Leaders must learn from this incident and convert the philosophy of “Black Lives Matter” into policy
KARACHI: The death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed black man who died in police custody, has not only sparked protests all over the US but also brought to surface the longstanding social and economic inequality that African Americans face across the country.
From education to employment, African Americans remain at a disadvantage in almost all spheres of life. Despite African Americans constituting 13% of the adult US population, only 41% of them own houses as compared to 72% of white citizens, as per the National Association of Realtors. In addition, while the average income of Non-Hispanic white males is around $171,000 per year, the average income for black households stand at $17,100. This is because deep-rooted prejudice against people of colour has often resulted in them facing severe consequences. According to a research, black adults are 5 times more likely to end up in jail as compared to their white equivalents. Besides, black women are 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues as compared to white women. These struggles represent a strong history of discrimination that exists against the black community in the American society.
Though the police officer responsible for Floyd’s killing has been charged with third-degree murder, the root cause of the issue needs to be addressed. Leaders must learn from this incident and convert the philosophy of “Black Lives Matter” into policy in order to protect their rights. Governments need to keep a check on police behaviour and take serious action in the case of any negligence or brutality. It is time for the world to express solidarity with the black community, collectively fight discrimination and strive for a world free from racism.
Nayab Iqbal
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2020.
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