BY ANNALESE HERRIMAN – SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

George Floyd: This Generation Will Make A Change

I am ashamed to say this, but I was not proud of who I was when I was younger. I did not like the texture of my hair, and I did not like my skin. I didn’t love myself because I was black. I thought that black was not beautiful, but now that I’m older I know that I was wrong. In the media, I would see black people being described as thugs or as ghetto. I wasn’t proud of the community I identified myself with. I am a black woman who grew up in Jamaica and immigrated in 2011.

Police body camera footage captures struggle leading to George Floyd’s death

I thought that my family would experience the American Dream. This dream looks shiny and bright on the outside, but the inside does not match the outside. Watching the news can be so depressing at times because of the harsh realities that minorities face. We see these stories of African Americans being killed by police brutality every week that it kind of feels normal now. This is not okay at all. There are so many people hurting in my community because of the systematic racism that has been embedded in American culture.

George Floyd’s Death was the Spark that Initiated the Action

There have been several people coming together to fight racism. There have been many protests throughout the years; however, I believe George Floyd’s death was a wake -up call to many people. My heart filled with joy as I saw people protesting on the streets. I saw other countries taking a stand with us and protesting peacefully. Regarding the protests, I do not agree with the looting that has been destroying black communities; however, I fully support the peaceful protests.

I believe if we stand united we can make a difference and change the evil in this world. I have been making an effort to spread awareness on how to make a change. A Lot of people may think that they don’t have the power or the ability to make a change but that’s not true. Spreading awareness about what is going on in the world, signing petitions for justice, and educating yourself and others on the matter are steps we can take to move forward.

Scholarship Award Winning Essays

I hope that one day, George Floyd, Emmet Till, Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others receive the justice they deserve. I believe that if we stand in unity, and not in ignorance my generation will help make the change that is long overdue. I hope that when George Floyd’s daughter is all grown up, she along with all the other black kids will live in a world where they are treated as equals.