What Do Parents Tell Their Sons About Trayvon Martin?

The case of Trayvon Martin says a lot about the risks facing all African American males — from Los Angeles to Boston.

Yesterday in Miami, thousands of people rallied on behalf of the unarmed black teenager who was shot dead by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer in February. Local police have not arrested Zimmerman, who claims he killed Martin in self-defense. But yesterday, political leaders, sports stars and entertainers were among those calling for an arrest in the case.

The killing of Trayvon Martin has re-ignited a debate across the country about racial profiling. And it's raised difficult questions for the parents of young black males. Chief among them is this: What should you tell your sons about this case? Is the lesson of Trayvon Martin that young African-American males need to be extra careful — particularly when confronted by authority figures — be they neighborhood watch members or police? And does being extremely deferential — even as rights are being violated — come at great cost to young psyches?

We explore how to talk to your kids about Trayvon Martin.

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