Personal Reflection: “It is a Crucial Time in our Country’s History”
On June 7, 2020 a solidarity with Black Lives Matter Cicero Berwyn Walk was organized in response to the social unrest that unfolded in June 1, 2020 in Cicero. (Photo by April Alonso)
By Brenda Rodriguez
It has become evident that our country is not only facing a global health pandemic, but also a pandemic of racial discrimination that has been engraved in the history of this country with slavery and now it’s being shown in current issues of police brutality towards the African American community, such as the tragic death of George Floyd.
I remember seeing the name George Floyd trending on Twitter. The video of his murder was posted everywhere, but I decided that it was best to watch it when I was mentally ready. In the meantime, I only read headlines and briefly read through news articles about what had happened, but I knew to fully grasp what was happening, I had to watch the video.
I watched with tears in my eyes as Floyd was calling out for his mother and saying how he couldn’t breathe. I was angry and frustrated because Derek Chauvin didn’t stop what he was doing even when Floyd became unconscious. People who were watching also voiced their concerns, but the other officer, Tou Thao, just stood there and did nothing. I just hoped that they received charges and serve time for what they did. I began to sign as many petitions as I could and shared as much as I could to spread awareness on what happened in Minneapolis.
The days following George Floyd’s death, I had trouble sleeping because I was constantly watching the news and reading about the protests going on throughout the country. To cope with my anxiety, I found solace in physical activity and meditation. It was a time where I can stay away from my phone and focus and connect with my body. It’s important to take care of your mental health as well as your physical health because both mind and body react to stress and can take a toll on you.
I’ve found it so helpful to talk about how I’m feeling with friends. I had a conversation with one of my friends who wants to work in the medical field, and he told me that these systemic racial issues are evident in our current healthcare system and it affects how people have access to certain resources. This racial pandemic has shown there’s a dire need for police and criminal justice reform, but also reform in other important issues, such as healthcare and homelessness.
It is a crucial time in our country’s history, but also a time of healing and reflection.
Brenda Rodriguez grew up in Cicero and is a first-generation Latina college student at Dominican University in Riverforest, IL.
