A Younger Generation Is Leading a Revolution That Should’ve Been Ours
I cried for George Floyd, but I couldn’t be out there for him
I’ve been glued to my phone for weeks. Since May, social media has given me 24-hour access to the protests over systemic racism. The barrage of camera footage and live feeds have bookmarked my Groundhog Day–esque shelter-in-place routine; these check-ins are as much a part of my day as brushing my teeth or tucking my kids into bed.
Watching the protests against police brutality day after day, I’m reminded of Dave Chappelle’s recent Netflix special 8:46. In the act, Chappelle shares gratitude for the African Americans out on the streets protesting police brutality and the eight minutes and 46 seconds that killed George Floyd. “I’m very proud of you. You kids are excellent drivers,” says Chappelle, who is just a few years older than me. “I’m comfortable in the back seat of the car. So, carry on, young ones.”
Except I’m not comfortable. In fact, many of my friends aren’t comfortable, either. It’s like we’re missing a cultural revolution, and it may fail or, just as frightening, succeed without us.
I have never been a passive observer. I spent my early years as a newspaper reporter working to expose discriminatory policies on university campuses…
