People everywhere are tuned into the trial of Officer Derek Chauvin. The heartbreaking and disgusting footage of this trained officer with his knee on the neck of George Floyd is killing him afresh and tearing us apart.
I find myself unable to watch the trial. While I want to know every detail, I can’t stand the searing agony that sits in my chest. I know it’s a monumental milestone that we even made it to a trial. In times past, our blood shed was just trampled through and America kept it pushing. We’ve seen firings without indictments and not guilty verdicts. It didn’t matter how we cried out for justice. Our anger and angst was simply seen as some kind of entitlement we must have felt. I can’t even get into the ignorance exposed when George Floyd was suffocated on a Minneapolis street in broad daylight by a criminal on the city’s payroll. He may have started his day off as one of the good guys, but in 8 minutes and 46 seconds, he became a killer. That was before the body camera showed he had an additional 43 seconds to realize George Floyd was a man. A father. A son. A brother. A human being.
Time after time, we have been the victims of racial profiling, injustice, racism, and hate. Time after time, excuses have been offered for the behavior of the perpetrators. We’ve waited on the people peddling that nonsense to place themselves in handcuffs for not signaling, in their beds when the no-knock warrant is served, or on the ground calling mama with their last breath. In most cases, the revelation was more deafening nonsense.
It is my prayer that justice will be served. I don’t know if I will tune in for the trial. To be real honest, I’m exhausted. I sit today thankful for the life of my child. When you’re protesting your right to live and be treated with dignity, you don’t always know that the bullets flying past you are rubber. Being black in America is beyond difficult. Being black with a voice is immensely dangerous. Knowing your worth is exponentially priceless!
America, what is the measure of a man?
Strengthen Heal Empower
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14
You have so profoundly expressed my own sentiments about this outrageous case. We must pray for justice as George Foreman’s blood cries out from the grave.
I find myself just sitting still thinking of the pain his family is feeling. It’s paralyzing sometimes. I pray God’s protection over us all.