By Joseph WilliamsWord in Black In 2020, when Louisville police gunned down Breonna Taylor during a botched raid, the incident helped galvanize the ascendant Black Lives Matter movement. Along with the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, Taylor’s killing spurred outrage and pushed nationwide police reform tantalizingly close to reality. How times have changed. […]
Tag: George Floyd
Posted inHealth
Left out twice: Shawn Callaway fights for inclusion at the crossroads of race and disability
Blinded by a stray bullet in college, Shawn Callaway once believed fatherhood—and a full life—were out of reach. Now, as president of the National Organization of Blind Black Leaders, a division of the National Federation of the Blind, he’s working to dismantle the double stigma of being both Black and blind in America.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Florida’s Raiford Prison bans AFRO edition from inmates; warden cites threat to security and rehabilitation initiatives
Florida’s Raiford Prison banned the AFRO’s special edition on George Floyd and racial justice, claiming it posed a security risk and threatened rehabilitation efforts. Critics argue the ban reflects a broader pattern of censorship that suppresses inmates’ access to reform-focused content and silences marginalized voices behind bars.
Posted inNational News
Senators mark Juneteenth with call to action on racial and economic justice
On the evening of Juneteenth, four Democratic senators gathered at the U.S. Capitol for a candid discussion with Black media outlets, using the moment not just to commemorate emancipation but to issue a pointed call to action. On June 18, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Cory Booker (D-N.Y.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) reflected on the historical significance of Juneteenth and the enduring struggle for racial justice in America.
Posted inWord In Black
Rev. Jamal Bryant: Target is canceled. Dollar General’s next
On the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, faith leaders held prayer vigils outside Target stores to protest the company’s retreat from its racial equity commitments, leading Rev. Jamal Bryant to announce a full cancellation of the retailer. Calling it the most successful Black boycott since Montgomery, Bryant said the movement has cost Target $1 billion in valuation and is now turning its focus to holding Dollar General accountable for failing Black communities.
Posted inUncategorized
5 years after George Floyd’s murder: How the media narrative has changed around the killing and the protests that followed
Five years after George Floyd’s murder, media coverage has shifted from initially emphasizing protest violence to more nuanced, legitimizing narratives that better reflect the depth, demands, and significance of the movement against police brutality.
Posted inCivil Rights
Post-Floyd, Americans are more pessimistic about racial equality
The gap in perception is wide: while a majority of White Americans still believe racial equality is achievable, most Black Americans say they don’t think they’ll ever have equal rights in this country.
Posted inStop Killing Us
After George Floyd’s death, teachers lead push for inclusive curriculum
Since the death of George Floyd, many educators have taken it upon themselves to introduce lessons on racial equity, justice and emotional resilience—especially in underserved communities. Despite little change in the official curriculum, teachers say students are asking hard questions, and they’re answering with compassion, honesty and culturally relevant content.
Posted inCivil Rights
More than a narrative: Black men speak on media, community and change
Two Black men—military veteran Matthew Stuart and young professional Koby Greene—reflect on the realities of being Black in America, sharing how racial perception, media stereotypes and emotional pressure shape their lives. Through honest conversation, they reveal the power of mentorship, community and mindset in building a stronger future.
Posted inStop Killing Us
From tragedy to Trial: Keith Ellison reflects on the fight for accountability
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is the first African American and first Muslim American elected to statewide office in Minnesota. He successfully led a team of attorneys in the rare conviction of an on-duty police officer, Derek Chauvin – the man responsible for the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020.
Posted inCivil Rights
Ben Crump, ‘Black America’s Attorney General,’ speaks on George Floyd and the continued fight against injustice
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO Few attorneys are as closely tied to America’s civil rights struggles as Benjamin Crump. Known for representing families in high-profile wrongful death cases, Crump has become a leading legal voice in the fight against police brutality and racial injustice. His clients have included the families of Trayvon Martin […]
Posted inStop Killing Us
Five years after George Floyd: A look at policing under a new administration
Shifts in policy related to policing are raising concern, as activists and experts voice concern about lost progress.
