Black & White
He was a man
He had a criminal past
He had drugs in his system
He experienced an episode of panic
He was black.
He was a man
He had a badge
He had 18 complaints and 2 disciplinary actions on his record
He held the power
He was white.
What is it that you are most afraid of? If you close your eyes and picture that thing or situation in front of you, your pulse probably starts to quicken. If someone put that thing or situation in your hands, you’d probably be really uncomfortable. Maybe your breath shortens. If you experienced this in a non-imaginary setting, you’d probably hope that someone else was there to talk you through it. To calm your heart rate. To assure you that like you, they are human. They have fears, too.
Derek Chauvin made a choice that day. He decided that his power and pride were more important than being human. He decided that his power and pride were more important than another human being. Read that again.
It’s quite simple when you think about it. A lack of empathy, a misuse of power, and 9 minutes under the weight of a body leaves one man on trial and one man dead.
George Floyd deserved to live. George Floyd deserved the right to a trial. George Floyd deserved to be treated like a human.
He was black.
He was white.
There is no gray area.
