What is going on behind the George Floyd protest?

The United Kingdom’s and the United States of America’s (also Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden) history is specifically rooted in the enslavement of black people and the slave trade, no matter how much some people try to whitewash the history. 

Most of these nations also had colonies which pillaged, raped, and abused black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) countries too. At certain points of history, what we now consider as racist and inhumane acts were perfectly legal and moral.

Despite best efforts of many, some people in those countries still hold onto these beliefs; and practice in plain sight like Chauvin, or most often hidden behind layers of disguise like Amy Cooper (ie racial discrimination in education, social mobility, professional employment, etc), the latter experienced at some point in Western countries by all BAME people. 

It’s not surprising to me that George Floyd’s tragedy is resonating with people in the above countries, and the countries which were subjugated. Hence, this has cut through internationally and has the potential to be a sustained global movement for change.

One major turning point in this outrage is that finally, many young white people (Millennials and Gen X) without direct lived experiences are also outraged enough to join the street protests. 

That didn’t happen in Rodney King or the major race riots in the UK or USA in the 1960s and is therefore noteworthy and something to be hopeful about. #BlackLivesMatter

Toffael Rashid is a global marketing professional.