Exhale
Unbeknownst to what was going on 30 minutes ago on television and social media, my five-year-old great-nephew sang and played in my living room as my body was tense.
He has no idea nor an understanding what news was breaking. A cheerful background of playfulness as a I stood facing my television for the verdict. As the verdicts were read for the fate of murderer turned former cop who was still a murderer, I felt my body’s muscles slack.
Guilty. Guilty. GUILTY. All three counts. I applauded as my great-nephew asked from the living room between singing, “why was I clapping?” I shouted ‘YES!’ and he went back to singing. As this former cop and murderer’s bail was revoked, and he was cuffed and taken into custody, I relaxed. Justice for George Floyd’s murder has been served, but we still have a long way to go. It will be eight weeks until we learn how long the murderer will be imprisoned. But we breathe for Mr. Floyd. We breathe for the nine-year-old child who was one of the witnesses to Mr. Floyd’s breath being wrongfully taken away from him.
We take a breath after all the times we’ve witnessed white criminals, armed and fighting the law, but being led away at times in handcuffs and not lying in the middle of the street bloodied. The big picture show on January 6 at the Capitol.
Nine minutes and 26 seconds that Mr. Floyd fought to breathe by begging and barely moving his head. An air of justice overflowed in Minnesota today. Air that was felt across the U.S.
But, it’s not over. We will be holding our breath again in the case of Daunte Wright’s murder. We’re still waiting for justice for Breonna Taylor. And many others.
As the aunt of seven adult nieces and nephews (three nieces, four nephews) and great-aunt of five young nieces and nephews (two girls, three boys), I pray that in the latter’s futures, resolutions and changes are made. That all lives matter in their world; because all lives will matter when Black, Brown and other minorities matter. That we won’t hear remarks like those of attorney and co-host of “The View” Sunny Hostin, whose 18-year-old son is currently in South Africa. “He is safer in South Africa than here in the U.S.” And that my great-nieces and great-nephews can openly play and live without others who are not Black, accuse them of being too loud, looking at them, walking…
Living. Breathing. Alive.
