9 minutes and 29 seconds
Under the weight of one man
9 minutes and 29 seconds
An atrocity that many of us claimed to not understand
“How could someone do this?” we asked ourselves
“Where is our humanity, our dignity?” we wondered
“This isn’t who we are, this isn’t what we do,” we thought
Though here we were…
Yet again
A Black man murdered at the hands of police
Caught in broad daylight, people watching in the streets
A senseless murder that soon thereafter rocked the world
The entire 9 minutes and 29 seconds of which were filmed by a little girl
George Floyd
We must say his name
George Floyd
He and I were the same
Black men in America
Citizens of a country that continues to undervalue us, regardless of our title or profession
Even me, as a future physician, I am not protected
Yet still some wonder why millions took to the streets and passionately protested
A year later, I hope we finally get it
I hope we see that this is exactly who we are
Who we’ve been all along
A country founded on subjugation, violence, and harm
Though we have made some bit of progress
We still have plenty more to go
And if you weren’t keenly aware of that before
Well hopefully now you know
