A distressing duration, noted first as 8 minutes, 46 seconds and later adjusted to 9 minutes, 29 seconds, has argued its way into the American psyche. This brief yet monumental moment in May 2020, marked the tragic end of the life of George Floyd, an African American man, beneath the knee of a white law enforcement official on the roads of Minneapolis. In the subsequent weeks, moments of silence extending for the exact same span of time were recognized at the New York Stock Exchange, within the U.S. Congress, along with multiple public vigils scattered across the United Kingdom.
By early July 2020, an estimated 26 million American citizens had participated in beyond 4,700 demonstrations. Bound by a show of solidarity, hundreds of thousands of individuals across Britain attended corresponding rallies spanning from Bristol to Birmingham to Belfast, outpacing the gatherings sparked by the Rock Against Racism campaign during the 1970s. Globally, demonstrations were speculated to occur in roughly 93 nations.
However, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests were noteworthy not just for their sheer size and scope. The suddenness of their disappearance was equally striking. As we stand five years beyond the remarkable events of 2020, one must ask, what does George Floyd’s legacy represent in the United States and the United Kingdom? Were the BLM demonstrations merely an ‘instance’, or did they signal the birth of a legitimate movement inciting impactful change?
A candid appraisal of BLM activists in America might suggest that their efforts resulted in an outcome diametrically opposed to their intentions. Mathis Ebbinghaus, an up-and-coming academic investigating sociology at Oxford University, has been closely studying BLM, creating a comprehensive record of police budget data spanning from 2018 through 2021 for 264 major cities in the U.S.
Meanwhile, according to data gathered by the Washington Post, it appears American law enforcement have, on average, ended more than 1,000 lives each year since 2015, with African Americans suffering mortality over twice as much as their white counterparts. In 2024, the recorded number of fatal police shootings peaked at an all-time high, totaling 1,173.
Efforts at restructuring law enforcement in the UK have shown slightly more promise, although the results have been marginally better at best. The killing of George Floyd, coupled with the enduring unease between the law enforcement and Black communities, inspired the launch of the Police Race Action Plan (PRAP) by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing in May 2022.
Three years onward, PRAP has largely disappointed, despite its recent report indicating elements of progress: dismissals for discriminatory behavior have doubled in the year 2022/2023 compared to 2020/2021; a declining rate of ‘stop and search’ and usage of force against individuals from Black backgrounds have been noticed; and an increasing proportion of Black officers have been involved. This has led to immense dissatisfaction among many on the Left who consider this a chance wasted for impactful police reform.
A peak of this trend was observed in the corporate sector, with a powerful backlash unfolding in recent times. Within three years of Floyd’s unfortunate demise, corporations had committed over $340 billion towards battling racial inequality, through mechanisms like setting diversity goals, hiring specialized personnel, and introducing new training programs.
Nevertheless, not all workforce members appreciated the implications brought to light by this newfound awareness. By 2024, potential signs of a considerable slowdown in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) domain became evident, with job roles in the field witnessing attrition rates almost doubling that experienced by other sectors.
On the other side of the Atlantic, the British public primarily showed their involvement and response to George Floyd’s death through social media rather than long-after reports. In a bid to demonstrate their commitment to racial justice, many individuals resorted to posting black squares on their social media profiles in June 2020, in a worldwide initiative christened as ‘Blackout Tuesday’.
In reflecting on the impact and success of BLM, it’s challenging not to acknowledge that setbacks have been met on nearly every front, whether be it politics, attempts at police reforms, corporate society, or even in education spheres, where the advocacy of ‘critical race theory’, a frequently misinterpreted concept of systemic racism, ignited stark criticism, particularly in the United States.
Nevertheless, there is a beacon of optimism that resides in grassroots activism, local organization, and proactive youth. It may just be that the true legacy lies not in government actions, but within the community-driven movements persistently advocating for justice.
The core principles propelling BLM regarding equality, safety, and dignity, remain, and their fight appears far from over. Evolution isn’t always a straight line or instantaneous, and its impacts might demand time to yield substantial results.
To paraphrase it differently, establishing a man’s enduring impact requires more time than it takes to end his life. Potentially, Floyd’s legacy and the inspiration it imparts to future generations will serve to prevent repetitions of such heartbreaking events
The post Evaluating George Floyd’s Legacy: BLM Impact Five Years On appeared first on Real News Now.
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