George Floyd: A Life That Sparked A Revolution

On By Dawn MinottIn Poetry

Who won the week? For me, that’s George Floyd.

In life the world knew not your name.

In death you changed the world, as your young daughter said.

Your murder, viewed live on phone and TV screens across the globe, sparked anti-racism movements and protests for racial justice and against police brutality all around the world.

One year later, not much has changed. “Knees” of those with power are still on the “necks” of those with unequal shares of power and the cry of “I Can’t Breathe” ricochets off acts of injustices and off institutions of inaction.

When does change equal progress and how can progress be measured? For even after you other lives were brutally taken.

George Floyd (and the litany of lives before and after you)—YOUR LIFE MATTERED!

This was written in contribution to Fandango’s Who Won The Week prompt.

Thanks you for reading!

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In creative solidarity, Dee

18 thoughts on “George Floyd: A Life That Sparked A Revolution”

  1. You chose an excellent topic for Who Won the Week! I agree with you that this anniversary has rekindled a dialogue on the subject of police violence and injustice toward Black people. It is a topic that, sadly, never seems to be resolved. I think racism will always exist, but still there are measures we could take to improve things: such as reforming police departments, condemning the open expression of hate toward other groups (Trump was great at unleashing that), and making it illegal for a state, or corporation, or organizational entity, to make a regulation that is discriminatory toward others. This exists in theory, but too often abused in practice. I see the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder as part of a much larger problem plaguing our society, with racism at the heart of it, but also the surge of hate crimes and gun violence. Thank you for choosing this topic.

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  4. Pingback: I Can’t Breathe© – Poems & More: createdbyDEEsign

  5. Marleen

    Well said. Warm regard I send your way.

    I watched a movie about Lady Day, last night, wherein I saw that there was a bill against lynching under consideration in 1939 (which didn’t pass into law) and one yet in 2020 (which also didn’t pass into law). A statistic of almost 1 in 5 people polled in the United States showed how many thought Derrick Chauvin was innocent (after footage and the court trial concerning what he did to George Floyd). Still more people largely deny that racism is a reality.

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    1. Thanks Marleen. You know I think we’ve done a good job with the “calling out” culture (calling people out/publicly shaming) resulting in folks going on the defensive, feeling alienated and in turn
      their biases(unconscious and otherwise) are reinforced. I much prefer what Prof Loretta Ross advocates for— “calling in the call out” culture to create spaces for conversation and learning.

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      1. Marleen

        I’ve been around for a while, and I’ve learned (to my utter surprise) that the people to “the right” of politics who pretend to be interested in conversation often, or usually, aren’t really interacting rather than already on guard and on the offensive (while claiming others are on the offensive against them). There’s someone I was in conversation with as a friend for years (I thought we were in conversation); we supposedly held a similar religious point of view (and are both white), but he was completely not interested in conversation and finally just showed his true stubborn sentiments more blatantly. The majority of my life, I wasn’t calling people out, per se (except that I, based on being naive, was politically active) and I was “a conservative.” I don’t know if you recently read where I called someone out, specifically. There comes a time.

        I don’t know if you are aware of this, but most of what you have in your topic here (as well as the one headed “I Can’t Breathe” later) would be taken as offending to say; most people of color and their friends or allies aren’t really “allowed” anything by these people with biases against anything other than white-bias. So it basically comes down to caring about all people (rather than favoring white people) simply being something that bothers them while they deny it.

        I’ll look up Loretta Ross, though.

        Each person is a different person, so a conversation shouldn’t start at a hundred degrees if it can be held more quietly and calmly. But what can be done if a guy posts an article that claims a completely false quotation which only rhymes with what was actually chanted by protesters in the street? I posted an article debunking. He totally ignored it. And I’m only telling you like one fiftieth of what went down. He ignored a lot; only ramped up his slander.

        By the way, he had spent months, and years, “calling” people out for perceived slights. It’s truly bizarre how someone can go from calling others “snowflakes” to complaining about every little thing (because he was what he had tried to point at).

        I take it you’re young and loving.

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        1. Hello Marleen, thanks for your insightful comments. I know what you mean about assumed affinity. Sad … but shared race/ethnicity, shared religious believes, shared economic status etc doesn’t always mean affinity on anti-racism (or any other societal scourge). Not all skin folk is your kin folk 😬

          I agree. It comes down to caring about ALL people. Until all people are free, none of us are truly free. If we all aim to be kind humans what a beautiful world this would be (no inequalities, inequities etc).

          Thanks again for sharing. Cheers, Dee

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    1. Hello Michele. Thanks for stopping by and for sharing. I read your poem. It made me think of the power in allies. None of us are truly free till all are free. Every voice and action against injustice—no matter where it injustice shows up—is a voice and action toward change. Thank you for sharing your words with me. Stay woke!!! Cheers, Dee

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      1. Thank you for reading my poem, Dee. Sharing like that in your space felt like an overstep. I appreciate you being open to reading my poem that attempted to sort through the emotion and confusion of last year. Of course, emotion, confusion, and injustice not isolated to only George Floyd. I cannot believe that a year has already passed. Thank you for your words of unity and support. Best to you, Michele

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        1. Hi Michelle. Not an overstep at all. I appreciate that you shared. That’s the beautiful thing about writing isn’t it— it affords us the opportunity to share. For all intents and purposes you and I are strangers, yet connected by this platform through words. And it’s an opportunity to use our common love and appreciation of words to make a difference however we can and in whatever spaces we occupy.

          I appreciate this exchange. Thanks for initiating it. Cheers, Dee

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