George Floyd Didn't Die

In the ongoing media coverage about George Floyd and the widespread protests, something hasn’t sat well with me.

I’ve seen so many headlines about “The Senseless Death of George Floyd.” Except, George Floyd didn’t die. Death is the passive transition a person experiences as they reach the end of life. Death is natural. And to me, describing what happened to George as “death” subtly diminishes the gravity of what actually happened.

George Floyd was killed. He was publicly killed in a savage and inhumane act committed by an individual whose job was to protect and preserve life. Ahmaud Arbery was killed. Breonna Taylor was killed. Their lives were violently taken from them and their families were carelessly victimized.

In all three killings, the civil rights of these Black Americans’ were violated and the laws of this nation were egregiously broken. And in all three killings, action to hold the perpetrators accountable only began following public outrage about the injustice of a system that once again failed to acknowledge that #BlackLivesMatter.

Peace, healing, and reconciliation begin with honesty. America must first acknowledge the violence, oppression, inequity, and trauma that Blacks continue to experience. Then America must take immediate and sustained action to remedy the legacy of its state-sponsored campaign against Black people.

In this moment, I am more mindful than ever before about doing my part: how I can contribute to the conversation, how I can be an active participant in the movement. For the sake of our future, I hope you will do the same.

GTall signing off.