The unfortunate and tragic death of George Floyd has left most of America reeling. Those who've seen the video have felt disturbed over the events that happened on May 25. The sad reality is, police mistreatment of black people is not an isolated incident. A disproportionate number of deaths caused by police happen to the black community. That's why people are starting to riot. We can't keep living in a world that allows such racist and cruel acts to continue forward.
George Floyd was by all accounts an honest man. While he did have some charges from over a decade ago, he had served his time and moved forward. He was a valued member of his community, and his family thought the world of him.
"Knowing my brother is to love my brother," Philonise Floyd, George's brother, told CNN. "He's a gentle giant, he don't hurt anybody."
George, who was only 46 when he died, reportedly moved to Minneapolis for a better life. Instead, he brutally lost his life after being suspected of passing a counterfeit $20 bill. He deserves to be alive right now, just like the other black members of the community who weren't given a fair chance. These incidents happen every day. It's just that sometimes, a camera isn't rolling to catch it and share it with the wider community.
While it's mostly important to hear about what George's friends and family had to say about him, it's also important for celebrities — especially celebrity parents — to weigh in. Even if they didn't know him personally, many are familiar with his story. And a lot of them happen to know the pain of having a disadvantage solely for not being white. But mostly? They have a platform to get the message across to millions.
One of the most outspoken celebrities has been Beyoncé. The singer and powerhouse businesswoman made a point to share her opinions on Instagram. "We need justice for George Floyd," she said. "We all witnessed his murder in broad daylight. We're broken and we're disgusted. We can not normalize this pain."
While not a mom just yet, it's very important to recognize the work of Billie Eilish. Even though the star is just 18 years old, she seems to have a really good head on her shoulders about what's happening right now. She posted a long Instagram speech about why saying "all lives matter" at a time like this is offensive.
"This is not about you," she said. "Stop making everything about you. You are not in need. You are not in danger." She went so far as to say that saying "all lives matter" is much like giving a Band-Aid to everyone without a cut before they are actually bleeding. That comparison is truly a strong one.
She's also been quick to share reputable places where fans can donate to those in need. "If you want to help and you don't know how, swipe for some things you can do to SPEAK UP," she said. She showcased photos that include texting FLOYD to 55156 and donating directly to Black Lives Matter.
Billie's activism is especially important since she's so young. It proves that the next generation is motivated to eradicate this issue altogether. However, some of the extremely emotional celebrities who've supported George Floyd and this movement have been parents. It's important to remember that George Floyd was someone's child.
Seeing the pictures of Floyd as a baby were a harsh reminder that we all start out at the same place. While our socioeconomic situation may differ, we're all born innocent. And George had a family who loved him so much. Chrissy Teigen was touched by this factor, and she made sure to donate. However, she took an interesting — yet still very important — angle on her donation.
Chrissy currently has two children with her husband, John Legend. She has donated $200,000 to help bail out the protesters who were arrested for going out and supporting the change. "I stand with our heroes out there in support and solidarity," she said on Instagram. "If you don’t know what else to do, every little bit helps."
As a mom, Kylie Jenner admitted that she's scared for her infant daughter, Stormi. "Since watching the most devastating and completely heartbreaking video showing the murder of George Floyd earlier this week, I haven't been able to get his face and his words out of my mind," she said. She noted that this is a very important issue that won't just go away.
"I'll never personally experience the pain and fear that many black people around the country go through every day, but I know nobody should have to live in fear and nobody deserves a death like George Floyd and too many others," she continued. Since Kylie has a great reach on Instagram, it's important that she use her platform for such an important message.
Gabrielle Union, who's married to Dwyane Wade, also donated some money. Together, they have child Kaavia James Union Wade, who was born in 2018. Dwyane also has children from a prior relationship. Gabrielle has also been posting on Twitter about other victims who deserve recognition.
Actor Kerry Washington has been very protective of her personal life, but she is the mom of two — Isabelle and Caleb. She's also been active online, reminding all of her followers to "breathe." The term references George Floyd, as his inability to breathe was one of the last things he told the police officer who is now charged with his murder.
Yoga and meditation won't bring back George or the others who have died. But it's a good way to memorialize all of the lives we've senselessly lost and focus our energy to handle this situation as powerfully as we can. It's just another way that celebrities are helping in any way they can.
Blake Lively also made a poignant statement on Instagram, making sure to let people know that she's raising her daughters in a respectful way. "We're committed to raising our kids so they never grow up feeding this insane pattern and so they'll do their best to never inflict pain on another being consciously or unconsciously," she wrote. "It's the least we can do to honor not just George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Eric Garner, but all the black men and women who have been killed when a camera wasn't rolling."
Not only are these celebrities using their platform to raise awareness for one of the biggest issues in our world right now. They're also using it to say that the hatred and racism will no longer continue with their children. Hopefully, the world becomes a kinder world someday. But until that day, we need to do everything we can to fight for change.
