Talking With Your Kids About Race, Racism, Police Brutality and Protests in the Wake of George Floyd’s Death

“I can’t breathe.” Once again, those nightmarish words are forced upon us, unleashing a new wave of anguish, sorrow and fury within our black communities, on social media and as well as the world. Do you know the numerical significance behind “08:46”? For a harrowing 8 minutes and 46 seconds, that’s how long it took for Derek Chauvin, the officer who can be clearly seen in witness videos pinning George Floyd to the ground, to cut off Mr. Floyd’s circulation before he died on May 25, 2020. Mr. Chauvin, who is white and now charged and arrested, kept his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck for the entire duration, even after Mr. Floyd lost consciousness. The most disturbing thing about Mr. Chauvin, is that he remorselessly peered into the video as if he wanted the entire world to know exactly what horrible deed was done. It literally made my blood boil and I often wondered what I would’ve, could’ve or should’ve done if I was in that predicament.