TOPSHOT - Kids pose as their father takes a photo in front of a makeshift memorial to George Floyd near the site where he died in police custody, in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 20, 2020. - Demonstrations are being held across the US following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, while being arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Kerem Yucel / AFP) (Photo by KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty ImagesThe following is an excerpt from this week’s For(bes) The Culture newsletter, dedicated to elevating and empowering Black and Brown professionals. Sign up for the newsletter here.
"Stay far from timid/ Only make moves when you're heart's in it/ And live the phrase the sky's the limit." - The Notorious B.I.G.
One of the major sentiments that emerged following the killing of George Floyd two years ago was that racism and racial inequities were not problems to be solved exclusively by Black Americans. White people, specifically, have a key role — if not the main role — in addressing these issues.
While that sentiment remains strong, For(bes) the Culture decided to commemorate Floyd’s death by focusing on the unique and informative perspectives of Black people. We have three stories where we're providing space for Black voices to reflect on what’s changed these past 24 months, what hasn’t changed, and how they feel about it all.
In one piece, we’ve partnered with The Harris Poll to survey Black Americans on their feelings about safety, stress and racial equity efforts. One notable finding: while three in five Black Americans feel safe in this country, a third of respondents said they feel less safe today than they did two years ago. (And this poll was conducted before the May 14 shooting massacre in Buffalo that killed 10 people, including eight Black people.) Raquel “Rocky” Harris has this story.
The second piece is a series of "As Told To" interviews, put together by Forbes staff writers. In it, we’ve interviewed 11 Black leaders — including activist DeRay McKesson, marketing executive Bozoma Saint John and attorney Theodore Wells Jr. — on how Floyd’s killing changed society and even themselves.
In the last piece, I explore how the dialogue about racial equity has changed a lot, but changes in outcomes really haven't. Folks should know symbolic victories don't really move the needle and patronizing never works, but somehow we still got pitched Juneteenth ice cream from Walmart. (The company nixed the plans and apologized).
In addition to our George Floyd package, we encourage you to check out or new live interview series dubbed "Black Culture and Capital," where I'll speak with Black leaders and luminaries about business, culture, life and where things are headed. I can't end without paying homage to the late, great Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace, who would’ve been 50 this month. Here’s a dope conversation on Sway's Universe with Wallace's son, C.J., and journalist/author Justin Tinsley.
Stay up!
ILLUSTRATION BY ADRIAN BRANDON
George Floyd became a powerful symbol of persistent inequality and systemic injustice against Black Americans and a wake-up call for all. In an effort to capture the reality of being Black in America, For(bes) The Culture decided to speak with Black leaders on their reflections. Read more.
ILLUSTRATION BY ADRIAN BRANDON
Nearly six in 10 Black Americans said they feel safe, according to a Harris Poll survey conducted exclusively for For(bes) the Culture. However, one-third said they feel less safe than they did two years ago. Read more.
JOHN LAMPARSKI/GETTY IMAGES
Despite an evolution in the dialogue and effort over the past 24 months, there’s been little progress in outcomes for Black lives and livelihoods. Read more.
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