Please?!? My mom doesn't want us to date after he had a meltdown... But I love him so much, and...?!?!?

Ok, well, I've been dating my boyfriend, Craig, for a year now. He's 17, and I'm 16, and he's been through a lot... His father was a drunk and Craig got beaten daily. He deals with the memories and hurt everyday. He wears all black, has gone through tons of counseling, cut himself in the past, and at times he can lose his temper (NEVER to the point that he would hurt me. But he gets loud, and sometimes throws things. He's a bit intense. I'm the only one who can calm him down, though.) In a way, I'm almost scared of him... of the emotions that he feels everyday, because they are so intense. However, I'm completely in love with him at the same time. For a kid who was hated and blamed for everything by his own father, he has so much love in him, and he's sweet, and caring, and I'd trust him with my life. But yesterday, his father somehow got his number, and called him from prison, trying to be Mr. Caring Father after not speaking to him for years. Craig called me to come over. He was so furious, he was swearing and yelling. I talked quietly to him, and held him close, and told him that he had every right to be angry, but that throwing things and yelling wasn't going to change things. He was so furious, he was nearly gasping for air between sentences. I managed to calm him down though, and he fell apart, crying. He vented for about an hour to me, and he seemed alright then, but I know damn well how much he's hurting. All I want is to help him and be there for him, because I love him so much. However, I told my mom about his meltdown after his father called, and she doesn't want me to date him, because she thinks he comes with too much baggage and she's worried for my safety and my own emotions. I'm fine, though. The only way I'll get hurt more is if she makes me leave him, hurting alone. She won't listen to me though. I love him... a lot, and I can't stand to think about leaving him... And not just because I feel bad for him... I really love him. What do I do?! To convince my mom, and to help Craig?