$20 Bills, Racism, and Other Counterfeits
In his most acclaimed speech Martin Luther King about racism he said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the contents of their character.”
Decades passed since the day Luther King gave his speech at that fateful day of the march on Washington. However, his dreams of race-neutral America are still far from turning into a reality. The marchers have left but it would seem as if that racism is here to stay. I want to start off by acknowledging that I am merely stating my notions of the issue of racism as a third-party observer.
Racism and the Black Community
I make no pretension to understand the struggles the African-Americans are facing in their battle against racism. However, I want them to know that I stand with them in their battles. Just as the rest of the world should.
Only recently following the death of George Floyd in May 25. A mere social media post “#Black lives matter” immediately turned into a full-fledged movement against racial discrimination (racism) and police brutality.
George Floyd
George Floyd a forty-six years old African-American man was subdued by officer Derek Chauvin. He was arrested for supposedly using a counterfeit 20-dollar bill. Racism is best seen when the life of a black man can only be equated to a mere $20.
A video of the encounter went viral showing the officer kneeling at Floyd’s neck for a total of 9 minutes. All the while Floyd was pleading for his life, Floyd was already lifeless when paramedics came. If racism could be summed up into one film, it would only last for exactly nine minutes.
