Right now, America is broken. What were once tiny cracks in the facade have now erupted into giant chasms into which people of color are falling. It’s time for that to end. I’m just one woman — one Black woman — but I will lend my voice where I can to help stop the needless, brutal and ethnically-charged killing of Black America.
This is a special episode of “Midlife-A-Go-Go the podcast!” Listen, respond, lift your voice and consider this your call to action.
Thank you for listening.
Read, “8 Minutes and 46 Seconds: How George Floyd Was Killed in Police Custody” for an account of the murder of George Floyd.
“Midlife-A-Go-Go the podcast!” is hosted by Valerie Albarda
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Music Credits:
“Chill Wave” by Kevin MacLeod Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/)
“Night on the Docks” by Kevin MacLeod Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/)
Second time today to sit for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Both times leaves me with grief of such wrong. Can’t even put words to the feelings. Thank you Valerie for putting your heart, soul and voice there.
Thank you for caring enough to listen, Jeanette.
This is powerful. Thank you Valerie. Praying for America and hoping for major change soon.
Thank you, Rebecca. That’s my prayer as well.
Yes, as the mother of two black sons and the wife of a black man and living in this world of racism, enough is enough! Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I was a part of a peaceful protest and march because every day I pray for the safety of my sons.
Eight minutes and 46 seconds is a long time and when Mr. Floyd calls out for his “mama” he is calling out to all of us! Thank you sis for using your platform!
Antionette, when he called out for his “mama” it broke my heart. I’ve seen some on social media maligning George Floyd because he has a criminal past and say we shouldn’t uphold a criminal and make him a martyr. They’ve lost sight of the reason for holding him up; his death was the last straw. So, yes, he has a criminal past, but he didn’t deserve to die in the street the way he did. He is a symbol of what’s wrong with America in how they treat people of color. Thanks for responding, hon.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us, Valerie. Your words are forceful and heartfelt. I am a daughter of immigrants but our family never was treated this way because we are white. While I pray for equity and justice, I am also working on repairing my own ignorance and fear.
Thank you Anasuya. No one person can turn this country around. It takes a collective of people who understand the gravity of the situation and who work – together – to fight it.
Thank you for your amazing words. I grew up in Minnesota so this tragedy really hits home for me. I grew up in a town with maybe one black family in it and than I moved to Minneapolis and there was a distinct divide between North and South Minneapolis.. The city was divided and it was very clear.. The whites lived in the South and the blacks lived in the North and people were scared to go downtown because of the diverse culture.
I moved to California in 1988 and I was amazed at all of the diverse cultures and skins of color. I remember when I flew into the Minneapolis airport for a visit and everyone looked the same. White men with big noses and big bellies.. I was fascinated with this reality and realized why I moved to California. I wanted to live in a diverse culture where everybody is treated equally.. I feel like we are going backwards and this saddens my heart and I am not sure how to get around it but just feel it and the weight of it. A dear friend of mine has two grown Black sons and I am concerned about their well being. And I am a white middle class women.. so things need to change and I pray and hope they do in my lifetime.. thank you for sending this message and I PRAY THAT WE WILL ALL BE TREATED EQUAL ONE DAY.. NAMASATE.
Thank you for your kind words Theresa. It does feel like we’re moving backwards but we are now making great strides. All of this strife is exhausting and I pray for the day when the color of my skin won’t matter; that people will see me as Valerie…a woman. Thanks for adding to the conversation.