Songfacts®:

• An unarmed 17-year-old African American male, Trayvon Martin, was walking to the home of his father's girlfriend in a gated community in Sanford, Florida on February 26, 2012. A mixed-race neighborhood watchman, George Zimmerman, began following him, while contacting the Sanford Police Department to report what he deemed to be suspicious behavior. There was a confrontation between the pair, which ended with Zimmerman fatally shooting Martin once in the chest at close range. The shooter was initially released without charge as police said they did not find evidence to contradict his assertion of self-defense. The delay in arresting Zimmerman received international coverage and after the investigation was taken over by the appointment of a Special Prosecutor, charges for murder in the second degree against him were filed on April 11, 2012.
  
  Zimmerman was found not guilty of second-degree murder and of manslaughter by the jury on, July 13, 2013. Immediately after the verdict was announced, various recording artists including Beyoncé and Jeezy paid tribute to Martin, whilst Stevie Wonder declared his intention to boycott Florida. However, when veteran soul singer Lester Chambers dedicated a song to the fallen African American at a festival in California, it resulted in him being attacked by a woman in the audience.
• Plies penned this tribute song to the fallen teen. All the song proceeds went to the Trayvon Martin Foundation, which was founded in 2012 with the purpose of addressing civil rights and social issues while addressing the uplifting and advancement of young minorities of all colors.