by Floyd D. Collins
In my entire lifetime I had never personally experienced Racism. Yeah I knew what “Race Riots†were all about in prison, but I never disliked nor do I dislike any other race. I was not raised to dislike anybody for the color of their skin.
President Trump recently said, “I made Juneteenth famous…†I laughed at his rhetoric, but in my 24 years and counting being in prison I never knew what day Juneteenth was on, and I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know what it represented. Why is that? History was taught to me in school as a youth, but I remember being taught about Christopher Columbus discovering America.
Nothing about the Native Americans (Indigenous) nor African Americans made to be slaves. Today I would call this a controlled or scripted narrative. The year is 2020 and has anything truly changed? I’ll never forget my celly saying “They did it again! Wait till you see the news. They literally killed the brother! Killed him! Man it’s sad!â€
8 minutes and 46 seconds Derek Chauvin “restrained†George Floyd by kneeling on his neck methodically cutting off a flow of oxygen to his brain. This “cop†repeatedly looked down at George Floyd and in my mind said “You still breathing?†All the while George Floyd pled and BEGGED for his life. “I CAN’T BREATHE!†Derek Chauvin was being recorded, but his natural instinct wouldn’t allow him to get up.
This was a modern-day LYNCHING! That “Blue†that Derek Chauvin wore was a mirage. He had on a pure white robe, and pulled off his mask for us all to see his face, look in his eyes as he killed this black man! Say his name! George Floyd!
That knee that broke America’s back. People, including myself are now AWOKE! Yeah there were “looters†during protests, but the fists in the air screaming, BLACK LIVES MATTER aren’t just black. Every race is now involved with OUR movement of gaining RESPECT and EQUALITY! Since George Floyd’s lynching, Rashard Brooks was chased and murdered by a “hunter†in Atlanta.
He was shot two times in the BACK! Why? When will it END? Trayvon Martin, Eric Gardner, Jasmin Rice, Breonna Taylor, Oscar Grant. That’s just on one hand. Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean. WHEN WILL IT STOP? It isn’t a crime to be BLACK in America. It ain’t, or am I WRONG?
George Floyd’s death WILL NOT be in vain. This is a MOVEMENT, and a change is coming. I say this with the utmost respect: Once White Americans came out to take a stand preaching, yelling, HOLLERING… BLACK LIVES MATTER and meaning it, the game changed and AMERICA has been AWOKE and is taking notice!
Our time is NOW! A CALL TO ACTION!! Learn who you are young brother, O.G., my Hispanic brother, my White brother, we’re all HUMAN BEINGS!! We ALL got a History. Learn it, and if you KNOW it’s wrong, seek to CHANGE it. We can bring about a better future.
8 minutes, 46 seconds is what it took to change the course of America’s inequality and the treatment of Blacks. Change won’t come in a day, a month, or a year, but Change is a Coming!
Rest In Peace to ALL who have been murdered by any racist individual, past and present. I am WOKE… BLACK LIVES MATTER and I agree ALL LIVES MATTER, but it’s the equality and respect that’s being demanded by US! Until then WE still gonna keep HOLLERING, BLACK LIVES MATTER!!!