Why Am I Greatly Affected By The Killing of George Floyd?
This blog post serves as an outlet for
the intense emotions stirred by witnessing the killing of George Floyd by a
racist police man, through the lens of the camera. The shock, numbness, stomachache,
and heartache I experienced were overwhelming. As I navigated the stages of grief,
tears flowed to release the tension and emotions surrounding this tragic event.
I wept not only for George Floyd and his loved ones, but for the collective
sense of vulnerability we all share as he could have easily been any one of us.
It's crucial to understand that this isn't the first time I've grappled with such emotions. However, the difference now lies in the proximity – seeing someone fighting for their last breath right before our eyes. Over the years, countless murders of individuals with the same skin color as mine have desensitized me to the ongoing brutality within a deeply rooted, systematic racist U.S. government. Unfortunately, like many, I've grown desensitized to the relentless civilian killings, overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness against a system beyond our control.
For many years, I have witnessed through the camera lens and heard of numerous murders of people who have the same skin color as mine. Too many countless murders and innocent killings have occurred. Growing up in the U.S., news of police shootings, inner-city violence, and racial crimes had become the norm. Yet, witnessing the Confederate flags and KKK crosses firsthand during my upbringing underscored the deeply ingrained culture of hatred and discrimination perpetuated by historical governmental systems.
I have inadvertently been aggrieved and emotionally traumatized too many times to remember through listening to the Radio, T.V. and Social Media (as the latest norm). Through hearing directly from friends who have grown up in deprived areas where gun and gang crime was rampant.
Such broken systems empower some individuals, even civil
servants, to act as judge, jury, and executioner, as evidenced by George
Floyd's tragic death. White supremacists, waving Confederate flags and proudly
declaring K.K.K affiliations, perpetuate a toxic mindset that enables heinous
acts in broad daylight.
I have seen Confederate Flags and
K.K.K. Crosses
It is important for me to let you know that I have seen Confederate Flag and KKK Crosses as part of my upbringing in the U.S. There were towns which we clearly could not go to or travel through, without being apprehensive of potential harm being caused to us. I believe these symbols and objects all interlink with humankind to part what is broken in the America System including government, financial, health, economy and political systems. It is some of the inherited extreme culture immoral values and irrational radical beliefs behind historical governmental systems and symbolic objects, which are the main issues that have been weaponized to create divisions. Especially, extreme cultural and ingrained hatred of otherness, which have been used to create racial hatred and discrimination.
Ancient Governmental systems created on the premise of divisions intended to oppress, deprive, exclude other people due to the color of their skin, which continue to play out in modern times. These types of systematic divisions have filtered from governmental systems into local communities whereby others especially people of color have been deprived of the same equal services in their communities. Black communities which have been made to feel less than and disadvantaged as government systems have not equally funded them as their counterpart affluent communities to equally contribute in improving black communities.
There is a long history of a governmental systems which facilitated and supported wealth for most White American People.
"From at least the Land Act of 1785, Congress sought to transfer
wealth to citizens on terms that were quite favorable. In some instances, land
could be attained by the luck of the draw — but only if you were a white man." - Market Watch
It is these types of systems which have
inheritably made most white people feel this sense of entitlement to land
ownership, a sense of belong to a land which was not originally theirs and to
feel better than other who have a different skin than theirs.
It is these types of systems, which
have made white people feel more entitled to ask people who are of a different
skin color than theirs, where they are originally from or why they are in
"their white neighborhoods."
It is these types of broken systems,
which have empowered some vicious white people who are paid civil servants to
act as though they are the law, including judge and jury. Which has given them
the sense of entitlement to kill and torture another human being without a
blink of an eye in broad daylight and in front of a camera lens.
It is these of inhumane systems which
have empowered white supremist to believe that they are better than what is
different. Enticed them to wave confederate flags, to proudly proclaim
themselves K.K.K. and patriots of a land which was not theirs to begin
with.
These systems, rooted in division, have
infiltrated modern society, perpetuating racial disparities in local
communities. The long-standing governmental policies have favored white
Americans, fostering a sense of entitlement and superiority. This entitlement
has seeped into everyday interactions, prompting questions like, "Where
are you really from?" in predominantly white neighborhoods.
These are some of the main reasons you
were sadly and blatantly killed in broad daylight for all of us to see.
George Floyd, your tragic demise serves
as a start reminder of the evils that persist in humanity. I hope your death
becomes a catalyst for justice and change, a global reminder that oppression
and violence are unacceptable. A reminder that no one is entitled to
oppress, deprive, kill another human, and walk away freely without any legal
criminal convictions.
May your soul continue resting powerfully in eternal
peace
George Floyd
