother, Jahvaris Fulton, grace the cover of our subscribers’ issue.” says Ebony.
Did the Tea Party call for a boycott of Ebony magazine over this  cover that pays tribute to Trayvon Martin? While the covers were well received by readers on numerous internet sites, such as Jezebel.com , according to Ebony, they drew criticism from whites in general, and the Tea Party, in particular, which reportedly called for a boycott of the magazine on its twitter feed.The Ebony cover flap comes right on the heels of the controversy surrounding Rolling Stone magazine’s decision to put Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on its cover.  That Rolling Stone issue sold nearly twice as many copies as an average issue, according to CTV News.
“This cover features @boriskodjoe with son, Nicolas. #justicefortrayvon.”
The powerful images give way to an issue that includes an exclusive interview with Trayvon Martin’s parents and a piece with Lee, Kodjoe and Wade exploring how they approach the topic of racism with their sons. Readers will also find an article on racial profiling by Columbia University professor and HuffPost Live host Marc Lamont Hill; a prayer of healing by Bishop T.D. Jakes; a poem for Trayvon Martin by Jill Scott and more.
In conjunction with Ebony's five-part “Saving Our Sons” series, which launched in the May 2013 issue, the glossy is partnering with the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African-Americans to host a series of town hall meetings across the country to discuss the state of Black boys. The program will run from November 2013 to December 2014 and commence at Morehouse College.

“In response to the watershed moment experienced by the Black community after the “not-guilty” verdict in the George Zimmerman trial, EBONY magazine has devoted four separate September 2013 cover issues to Trayvon Martin and explores the “Stand Your Ground” laws. Spike Lee and his son, Jackson are featured on the cover.”


In a statement, Ebony editor in chief Amy Barnett said: "As a mother of a young Black boy, the tragedy of Trayvon Martin affected me deeply. We simply cannot allow the conversations on this issue to come to a standstill. As the leading source for an authoritative perspective on the African-American community, at Ebony we are committed to serving as a hub for Black America to explore solutions, and to giving readers the information and tools they need to help ensure a bright future for all of our children."


Ebony is doing its part keep Trayvon Martin's memory alive.