Get to know our son, Luther Marinez. If you do, the safer he will be.

Today, he is obviously a boy. He is 13 and a half and hasn’t started his teenage growth spurt. You have seen him around town and in the halls of McMurray. He probably said “hi” and remembered your name, or he was in his own world; it’s his world and he likes it!

Luther is an amazing actor and has a beautiful swing in baseball.

If you have seen us together, you saw us laughing and delighted.

Francisco and I are lucky. We adopted newborn twins in 2000 and got Luther and Marisol. The day after George Zimmerman’s acquittal, Luther and I went to a Mariner’s game, and the entire way Luther held my hand. He didn’t hold my hand out of fear, but out of comfort and desire to be affectionate. How great is it that a 13 and a half year boy still wants to hold his daddy’s hand?! It isn’t going to last forever. He will grow up.

He will get older and taller. Given his sister’s height, he could be tall. The twins’ maternal uncle and grandfather are 6 feet 6 inches and 6 feet 8 inches; and that is the white side of their heritage.

Luther and Marisol are bi-racial just like President Obama. In other words — in this country — Black. This means that when Luther grows up, he will be a Big Black Man.

Luther is going to grow up contributing to our society. The murder of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of George Zimmerman make it very real that some people will see him as someone to fear, a threat and a criminal. The only way they will think that is by not knowing him.

Get to know our son, Luther Marinez. Help make Luther safe to be himself.

— Randy Marinez