JUST PONDERING ABOUT A BLACK MAN’S SUPPLICATION FOR LIFE: PLEASE, DO NOT SHOOT ME!

His voice, cry, and plea for life fell on deaf ears. The officers feeding on their implicit biases enhanced by stereotypes about a minority race mustered all the force they could and were completely oblivious of the human voice pleading for life. I continue to ponder on what it takes to understand and discern pain and anguish in a human voice. All human beings irrespective of socio-cultural background are Homo sapiens, same species in the animal kingdom; same biological and physiological functions. This is basic biology taught in K12. All human beings are created equal: Basic knowledge in the constitution also taught in our schools. Despite these sentiments, we continue to experience the historical marginalization of minority groups, especially African Americans, Latino/na, Asian Americans, and American Indians. The horrendous killing of George Floyd might have helped remove the colorblindness scales to increase awareness of White supremacist and social injustice. It is heart wrenching watching the video in which George begs for his life – PLEASE DO NOT SHOOT ME – and then becomes helpless as his hands are cuffed yet tortured by pressure on his neck till his last breathe. As a black woman, my heart bleeds not only in fear for my son but for all the black men. The increasing fear and hopelessness among members of the minority race abound. I pray their voice of supplication is heeded.