Five Years On: Remembering George Floyd and Asking—What Has Changed?

Today marks five years since George Floyd was murdered by a white police officer in broad daylight.

His death was witnessed by millions. It sparked global protests and a collective reckoning around race, justice, and human dignity.

In my book Understanding and Dealing with Everyday Racism: The Six Stages Framework, I wrote:

“George Floyd was the name of the man who was killed, and his death sparked worldwide protests and condemnation. Many questioned how something like this could happen in broad daylight with such an apparent disregard for the value of a person’s life, simply because they had a different skin colour – disregard for the life of a black man.”(M’gadzah, 2022)

I also wrote:

“I am still haunted by the news footage of George Floyd’s tragic murder which shows him gasping for breath on the ground, and by the protests that followed around the world. As a psychologist interested in human behaviour, I truly believe that: Without empathy and compassion, we are nothing but animals.”(M’gadzah, 2020)

George Floyd’s murder—committed while others looked on, including children and fellow officers—was more than a single act of violence. It was a manifestation of systemic injustice and historical trauma. It forced the world to look at itself, and for many of us, it demanded we speak up, act, and reflect more deeply than ever before.

The officer responsible, Derek Chauvin, was sentenced to 22.5 years—yet many felt the sentence failed to reflect the severity and inhumanity of the crime, particularly when viewed through the lens of racial disparity in justice.

“It is clear from recent events, and in particular the killing of George Floyd, that Black people in both the USA and UK are reacting to historical trauma and the impact of years of police brutality and social injustice.”(M’gadzah, 2022)

Today, I find myself asking:🔸 What have we truly learned since 25 May 2020?🔸 What meaningful change have we seen in our systems, our workplaces, our communities?🔸 How are we honouring George Floyd’s legacy—not just in word, but in action?🔸 And how are we holding space for the continuing grief, anger, and hope of those who live this reality every day?

If you're reflecting today and want to explore these themes further, I gently invite you to read more about the Six Stages Framework and my reflections in Understanding and Dealing with Everyday Racism.📘 [Link to book: 📖 https://amzn.eu/d/0DQGxg9]

Let us remember. Let us reflect.And let us never stop striving for justice and dignity for all.

#GeorgeFloyd #RacialJustice #SystemicRacism #DEI #SixStagesFramework #Empathy #HumanDignity #Antiracism #Psychology #EverydayRacism

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