End Racism: Part 1: It Takes 8 Minutes To End Racism Or Murder Another Black Life

It Takes 8 Minutes To End Racism Or Murder Another Black Life

By Caeli McKamey

Covid has killed another person.

Who was floyd: 

He grew up in a predominantly black Houston neighborhood where he met his friend Harris. George Flloyd, 46, nicknamed “gentle giant” as  the 6 foot 6 inch teen football star. He even went on to play in the Houston Astodome state championships came in 1992. One of his old classmates, Donell Cooper, said he was, “quiet personality but a beautiful spirit”. 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/29/george-floyd-who-was-he-his-friends-words

He was a father. 

His friends and family called him “a beautiful spirit who was always cheerful”.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/29/george-floyd-who-was-he-his-friends-words. 

 In 2009 he served 5 years in prison for a home invasion and armed robbery. 

He was out of work, looking for a job.

Many people push away applicants that have been to prison for fear of them doing illegal things again in their company. And god think, if their reputation was altered from one person…Who has a family…And made one mistake. But, there is no way to guarantee this person does not do the same things again.

In addition with all the other criminals they met in prison, who’s to say they haven’t made a gang and started filming their own rendition of Orange is the New Black? It’s ridiculous that once a person goes into prison they are “erased” from society. Their progress, journey and commitment to a safe live no longer matters because there is no contract and/or checkup from the local services people to reassure the company that they are keeping up with their promises. This is such a horrible situation that there are even shows and books written about it…

One of his friends, 

Harris, convinced him to move to Minneapolis to start fresh. 

So you make a mistake and all of a sudden you don’t have the right to shelter and the money to fund that roof? So, you’re back on the streets and looking for ways to survive..Which are usually against the “legal” requirements. But, no one is helping…So, eventually you land up in prison again and the world continues without you. They have to be careful because once they are “marked” with the prison sentence on their record, one simple wrong look can get them even evicted from their home. There are thousands of organizations that help people that entered prison “re-enter” the world. These should not be “wow-factor” job opportunities…And the jobs should not simply be “Wendy’s”…because with rent at 1,400 for a studio…Not a single person working at Wendy’s can feed their family…And if you’ve succeeded in this…Please let the rest of society know. If not, here are some real jobs that could actually help. 

Floyd started working security at a Salvation Army store in downtown Minneapolis. 

He wanted to start over and make a living for himself and his family

Later he worked as a bouncer at Conga Latin Bistro restaurant, where they nicknamed him “Big Floyd” and another driving trucks. 

“Always cheerful,” Jovanni Tunstrom, the bistro’s owner, said. “He had a good attitude. He would dance badly to make people laugh. I tried to teach him how to dance because he loved Latin music, but I couldn’t because he was too tall for me. He always called me ‘Bossman’. I said, ‘Floyd, don’t call me Bossman. I’m your friend.’”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/29/george-floyd-who-was-he-his-friends-words

He served his time and then he was wiping his record clean from the beginning. His 5 years in prison makes him an asset to security and to protect the community because he had to defend himself from the world of criminals in prison. If they didn’t trust George, then why make him security? He proved that he was trying to make a “good” life for himself just like everyone else.