Opinion Essay on George Floyd's Murder Changed Our Country

Last year in May an innocent man was murdered. The man’s name was George Perry Floyd Jr. George Floyd’s death wasn't just a heinous murder but rather a despicable act of hatred and negligence created by a systematic fabric that unfortunately thrives in our society. When I first heard of his death and the details that surrounded it I was in shock. In shock not just because of a killing but rather a targeted act of hatred by an officer of the law.

After the news broke out about the execution America became very divided. The level of division that formed still plagues the country in present day. Personally my family is immensely torn and as for myself I never once thought that this was anything less than a homicide. The opinion that sparked in my head resulted in separating me in a category with a variety of my family. I swiftly came to a realization that this categorization is somewhat similar to how the idea of race operates in modern and past times. 

Throughout class I have learned about the system that is race and how it leads to only negative consequences for minorities with one such example being stereotypes. Stereotypes are often caused by a phenomenon humanity has created called “single stories”. Essentially a single story is the idea that if not enough stories are being told offering differentiating viewpoints it will in turn cement a long lasting and possibly permanent image in someone's head about a certain topic. Stereotypes exist everywhere and everyday in both todays time and centuries ago all while being caused primarily due to single stories. The single story stereotype that became the most obvious after the death of George Floyd was “Black men are violent”. The idea that black men are violent is a mammoth display of racism and unfounded accusations that survive without any evidence whatsoever to contribute to that belief. The suggestion of all African-American males are “vicious” is a way to dispense hatred alongside disgust in the perceptions of people not included within that demographic. The level of distrust that is built creates an actually more dangerous living environment for African-Americans which may be why police brutality seems to be significantly more commonplace when it is against African-Americans.

Humanity loves to discriminate. The fact that people can get turned down job offers purely due to skin color is heartbreaking. Studies have shown that when men and women have the same qualifications the job is still more likely to hire a white person. Companies have even been shown discriminating based on the name of the applicant regarding how “white” a person’s name appears to sound. A lack of opportunity ultimately starts to make a terrible situation for anyone especially a whole group of unique individuals who are already stereotyped into one. This form of racism is clearly deeply rooted into our culture and has only led to negative consequences.

I am a straight white male. I have never been discriminated against nor felt like I was in any danger when talking to anyone of authority. My loans are cleared, I get called back for interviews, and I have never once had a gun or any physical force exerted upon me. These things I truly take for granted even though I should not since life should be more fair towards anyone regardless of the color of their skin. To say racism doesn't exist in a societal level either means you are uninformed or simply in denial. Racism is prevalent and while the days of the slave trade and random lynching may be behind us is it really a society we can one hundred percent be proud of.

I realized after the horrendous murder of George Perry Floyd Jr. that mankind still has a long way to go before we can call ourselves free of hate and a haven of equality. Hopefully the time of “Liberty and Justice for all” really does include all and hopefully happens in my lifetime. That one day in May is all that was required for a complete through self examination of life and invisible privileges. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with the responsibility of murdering George Floyd however one right doesn't solve several wrongs. Anytime race is brought up I always think about the luck and privilege I have received and how unfair a substantial amount of the population has it in their life.