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Exhibition

Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures

Manufactured by

Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company, American, founded 1922

Worn by

Martin, Trayvon, American, 1995 - 2012

Subject of

Experience Aviation, Inc., founded 2005

Date

2009

Medium

polyester and cotton with metal

Dimensions

H x W (flat): 61 × 33 3/4 in. (154.9 × 85.7 cm)

Caption

Inspired by his uncle Ronnie, Trayvon Martin aspired to work in the aviation field. He wore this flight suit when he attended Experience Aviation in his early teens. According to his father, Tracy Martin, "It was a badge of honor for the students to have the flight suit with the patches on it. It was part of their uniform for the program. He loved it. He loved it." Tracy also recalled being impressed by watching Trayvon practice taking off and landing a plane using a flight simulator. Experience Aviation, Inc. is a non-profit organization in Opa-locka, Florida, that provides project-based education in aviation and related STEM fields. Trayvon attended a seven-week program in 2009 and later served as a volunteer. After Experience Aviation, he began taking high school classes at George T. Baker Aviation Technical College.

On the evening of February 26, 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon left his father’s house in Sanford, Florida, to go to the convenience store. While walking back home, he was confronted by an armed neighborhood watch captain who had reported him to police as a “suspicious person.” A struggle ensued, and Martin was shot and killed. Public outcry over his death and the neighborhood watch captain's acquittal on murder charges sparked the formation of the Black Lives Matter national protest movement.

Description

A dark blue jumpsuit worn by Trayvon Martin while a participant at Experience Aviation STEM non-profit organization. The Dickies-brand coveralls are size Regular-Small and feature embroidery and patches related to the Experience Aviation program. Jumpsuit is short sleeved with an elastic waist, two chest pockets, two front pockets, and two rear pockets. Garment has a zipper that runs from throat to waist and metal snap buttons at waist and neckline. Rear proper left pocket can be fastened shut with a button. Embroidery above chest pocket at proper left reads [EXPERIENCE / AVIATION / www.experienceaviation.org / Trayvon Martin]. Embroidery above chest pocket at proper right reads [Chevron] with logo. Patch on chest pocket at proper left is a red, blue, yellow, and white logo that reads [Dickies]. Iron-on patch on chest pocket at proper right depicts a red-and-white propeller plane navigating across Earth and reads [COLUMBIA 400 / EARTHBOUNDERS / EXPERIENCE AVIATION.ORG]. Embroidery at proper left shoulder is blue and red, features a jet navigating across a globe, and reads [MIAMI / EXECUTIVE AVIATION]. Embroidery at proper right shoulder features a large 'M' in gold thread with two white palm trees and reads [Miami / Parks & Recreation / Where Magic Happens]. Patch on rear proper right pocket is a red, blue, yellow, and white logo that reads [Dickies]. Coveralls have white paint stains on front near waist and front pockets. There is a small light stain at the proper left knee. Written on interior of waistline in black marker is [Trayvon Martin].

Place used

Opa-locka, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, North and Central America

Collection title

Trayvon Martin Collection

Classification

Clothing - Fashion and Historical

Movement

Black Lives Matter

Type

coveralls

Topic

Clothing and dress

Education

Justice

Law

Race discrimination

Race relations

U.S. History, 2001-

Violence

Youth

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin in memory of Trayvon Martin

Object number

2021.32.1

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

GUID

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5298d73f2-a591-4e18-848b-ef929237745b