A Song Below Water

Author Bethany Morrow writes in the Acknowledgements that “A Song Below Water is about the lifesaving power of Black sisterhood” (244), and that Black rights were a major influence on the novel. The novel is grounded in real-life racism. In recent history in the United States, society has started major movements for Black rights such as Black Lives Matter. The organization “#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer” (“About.” Black Lives Matter). On February 26, 2012, Martin’s murder made national news, as he was a 17-year-old Black teen shot by an older man. The murderer, George Zimmerman, “a 28-year-old man of mixed race who identifies as Hispanic,” was a “neighborhood watch coordinator for the gated community where Martin was visiting relatives at the time of the shooting” (Francescani, Chris. “George Zimmerman: Prelude to a shooting.” Reuters, 22 April 2012). It’s reported that Zimmerman “became suspicious” of Martin and called police. Before officers arrived, Zimmerman was “injured during a physical altercation between the two and shot Martin with a pistol he was licensed to carry” (Francescani, Chris). Though protestors fought for justice for Martin, Zimmerman was found not guilty due to self-defense.