Five years ago, former officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd’s neck for a harrowing 9 minutes and 29 seconds. Floyd’s desperate cries of “I can’t breathe” reverberated in Minneapolis, reminding the Black community that the fight for existence continues. The tragic deaths of Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor illustrated that homes and neighborhoods are not necessarily safe from systems that criminalize and dehumanize Black lives.
Growing up in the deep South, I quickly recognized the persistent legacy of racism in America. My grandparents faced the daily reality of segregated hospitals, schools, and restaurants. My father was just 11 when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Attending Spalding High School, named after a former representative who owned 400 enslaved Africans, emphasized that racism was not merely historical; it was a living reality.
We remembered the loss of individuals like Cynthia Scott and Jimmy Lee Jackson. We also witnessed more recent tragedies, like those of Floyd and Taylor, at the hands of a newer generation of officers. These incidents of racial violence stirred collective mourning and ignited calls for action across the country. Almost six decades ago, Black citizens marched against police brutality in Detroit, and once again, we took to the streets of Minneapolis demanding justice for yet another victim of police violence. “Black Lives Matter,” we declared, echoing the sentiments of civil rights activists.
The murder of Floyd opened the door for many to confront the dark history of racism and seek a transformative approach to the criminal legal system. Many cities and states began to reconsider policing strategies and redirected police funds towards community programs. For instance, Austin allocated $6.5 million from its police budget to support housing services for residents. Denver and Eugene initiated response programs that deploy mental health professionals instead of police for crises involving mental health and substance abuse. Illinois lawmakers abolished cash bail and implemented accountability measures aimed at limiting excessive force in policing.
On a federal level, members of the Black Caucus introduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in June 2020, targeting racial bias and seeking to enhance police accountability through community-based policing measures. Although the bill gained bipartisan support in the House, it has stalled in the Senate due to disagreements over limiting police immunity.
Former President Joe Biden signed an executive order to promote provisions from the bill across federal law enforcement, such as banning certain aggressive tactics like chokeholds, which became infamous following Eric Garner’s death. Additionally, it aimed to establish accountability databases for agencies to track officer misconduct. Attorney General Merrick Garland reinstated consent orders to investigate discriminatory practices by law enforcement.
The Department of Justice proceeded with civil rights investigations into local police departments in Minneapolis, Louisville, and Memphis, prompted by the infamous incidents involving Floyd, Taylor, and Tyre Nichols.
This momentum wasn’t limited to policing; it reached into finance, education, and healthcare as well. Companies pledged over $50 billion towards diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and by August 2020, DEI-related job postings jumped nearly 55%. Unfortunately, Black small business owners reported only 75% of support from companies, and educational institutions began reassessing relations with law enforcement to foster deeper conversations about racial equity. Community Health Initiatives in cities like Washington and Atlanta focused on combating health disparities through partnerships.
By late 2020, there was a growing awareness that racial equality was intrinsic to achieving justice. However, in the years following Floyd’s murder, many progressive policies began to recede.
Companies started scaling back their DEI teams, revising diversity supplier initiatives, and removing related language from public documents. As of 2021, only a mere 5% of the promised $50 billion had been allocated to racial equity efforts. Furthermore, many states were introducing legislation to ban educational materials that address race and equity under the guise of opposing “critical race theory.” Lawmakers also attacked health equity initiatives by cutting funding for essential programs.
Criminal legal reforms, despite being enacted in 25 states and Washington, D.C., largely failed to reduce police violence against Black citizens. While some laws prohibited chokeholds and required officers to intervene during instances of excessive force, these reforms only addressed a fraction of police violence. More comprehensive changes are still needed, especially regarding financial penalties, equitable employment, and social support.
Recent polling from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation revealed that about 80% of Black Americans feel the criminal justice system has not improved since 2020. Additionally, a striking 91% expressed that the Trump administration posed a threat to future reforms. Those concerns are being confirmed as state lawmakers enact aggressive “law-and-order” regulations, which roll back progressive reforms, such as expanding cash bail and undermining local traffic stop regulations.
Trump’s administration has further reversed many of the established federal standards for police use of force and paused investigations into discriminatory practices. Additionally, a Presidential Order was signed to dismantle DEI initiatives across federal agencies, schools, and businesses. These policy setbacks signal a troubling shift in priorities regarding racial equity at the federal level.
Now, five years after Floyd’s tragic death, it is crucial to pursue meaningful structural changes that honor the commitments made to Black citizens. Echoing the words of the late Congressman John R. Lewis and other civil rights leaders, justice isn’t handed out freely; it must be demanded. Boycotts against companies like Target, which have rolled back DEI initiatives, and persistent protests against regressive policies serve as reminders that racial equality is not merely a trend. It’s the only path to real justice.
A superficial response isn’t enough; progress demands transformative actions that dismantle systems of racial injustice and hold accountable the policies that safeguard Black lives. History is urging us. The moment for bold activism that fosters genuine change is now.
