On the English Made Simple Youtube video channel: there is song about African-American victim of police brutality, George Floyd:

 

Here are the lyrics of the song.

 

‘There used to be a time

When love and laughter filled our minds

Even though some feared us from a far

 

We only wanted to be free

To smile and work so they could see

The real beauty there is in who we are

Don’t fight the way we look

Though we are one, some are misunderstood

So if you really care for us all

In the march can you show self-control?
Or will you take the bait against us all?

I know that you’re hurting for him

I saw that you’ve been protesting

Despite the pain you’re in

If we stand tall we can win

It doesn’t matter what they take

There’s only one choice left to make

Remember how our hearts would break
Remember when George Floyd died

 

We won’t forget how it feels inside
Screaming“I can’t breathe!”
Is no way to die
Across the world we all demand

Stand up and take George’s hand

Stand up and take George Floyd’s hand

 

 

 

 

It could have been just yesterday

That pain inside won’t go away

Still some say they treat us all the same

 

Maybe we’re tired of hopes and dreams

Promises of what might have been

Or maybe we all know who’ll really take the blame

So until there’s change that we can feel

We’ll stand together strong as steel

If you oppose then we’ll push back

Without fear of your attacks

 

Mandela, Malcolm and Martin knew

That even though you may be few

Your fight for rights is always true

So remember when George died

 

 

We won’t forget how it feels inside
Screaming“I can’t breathe!”
Is no way to die
Across the world we all demand

Stand up and take George’s hand

Stand up and take George Floyd’s hand

 

 

 

We’ll never let another George Floyd die
We’ll never let another George die
We’ll never let another George Floyd die
We’ll never let another George die.‘

 

The song ends with the resolve that ‘we’ (humanity at large or the American public) will never allow another George Floyd die, that is the clear daylight homicide of an American citizen, an African-American one. The world was appalled by what happened to George Floyd. Though it was a tragedy, there may be great good that comes from it if a better world, a world which there is more love and more rejection of hatred, particularly of racial hatred, comes about.

The George Floyd tragedy shocked the world and America itself. Many were disgusted but were and still are unaware of the daily racism against African-Americans that continue in the USA. Even many white liberals particularly in metropolitan cities with small African-American populations and far removed from encountering police brutality and the targeting of African-Americans seem to believe that after the civil rights legislation of the 1960s or even the rise of Barack Obama as the first ‘African-American’ president in 2008 that a post-racial and fairer America had emerged. Though some progress had been made, there was and still is great injustice occurring in the USA which include:

• The disproportionate use of violence against African-American males by the police.
• The deliberate targeting and victimisation of African-American males by the police.
• Disproportionate sentencing of African-American men including the handing out of long sentences in prison for the possession of soft drugs whilst at the same time the authorities would be aware of parties with heavy drug use by white middle class university students.
• Much more.

This is not shown on television much. This is not encountered many white people. They therefore are unaware of its existence and some are therefore quite sceptical of hearing stories of such things and can be dismissive of claims of racism as the comments of overly sensitive people who are paranoid and falsely see racism in the new ‘post-racial’ USA.

There are others however who deal on a daily basis with the very real nature of the unfair policing and judicial in the US. These include people like:

• Scott Hechiner,  Twitter: @ScottHech
• Rebecca Kavanagh, Twitter: @DrRJKavanagh
• Dr Heather Ann Thompson, Twitter: @hthompsn

and others

 

 

George Floyd will remain in the public consciousness for decades. His death has been a catalyst for change around the world. He is part of the African-American story in the same way Emmet Till is. Till was a fourteen year old African-American falsely accused of whistling at a white woman and then murdered.

The African-American story is one of constant struggle and heroism, but it is a story of constant success. Success at abolishing slavery, success at abolishing Jim Crow laws, daily success against the racists in the police system and judiciary some of whom in their ‘ideal world’ would prefer not even see a dark-skinned person and for whom even having dark skin is an affront, a threat.

From a community who were in shackles, enslaved and experiencing torture on an almost daily basis at the hands of cruel slave owners, African-Americans have progressed on to becoming a community that have produced doctors, teachers, generals, lawyers, businessmen and many other success stories. This upward trajectory of overcoming racism will continue much to the dismay of those whose hearts are poisoned with hatred.

The memory of George Floyd will live on.

 

 

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