U.S. Newsramarley grahamtrayvon martin mothersybrina fulton

Mother Of Slain Teen Ramarley Graham Shares Her Conversation With Trayvon Martin's Mother

A Heart-Wrenching Conversation Between The Mothers Of Slain Black Teens
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By 

Editor, HuffPost Video

For the countless black mothers whose children's lives were tragically cut short by gun violence, sometimes the best way to cope is to come together.

In a conversation with HuffPost Live on Thursday, Constance Malcolm, whose son Ramarley Graham was killed by a police officer in 2012, described speaking with Travyon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton, who related to her pain all too well.

Malcolm explained that the pair suddenly shared an unspeakable bond after both losing teen sons who were unarmed at the time of their deaths.

“Actually, I had a conversation with [Trayvon's mother],” she said. “We’re all in this boat that we didn't ask to be in, but now we’ve become a family. This is our new family, not because we want to. We [were] pushed into it. It’s a fight we’ll always remember and always have to keep on fighting because we have to get justice for our kids.”

Malcolm reflected on the transience of life and urged parents to value their time with their children.

“Just love your kids. Hug them every day, because sometimes when they go outside, they might not come back,” she said. “Just love them for the moment you’ve got them there, because you don’t know when their life is going to end. It’s hard for me to say that, but it’s the reality. It’s just reality.”

Watch the full HuffPost Live conversation with Ramarley Graham's mother, Constance Malcolm here.

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Trayvon Martin Protests In New York
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Activists on Union Square stand with a cut out photo of Trayvon Martin, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
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A person, left, who is wearing a shirt supporting George Zimmerman, engages supporters of Trayvon Martin in Union Square, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities Sunday. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
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Demonstrators mass in Times Square after a march against the acquittal of neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washing, Atlanta and other cities Sunday. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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Marching towards Times Square, activists are blocked by police from part of a street and redirected Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities Sunday. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
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A cut out picture of Trayvon Martin is held aloft by marchers on Times Square Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, as they gathered for a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities Sunday. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
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Marchers walking along a street are cheered by passersby in a taxi, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
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Marching towards Times Square, demonstrators are blocked redirected by police from part of a street, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
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Throngs of marches arrive on Times Square, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, for a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
police activits (09 of31)
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Marching towards Times Square, demonstrators are blocked by police from part of a street, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
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Throngs of marches arrive on Times Square, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, for a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
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Demonstrators march through the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan in New York, Sunday, July 14, 2013, holding a cut-out of Trayvon Martin during a protest against the acquittal of neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the killing of the 17-year-old in Florida. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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Demonstrators enter Times Square, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a march against the acquittal of neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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A motorist steps out of her vehicle to photograph demonstrators on a march, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, against the acquittal of neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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Crowds of demonstrators prepare to march towards Times Square, Sunday, July 14, 2013, during a protest against the acquittal of neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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Throngs of marches gather on Times Square as they listen to a speaker, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, for a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
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Marchers raise their fists as they sit down on Times Square, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, for a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
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A demonstrator chants, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a march against the acquittal of neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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Demonstrators march through the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a protest against the acquittal of neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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Demonstrators mass on 34th Street as police attempt to prevent them from moving uptown, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a march against the acquittal of neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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Demonstrators converge on Union Square, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a protest against the acquittal of neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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Police officers attempt to control a march down Broadway, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a protest against the acquittal of neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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Cristina Gaines Rodriguez, of New York, lower right, holds a sign in Times Square, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
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Demonstrators march in Union Square, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York,during a protest against the acquittal of neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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A demonstrator chants during a march, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, against the acquittal of neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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Throngs of marches gather on Times Square as they listen to a speaker, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, for a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) (credit:AP)
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Protestors converge on Union Square, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, for a protest against the acquittal of volunteer neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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Averri Liggins, 22, of Atlanta, chants while holding a picture of Trayvon Martin during a protest the day after George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the 2012 shooting death of Martin, Sunday, July 14, 2013, in Atlanta. From New York to California, outrage over the acquittal of George Zimmerman poured from street demonstrations and church pulpits Sunday. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:AP)
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Demonstrators march in Union Square Sunday, July 14, 2013, in New York, during a protest against the acquittal of member George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested mostly peacefully in Florida, Milwaukee, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into Sunday. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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A man screams during a demonstration in Union Square after the news that George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the 2012 shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin on Saturday, July 13, 2013 in New York. (AP Photo/Carlo Allegri) (credit:AP)
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A sign is displayed at a demonstration after the news that George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the 2012 shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin on Saturday, July 13, 2013 in New York. (AP Photo/Carlo Allegri) (credit:AP)
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Demonstrators converge on Union Square in New York Sunday, July 14, 2013 during a protest against the acquittal of neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. Demonstrators upset with the verdict protested in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, Atlanta and other cities overnight and into the early morning Sunday. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
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