Boys Quote by Gina Prince-Bythewood
“We have two boys. After George Zimmerman was found not guilty of killing Trayvon Martin, we had to explain to our older son, who was 12 at the time, how that could happen. Instead of hugging and consoling him, my husband pulled out a documentary about Emmett Till and showed it to him and started to talk about how the justice system works in this country - and how it often doesn't. From that conversation, our son wrote a short story about Trayvon Martin going to heaven to meet Emmett Till.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Guardian, 2014
Explaining systemic injustice to a child through historical parallels can foster understanding and empathy.
In simple terms: Use history to explain current injustice to kids.
Key Takeaway
Teach children about systemic flaws with context.
Themes
education
justice
parenting
Mood
thoughtful
empathetic
Type
educational
reflective
When to use this quote
- discussing race with children
- family conversations
- school curricula
Key Concepts
systemic racism
historical trauma
Questions to Reflect On
- How to balance honesty with age-appropriate detail?
- What stories best illustrate systemic issues?
A Different Perspective
Children may be overwhelmed by complex topics.
![“If [George] Zimmerman had been arrested for domestic violence, Trayvon Martin might still be alive.” quote by Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7e0/gloria-steinem-277_alive_if-george-zimmerman-had-been-arrested-fo_215063.jpg)
