May 25, 2020: A Somber Remembrance
Opinion by Elizabeth Jordan
Five years ago this week, a man many of us had never heard of before became a symbol whose name is synonymous with the call for racial justice: George Floyd.
I can remember the moment when I heard the audio recording of his last moments on earth. I had read about his death at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis but had intentionally not sought out the video. But, as I sat at my kitchen table doing something mundane (with NPR on in the background as usual), I heard the hosts introduce the story, which included the uninterrupted audio.
As the moments ticked by, I heard George Floyd plead for his life, and then in a final powerless act call out to his momma for help. I could not stop the tears. There was no escaping the pain of this human being being choked to death. And for what? For suspicion of paying for something with a bill that might be counterfeit? Or for being a big, tall Black man that too many people perceive as a threat no matter what he does?
In the weeks that followed, communities across the country wrestled with what George Floyd's death said about America. It seemed at that moment that an up-swell of widespread grief broke through the invisible divisions that so often bifurcate the lived experiences of race in our country. I took my kids to marches not just through the north side of Flint, but through downtown Davison and Flushing. I saw many first-time demonstrators there. So many came out to mourn his life and demand that the systems that so devalued his life do better. Companies across the board committed to supporting racial justice and philanthropies pledged resources.
Now, five years on, where are we? There was a measure of accountability for the officers who were tried and convicted for their roles in George Floyd's death. And, some localities have changed policing policies. However, that upsurge of united commitment that felt so palpable five years ago seems to have dissipated. Several corporations that committed to racial justice have cut their initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act stalled in Congress and the executive order requiring a national law enforcement accountability database was repealed. Philanthropic dollars focused on racial justice have dwindled. The federal government has worked to remove any reference to racial equity. In short, people who study the long arc of social movements warned that racial progress precedes a racial backlash-- and they seem to have been right.
The contrast between where the energy was at five years ago and where we are today can feel jarring. (Heck, it can feel demoralizing.) So, what are people who live by the 4-Way Test to do? Pursuing racial justice is one expression of Rotarians acting in ways that are fair to all concerned and building goodwill and better friendships. In times of backlash, it is all the more important for the people and organizations like Rotary that remain committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion to keep at it.
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