Our Black Boys

I teach a youth group at my local church. During a recent men's conference, I addressed young, black males twelve to seventeen years of age. We discussed what their conduct – including body language – should be if they were stopped by police officers. We talked about everything from where there hands should be to how they should address the officer(s). Although the assailant (Zimmerman) in the Trayvon Martin killing was not a police officer, I’m saddened by the fact that Trayvon Martin – according to the 911 tapes – did what he thought was right in attempting to avoid conflict with the assailant, (the tapes prove that he attempted to run but apparently was chased down) but still lost his life. What do we say to our black boys?