HOW THIS CAMPAIGN STARTED
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I took to twitter on the two year anniversary of Trayvon Martin's death hoping to announce to the world that I was about to embark upon this really profound project in tribute to Trayvon, his family, and to countless others you have suffered the loss of loved ones to violence and racial injustice. As I scrolled down my feed past a number of alerts related to the Kardashians, and Miley Cyrus- it seemed that when it came to Trayvon Martin...all had been forgotten. That night, myself and two other people had mentioned the anniversary of his death- February 26, 2015 7:30pm. I thought to myself this cannot be. I knew that the death of Trayvon Martin drudged powerful feelings in all of us. I remember the images of elected officials sporting hoodies. I remember the fear, sadness, anger in all of us, that somehow just two years later---on its way to becoming a distant memory. Then Michael Brown, and Jordan Davis...and it hit me- we had not forgotten at all...we had simply come to view racism and the way coastal folk view tropical storms: we simply gather our strength and wait for the next one.
A few weeks later, I sat down with a group of 5 women to discuss my plans to do an exhibit, panel discussion, and celebration of black men and boys called: Letters to Trayvon.
I wanted Trayvon Martin's mother and father and brother to know that I had not forgotten. That WE had not forgotten.
This campaign entitled "Letters to Trayvon" is about more than one boy- one family. It is about the countless lives that have been lost needlessly to racially motivated violence. It is about the unspoken, the unchartered, the unbelievable, the unheard of, -the unacceptable: The unjust treatment and profiling of all people of color, and the severe challenges faced by our men and boys.
If we could just imagine for one moment, what it must feel like each day-to muster up the courage and the fortitude to walk upright in a world that views you as the enemy...
then we will have imagined the unthinkable reality confronting black men and boys every single day.
So this is a campaign about respect. A celebration of the talents and contributions of men of color in every facet of society. A campaign that is making an effort to help the media commit itself to capturing stories of black achievement and excellence-rather than conflict, death, and destruction. And most importantly, a campaign that helps young black men see the world as a place welcoming of their unique perspective, in awe of their tenacity and strength, versed in their value, and protective of their life. -
-Lawanda Horton
A few weeks later, I sat down with a group of 5 women to discuss my plans to do an exhibit, panel discussion, and celebration of black men and boys called: Letters to Trayvon.
I wanted Trayvon Martin's mother and father and brother to know that I had not forgotten. That WE had not forgotten.
This campaign entitled "Letters to Trayvon" is about more than one boy- one family. It is about the countless lives that have been lost needlessly to racially motivated violence. It is about the unspoken, the unchartered, the unbelievable, the unheard of, -the unacceptable: The unjust treatment and profiling of all people of color, and the severe challenges faced by our men and boys.
If we could just imagine for one moment, what it must feel like each day-to muster up the courage and the fortitude to walk upright in a world that views you as the enemy...
then we will have imagined the unthinkable reality confronting black men and boys every single day.
So this is a campaign about respect. A celebration of the talents and contributions of men of color in every facet of society. A campaign that is making an effort to help the media commit itself to capturing stories of black achievement and excellence-rather than conflict, death, and destruction. And most importantly, a campaign that helps young black men see the world as a place welcoming of their unique perspective, in awe of their tenacity and strength, versed in their value, and protective of their life. -
-Lawanda Horton