In Remembrance of George Floyd
Today, on the one-year anniversary of his death, we remember George Floyd for the reverberating impact that his murder has had on our society. His last utterances echoed and resonated with people around the world. Because of his involuntary sacrifice, society has demanded more attention to the injustices suffered by Black people and more action to ensure these injustices do not persist in our communities and workplaces going forward.
Over the next few weeks, we will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Riots (June 1) and the Emancipation of Black Americans (June 19). For many, this will be only the first or second time they’ve ever heard of these events and, had it not been for the awakening spurred by George Floyd’s tragic death, many would still not know about these historical milestones.
As communicators, we know the importance of storytelling and the danger of omission – intentional or not. The stories of Black Americans have long been omitted from history, and now it is our responsibility to ensure that these pieces of history, including the ultimate sacrifice made by George Floyd and his family, are never forgotten - but instead celebrated for their historical significance towards progress.
May George Floyd’s memory be sewn into the fabric of our work to sustain the movement toward equity and justice indefinitely.
Let’s do a knowledge share this week. Tell us what your organization has done to increase representation, close the equity gaps, and foster a culture of inclusion for Black professionals and other talent of color in the past year. Send us an email at hello@diversityactionalliance.org.
Please also sign the Diversity Action Alliance Commitment if you haven’t already. In it, we ask that you Adopt best practices, Champion the cause, and Track your progress. We offer resources to both our organizational and individual signatories. Learn more at www.diversityactionalliance.org.