Since the tragic death of her son Trayvon Martin in 2012, Sybrina Fulton has evolved into an unwavering force against racial inequality. As such, she’s been rewarded for her commitment to social justice.
According to WIS News, after delivering the commencement address at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, she was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree and a key to the city by Mayor Steve Benjamin.
“It was an honor to meet Sybrina Fulton this morning and present her with the Key to the City of Columbia for all the amazing social justice advocacy work she does,” City Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine wrote on Twitter.
Fulton took to her own Instagram account to share her accomplishment with her 26k followers.
“I present to you......Dr. Sybrina Fulton,” she wrote, grinning ear to ear with her degree in hand. “I went from the 2018 Commencement Convocation speaker at Benedict College to Doctor & I also received the key to the city from the Mayor of Columbia, SC.”
“Sybrina is a model of grace and strength,” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College in a statement. “Because of her passion and dedication ‘we are all Trayvon’ and demand social justice for our sons.”
After losing her son to senseless gun violence, Fulton established the Trayvon Martin Foundation in 2012—a platform she’s used to address the deadly consequences of social injustice, racial profiling, and rampant gun violence.
In 2017, she joined forces with executive producer Jay-Z to develop the six-part docu-series “Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story”. It was released to critical acclaim this summer.
As the proud mother of son Jahvaris and a member of the Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, the Miami native is graduate of Florida Memorial University—where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Communications.
Congrats, Sybrina!