Over the last couple of months, we have faced three senseless, unprovoked deaths. George Floyd’s death took center stage, and I could not understand why I was so incredibly impacted this time. Then it became clear.
In the video, we saw the face of hatred and callous disregard for black life right before our eyes as an armed officer murdered a black man. This man, by all accounts, embodied love and, as evidenced in the video, showed respect to his last dying breath. The officer did this with his hands in his pocket, knee on George’s neck, and his face unbothered by the life he stole.
In 8 minutes and 46 seconds, a life was gone.
In the same video, we saw his fellow officers stand by and do nothing. With this, we saw the impacts of silence and tolerance. We saw the helplessness of police abuse as bystanders knew they could not help George. We felt the hopelessness of watching yet another recorded death knowing countless others did not make the news. As George cried out for his mother, all my fellow mothers of black children and I had to face the reality we cannot fully protect our babies.
Yet, I have hope. I have hope that, even though many in America see my eleven-year-old son’s rich Nubian skin as a weapon today, I will get to see him become the man, husband, and father of God’s design.
Together, we can make sure that Dr. King’s dream does not remain deferred.
Sharon Peoples sits on the MCLP Board of Directors and is an alumna of the class of 2020. She is also a dynamic and results-focused project management professional at COUNTRY Financial with years of multi-industry experience.