In the Aftermath of George Floyd, Racial Healing is Waning

By Norman Franklin

Norman Franklin

We remember George Floyd. His “knee on the neck” murder led to pro tests and outrage in the cities of America and in European cities across the Atlantic. It happened four years ago on an inner-city street in Minneapolis.

The nefarious deed laid bare the racial injustice that permeates every fiber, every institution, every system of America. His death revealed the reality of systemic racism. The circumstances of his death led us to examine the soul of the nation.

The diagnosis, there is a cancer of racism festering, that if not abated by dedicated, long-term measures, will implode. It has festered too long to suppress.

The Nation made efforts to address the effects of centuries of discriminating policies that were detrimental to African Americans.

The cause, however, lays dormant until circumstances are right to reassert the authority of racism. It’s subtle, it’s intrinsic, it’s overt; it seems so normal to those who wield authority. These refuse to acknowledge the tenacles of racism that stretch across generations.

In the aftermath of “I can’t breathe,” America’s unctuous moves toward racial healing were stymied by white backlash, legislative maneuvers, rollbacks of hard-won victories in Affirmative Action and voting rights, and entrenched attitudes about what is right for America.

It defies the tenor of racial healing to prohibit the illumination of the issues through the study of history. American history, inclusive of African, African Ameri can, and Native American narratives must be shared in K-12 curriculum.

State legislatures are enacting restrictive voting laws and procedures that hinder minority participation. They must shore up the system to protect against fraudulent voting. Redistricting maps are drawn that displace Black voters.

The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 opinion, upheld racial gerrymandering in South Carolina. The congressional map removed 30,000 Black voters. The voting district favors White Republicans.

We could argue that America no longer has an unbiased Supreme Court.

Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the opinion, has displayed the upside-down Stars and Stripes and the “Appeal to Heaven” flag at his homes. Both flags are considered emblems of the conspiracy of election fraud. Justice Clarence Thomas, well, his questionable ethics, his lack of accountability, his voting record on critical cases before the court, there is no confidence in his interpretations of civil rights laws. No justice from this Justice.

The assault on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was initiated in the Oval Office. Fmr. President Trump issued an executive order banning Diversity training in govern ment agencies, nonprofits, and institutions that received federal funding. President Biden reversed the order, but the sentiments of the executive order ripples throughout America’s state legislatures.

Nearly half of the nation’s state legislatures have anti DEI bills proposed. There are more than 30 bills enacted across the country that ban DEI activities on college campuses and in industries that receive federal funds.

There is a far-right manifesto circulating through the undercurrents of extremist America. It’s known as Project 2025. It lays out a complete restructuring of democracy. It gives unilateral powers to the President, strips civil rights and worker protection, and much more disturbing provisions. The product of the Heritage Foundation pro poses to hit the ground on day 1 of the new Trump ad ministration.

When people in authority harbor intrinsic biases, and an ideology of supremacy, the tenacles of racism reach to the lowest citizens down on the farm, and the minority, and the marginalized on the streets of inner-city America.