Page 4 - C:\Users\berna\OneDrive\Documents\Flip PDF\Poetic Elevation September 2020 final\

As an African American man in America with

sons this is personal for me (the death of

George Floyd) and I definitely want the vio-

lence to stop. I also understand the roar of

protests across the world because, he was a
human being treated lower than an animal.

Floyd was someone's child, father, brother,

and friend that is no longer with us. And for what? we need to put
value back into LIFE. Death is final unlike video games we do not get

multiple chances. It seems that one wrong turn, one late night trip to

the store, playing in the park with a water gun, hanging out in your

back yard, or a simple traffic stop can end in death. We have to agree

that someone's life should have more weight and, not so trivially for-
feit. That those who swear an oath to protect us -protect all of us "by

any means necessary.” And that death for another human being is a

final resolve not a first option just because, the color of your
skin. Those in authority are leaders and role models... so we need to

take that responsibility seriously and hold them accountable serious-

ly. Too many Black communities are over policed and under re-

sourced. I tip my hat to this generation that are protesting and un-

afraid of attacking the root of racism, bigotry, and oppression. Too
long polite racism has been able to thrive and now it is the season to

tear down systems that devalues human life.