In 2020, Ms. Wanda Cooper-Jones made a promise no mom ought to ever should make — a vow to struggle for justice for her son, regardless of how lengthy or how painful the street forward could be. Her youngest, Ahmaud Arbery, was solely 25 when he was murdered for being a Black man jogging in a suburban Georgia neighborhood.
Even with a cellphone recording of the homicide happening, it would be months earlier than anybody was even arrested. It wasn’t till 2022 that those three men would be sentenced to life in prison, plus an additional 20 years, for killing Arbery, with a federal appeals court docket upholding their hate-crime convictions in November 2025.
In these early days after Cooper-Jones laid her son to relaxation, she needed to attempt to piece collectively the reality of what occurred. She had no manner of figuring out then that, as soon as the reality got here to gentle, her grief would rework right into a mission. A mission for “Maud.” A public motion for change.
5 years later, Cooper-Jones remains to be preventing: Not just for her son, however for the precise of each younger Black boy to run freely with out concern. By the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation, she has constructed protected areas centered on group, psychological wellness, and belonging.
This yr, as an honoree in Adidas’ Honoring Black Excellence initiative and a function voice of their Community Archives zine, she’s persevering with to inform Arbery’s story in service of the subsequent technology.
The sportswear model entered Cooper-Jones’ life within the aftermath of her son’s homicide, and has change into a significant contributor to the Ahmaud Arbery Basis — sponsoring the muse’s annual group run each February, and giving out $75,000 in scholarships to younger males from Arbery’s highschool.
I had the privilege of chatting with Cooper-Jones, and in our dialog, she spoke vulnerably and overtly about turning her ache into goal, the ability of group, and the legacy her son left behind.
Scary Mommy: You’ve spoken concerning the promise you made to Ahmaud — to get justice for him, regardless of how laborious the journey was. What does that promise imply to you now?
Ms. Wanda Cooper-Jones: It signifies that we actually, actually bought justice for Ahmaud… on the state trials, and likewise the federal trials. The three males accountable for taking Ahmaud away from us, they’re now doing life sentences and won’t be free once more.
I need to add that once we laid Ahmaud to relaxation, we have been pondering that we have been laying his physique to relaxation as a result of he went in somebody’s dwelling and was committing a criminal offense. We did not know that Ahmaud had been chased and hunted and killed. So I actually remorse placing him away, apologizing for not being there when he wanted me to be there.
SM: Does seeing a federal appeals court docket uphold the hate crime convictions carry closure, or is justice one thing that feels extra like an ongoing dedication?
WCJ: Justice is an ongoing dedication as a result of we bought justice within the judicial system, however Ahmaud is rarely coming dwelling once more. And I am confronted with that every day.
SM: The Ahmaud Arbery Basis is rooted in creating protected areas for younger Black boys to run freely. When did it first change into clear to you that this mission was one thing you have been being known as to do?
WCJ: Shortly after Ahmaud was killed, we had some modifications in laws right here within the state of Georgia, the place they repealed the residents’ arrest legislation. Additionally, Governor Kemp gave us the Hate Crime Regulation. When these two issues occurred, I wished to make change locally, not simply in legal guidelines, however locally that we stay.
SM: You’re educating boys about bodily and psychological wellness. Why was it essential to you that psychological well being be a part of this basis’s work?
WCJ: After I misplaced Ahmaud, he was having some psychological challenges. To undergo that episode of our lives, I used to be a single mother simply attempting to determine it out. And I wished, within the identify of Ahmaud, for any baby that’s going by means of some psychological challenges, I need to be that protected place for them.
SM: A mom’s love is highly effective, however a mom’s grief is indescribable. What has motherhood taught you about energy within the years since dropping Ahmaud?
WCJ: Within the very starting, I had a number of darkish days as a result of it was 74 days earlier than we even bought an arrest. Simply staying robust. I learn my Bible, I meditate … additionally, I did not do it alone. I did it with the entire group, not simply within the state of Georgia, however all all over the world. So my recommendation to any mother who goes by means of that is to only stay robust, pray, and belief God.
SM: Has it been a supply of consolation in a manner for you, listening to from different mothers who’ve been by means of one thing comparable?
WCJ: Sure, ma’am. Each Could since 2021, I have been attending the Trayvon Martin Basis Circle of Moms retreat, the place all the moms come collectively. And sadly, we share the identical ache. I’ve truly gained plenty of sisters there. We textual content, we name, and it is just a bit group amongst us.
SM: Neighborhood has been such a driving drive in your work. What has group given you in moments if you felt like giving up?
WCJ: In Could of 2020, when the video first got here out, I used to be overwhelmed, however I had individuals not simply in Brunswick, however all throughout the state of Georgia, all internationally who would name, who would textual content me and ship me messages on social media, simply letting me know that I wasn’t alone they usually have been going to struggle and scream justice for Ahmaud in addition to myself.
SM: For households who really feel marginalized or unheard, what recommendation would you give them about advocating for justice?
WCJ: You bought to make use of your voice. To start with, I wasn’t very vocal as a result of I believed I needed to be excellent to inform my story. What I might inform different mothers is to inform your story — and solely you possibly can inform your story, nobody else. Inform it, imply it, and stroll it.
SM: Your journey has already impressed numerous Black mother and father, activists, and younger leaders. How do you keep linked to your personal sense of goal whereas carrying the load of such a big legacy?
WCJ: It’s, however I see a therapist twice a month. I have been doing that for the final 4 years. To start with, I used to be taking these periods actually gentle, however once I go now, I give my all in it. And if you put within the work, you get modifications. To start with, I wasn’t placing within the work, however now I’m. And I am higher. I believe I am higher.
SM: While you assume again to Ahmaud — your “Quez” — what’s one factor you need the world to always remember about your son?
WCJ: That Ahmaud Arbery wasn’t simply an African-American younger man who was working by means of a group. Ahmaud was a younger man having some psychological challenges, and he was utilizing working as a way of remedy.
Ahmaud was my child boy. He has two older siblings. He is a grandson, he is an uncle, and Ahmaud Arbery had individuals who actually, actually beloved him. To take his life away was, I imply, it was simply brutal.
The principle factor I need to take away is change. We bought some modifications right here within the laws in Georgia, however not solely that, I need after they hear Ahmaud Arbery, they reference him as change.
This interview has been edited calmly for size and readability.
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