Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story

On February 26, 2012, a teenager by the name of Trayvon Martin, was fatally shot in small gated community outside of Orlando, FL. A middle aged Hispanic male named George Zimmerman was identified and charged as the shooter. The conflict started because the African American teen was seen walking in the community wearing a black hoodie, and without hesitation the former military man decided to take the "law" in his hands. Accusing Martin of disturbing the community led to a physical conflict which ended with the death of the teen by gunshot. The tragic murder of the innocent teen spread like wild fire exciting racial tensions throughout America. After Zimmerman was acquitted of all charges the outrage in the black community influenced the Black Lives Matters movement and protest. Since then cases all over the U.S. increased with Black people becoming victims of racially charged crimes including police gun violence, such as; Sandra Bland, Michael Brown, Stephon Clark, Kalief Browder, and so many more. Unfortunately, as history writes itself before our eyes, the Trayvon Martin Story will ultimately mark itself as the turning point in modern injustice that many THOUGHT were eliminated after the election of President Barack Obama in 2008. 

The 6-part doc-series, Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story recounts the teens life, discloses case files, events leading up to the tragedy, and after George Zimmerman's acquittal. The filmmakers Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason ways thoroughly in on interviews conducted, with key players, including Mr. Martin’s family and Mark O’Mara, the lead defense lawyer for Mr. Zimmerman, the directors zero in on what they see as a flawed criminal justice system. The filmmakers and Mr. Martin’s parents hope “Rest in Power,” which debuts Monday July 30th, on the Paramount Network, moves Mr. Martin beyond the realm of symbolism and demonstrates the costs of ignoring these issues. “I hope people walk away knowing who Trayvon Martin really was,” Sybrina Fulton, Mr. Martin’s mother, said.

“I want people to walk away having a clear view of what this country is about right now, and not what they thought it is,” she added.

Jay-Z executive producer of the series expresses his position on the justice system, and our obligations as a people to progress pass the racial division. This would be Shawn Carter's second documentary produced, the first one titled Time: The Kalief Browder Story, about a teen illegally retained at one of the world’s worst prisons, Rikers Island, for 3 years without a trial. The teen endured the horrible treatment, brutality, and even solitary confinement during his years in prison, for a crime that he was later found innocent of. The teen was released from Rikers as an adult, he was traumatized and committed suicide because everything he encountered. No one was charged for illegally abducting the teen which led to his death, again another tragedy that no one was held accountable for. Jay-Z expresses his emotions behind these crimes and the justice system, in which he hopes these documentaries will increase enough media support and awareness to possibly change the unjust justice system.

"The system doesn’t work as it exists today. No one wants to talk about that because it’s as if you are bashing police officers. I’m not bashing police officers. I’m just saying the facts do not support this being the answer, the system as it stands today."

Many people say that celebrities should be held accountable for how they react and inform the public. Although Jay-Z doesn't agree with statements that believe celebrities should use their platforms as activism, he willingly has supported such causes. Entertainers are people that chose a job that doesn't have activism in the requirements, that's a personal decision. If we as a people will not stand against unjust acts, why are we requiring others to do so, who generally are not affected by something that we are?