Cobb Parents Caution Their Children in Light of Trayvon Shooting Death

The country, including South Cobb, continues to dialogue about the shooting death of Trayvon Martin and to watch the impending trial of George Zimmerman. Many parents are wondering what, if anything, they can do to prevent their children from becoming the next Trayvon, the 16-year-old boy Zimmerman admitted to shooting in what he said was self-defense. Martin was walking to his father’s home in a Sanford, FL subdivision from a local store.

During the second Cobb United for Change Coalition meeting held Wednesday night, a child asked what he could do to prevent becoming “another Trayvon Martin.”

 The answers from parents in the crowd, made up of about 25 mostly African American and Latino individuals, varied.

Several responded that because their children are African-American or Latino, they will be judged as “more dangerous” or “more aggressive” than their white counterparts.

Guenevere Reed, president of the Powder Springs Task Force, said she tells her sons “to follow the rules” and not “mess up…We don’t have the luxury to mess up.”

Teretha Muhammad said about her African-American sons, “I have to teach him to not be fearful…We got to teach them to have strong character.”

She said the community should help find positive male mentors for boys without fathers.

“I tell them to follow the rules. Do not be in places you’re not supposed to be…Try to be the best child you can be,” she said, adding that she does not allow her sons to be out alone after a certain time.

Repeatedly, members of the crowd said in order for stereotypes about African American and Latino children to change, they must exhibit excellence.

“That mentality that black and brown children are more criminal” is dangerous, said Angela Flores, a Marietta mother and a human services professional.

“I think the perfect solution is to love your neighbor,” she said.

“We need to stand up against lies being told against our children,” she said. Children are being discriminated against “not for their choices, but for the conditions they’ve been in” and because of that, “they can be jailed, deported or killed.”