Ebony is doing its part keep Trayvon Martin's memory alive.
For its September issue, the magazine has published a collection of four covers that pays tribute to the slain teen, ensuring that his tragic death—and the outrage sparked by the acquittal of the man who killed him, George Zimmerman—remains at the center of the national conversation.
In a statement, Ebony editor in chief Amy Barnett said: "As a mother of a young Black boy, the tragedy of Trayvon Martin affected me deeply. We simply cannot allow the conversations on this issue to come to a standstill. As the leading source for an authoritative perspective on the African-American community, at Ebony we are committed to serving as a hub for Black America to explore solutions, and to giving readers the information and tools they need to help ensure a bright future for all of our children."
The covers have already spurred controversy: Shortly after images were released, word began to spread that the Tea Party was supposedly calling for a boycott of the magazine—rumors that media pundits eventually believe to have been false.
Nevertheless, Ebony weighed in on the reports by tweeting a pointed missive on Wednesday.
"We have so many Tea Party readers and followers. To lose all zero of them due to our September cover would be devastating," the magazine said.