Paramount has released the first trailer for its six-part documentary series centered on the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story premieres on television later this month. The series was executive produced by JAY-Z and is based off the book Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin, which was written by Martin’s parents Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin. This new docu-series includes home videos, family photos, and news footage, as well as intimate interviews with family, to tell the story of Martin’s life. It also includes interviews with Angela Rye, Reverend Al Sharpton, Angela Davis, Carmelo Anthony, and more.
Martin’s death in 2012 sparked protests, and became one of the incidents and untimely deaths that sparked the global Black Lives Matter movement. Martin was killed in Florida by neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman. The then 17-year-old would have been 23 this year.
In addition to executive producing this project and advocating against gun violence in the teen’s honor, Martin’s death has been the subject of a few of JAY’s recent verses. “I got your president tweeting/I won't even met with him/Y'all killed X and let Zimmerman live/Streets is done," he raps on “Talk Up” from Drake’s new album Scorpion.
He also mentions this docu-series specifically on “Black Effect” from JAY’s joint albumEverything Is Love, rapping “Since the Kalief doc, they've been at my neck/Y'all can tell 'em Trayvon is comin' next.”
Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story premieres Monday, July 30 at 10 p.m. on Paramount Network.
