First there was Trayvon Martin, the Mural. Then there was Trayvon Martin, the Asteroid. After that came Trayvon Martin Day at a Pittsburgh school, but that was canceled when parents protested. We are still breathlessly awaiting Trayvon Martin, the Movie, but for now we’ll have to be content with Trayvon Martin, the Book.
Its authors will be familiar figures, but not because of their previous published writings, which are non-existent. It is all but certain that their body of work in print will remain non-existent after publication of the new work in progress, which is likely to be of the “as-told-to” genre. They are none other Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the parents of the slain teenager, who, according to the New York Times, want “to write a book that gives the full picture of their son while tracing their own experience of shock and sorrow.” The publisher of record is St. Martin’s Press.
One publishing executive said Mr. Martin and Ms. Fulton spoke eloquently on social issues of race and religion, suggesting that faith could be a central element of the book.
They told publishers that they have never fully spoken out about what happened, including their experience at the trial of George Zimmerman, who shot their son. Mr. Zimmerman, who claimed self-defense, was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter in July.
The book has the potential to attract major media attention, especially on cable television, which exhaustively covered the fatal shooting and subsequent trial.
Sounds like the movie is all but a done deal. Smart casting would have Barack Obama play Trayvon Martin’s father, for reasons that go without saying. George Martin could be played by Satan (provided he is a member of SAG) and Rachel Jeantel by the veteran Meryl Streep.
