Tracy Martin Bio
About Tracy Martin
Since the death of his son Trayvon in 2012 due to a violent confrontation with neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman, Tracy Martin has committed his life to transforming tragedy into change. Not only was Trayvon his son, but his best friend, and as a father, Martin took the life changing event with difficulty.
Yet, with heartache came the strength move forward in a positive direction. In 2017, his book co-authored with Sybrina Fulton, Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin, will be released, sharing the intimate story of a tragically foreshortened life and the rise of a movement that awoke a nation’s conscience.
Martin is now fighting for such an incident to never happen to another child again. As a result, carrying on the legacy of Trayvon has sparked national conversations about race relations in America. Martin’s goal is to spread his message for change out to men both young and old across the country. As a role model to fathers from all walks of life, he encourages them to let their sons, daughters, and other youths know that their lives are valuable and that they are loved no matter how they are depicted in society.
Martin's Work
He also emphasizes the fact that what a person wears does not make up a person’s character, as represented in his son’s iconic hoodie sweatshirt.
Although his son is gone, Martin hopes his tragic death helps to heal the country, acting as motivation for parents to keep fighting for the safety of their children. Through his thought provoking speeches, the insights he offers help audiences foster the necessary conversations to move towards changes that can keep every family protected from violence.
In addition, Martin discusses the importance of understanding the proper ways to handle confrontations, providing tools to audiences from colleges and legal professionals to community organizations and others about conflict/resolution. By sharing his personal and powerful stories, he encourages groups to remain educated and continue conversations about civil rights in order to become catalysts for social justice.
