I debated writing this blog post. Really, what do I have to say that hasn’t already been said? But, can it be written or talked about enough? Everyone who is angry over the murder of George Floyd needs to have their voice heard on this matter. It needs to be shouted to up to the heavens.
I remember hearing somewhere that during the civil rights movement in the 60s, it was the bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama and the resulting death of four black schoolgirls that truly opened the eyes of much of America to the problem of racism. It wasn’t the years of oppression or all of the other inequities or atrocities, marches or riots, but the act of four innocent little girls being bombed in church basement that finally reached the hearts of those who were sleeping through the civil rights movement. How could that happen in a church? How could it happen to four little schoolgirls? Who would do such a thing?
From History.com:
On September 15, 1963, a bomb explodes during Sunday morning services in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four young girls: Addie Mae Collins (14), Cynthia Wesley (14), Carole Robertson (14) and Carol Denise McNair (11).
George Floyd is our moment.
It’s very poignant that it requires an 8½-minute video of black man being slowly and methodically murdered, in broad daylight, in front of witnesses to finally wake up our sleeping communities to say this is enough. Racism is real. It’s here and we cannot look the other way. At least I’m praying this is our wake-up moment and that we acknowledge the issues and work toward a solution. I’m not naïve enough to think there will be a solution overnight, or that there even is one solution. I’m not even naïve enough to think that I don’t have implicit bias when it comes to race. I’ve often said I live in a shoebox, with my little suburban view of the world. But I’m hopeful that out of this excruciating pain, there can be justice, transformation and hopefully some healing.
I’ve often wondered what it would have been like in the 60s, during the civil rights movement. What would I have been like? Now, it’s my chance to find out.
Remember George Floyd
GeorgeFloyd, #Ahmaud Arbery, #FreddieGray, #PhilandoCastille…and countless others.
Never heard about the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing of 1963? Read here: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/four-black-schoolgirls-killed-in-birmingham
Finding the Ability – to Stand Up Against Racism
Finding Abilities 