George Floyd
Artist Name: Ashley Rubin
Artist Statement
In the world, as we know it has changed from the pandemic that occurred worldwide. We went through a world wind that changed our lives. As much as we want to believe things are the same, it’s just not. It’ll take various adjustments for us to be back to normal. As for now this is our new normal that well have to live with until everything falls back to where it was from before. But then again, it’ll take us the people to make that happen. The world we live in today everyone has their own views and perceptions on things they do and why they do it. With both a pandemic and Black Lives movement across the country made everyone more stressed than ever because reality was out on the spotlight showing us everything in our faces. This is mainly why we chose to do our monument on this topic and its effect on the world.
We all wish that we can go back to how our lives was before this historic turning point in society. The COVID pandemic shook the world as soon as it hit the tri-state area. I remember when the city was like ghost town. You can literally hear a pen drop, that’s how quiet it was. If you know the city as I know you know it is known as the city that never sleeps. The city is known for being loud, a vast amount of people moving up and down all day and night. So, for this pandemic to come and have us all quiet and shacked up inside you just know it’s real and scary to admit that this is reality. There were nights were all I heard was ambulance, police cars and fire fighter all night. Not like on a regular day you’ll hear it, but that now you can hear it all day and night straight.
Along with this pandemic it left many without jobs and made them very vulnerable. About almost everyone all over the world had to depend on government assistants, unemployment, and others helps that was provided to them. Some families had to wait in their cars in line just to collect good to feed their families. Unemployment is what most people had to depend on because they didn’t have nothing to lean on. The pandemic left people hopeless that things they’ve never done they had to do it. Government helped people get into homes so that they can rest their head for the time being. The pandemic causes a lot of people to stress, anxiety, depression and more. Being locked inside for quarantine had a negative effect on people mentally and physically. Also, many people had to be separated from family members and do everything from far. With restrictions being 6ft and not being able to hug your love ones was rough. Doing everything through facetime wasn’t like how you’d regularly would do it. This was the only how you’d see someone you haven’t seen in a long time.
Unlike the pandemic, crime rates started to spike as months are going by and why are still locked inside. With people shooting at others, robbery, etc. You would think being in your own home would make you relaxed, rather than wanting to go outside and work to take care of things. People all across the country is known for going out to work to provide for their families and make sure things are where they’re supposed to be. Protest across America started to make headlines all weeks, same as the pandemic. Protest led to people all over to loot stores across the world. Damage businesses that they’ve worked hard to build. Police started to brutally beat or even kill black people of color over various of reasons that could’ve been resolved a proper way. With cops killing Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, etc. had took over the news channels. However, the George Floyd killing is what really had the world on a stand still. Literally watching the officer place his knee on Floyd need on live Tv makes you want to cry for him likes he’s your own brother. Watching him fight for his life on Tv and the police not caring because of the color of his skin was sickening. He didn’t deserve to go out like this, he was someone’s brother, father, uncle etc.
In addition to this, George Floyd is the whole reason we decided to do our monument on Black Lives Matter and the pandemic. We collectively in the group felt like Floyd is the face of the movement because it really showed the world that racism still exist and that being black is looked at as a crime. Our deepest sympathy is with the family of George Floyd and we pray that they’ll find time to collect themselves from that sad event. Many years, racism have existed but to see it live on Tv repeatedly was just jaw dropping, and not the right way of doing things. Police are supposed to protect us but instead they’re killing us for no reason. Our monument we wanted to let our look at monument and remember the history behind it and all the negative vs the positive. Our monument is so big displayed so that itll be hard to miss it, you’ll have to go watch and read it.
In conclusion, with the pandemic and black lives movement it led to a year like no other. Between last year and this year, it’s very hard to not remember what happened those years. With being locked into protest, and crime spike really took a toll on the economy and everyone’s mental health. To leave off on a good note our plaque by Assata Shakur states, “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains”. This quote means to continue to fight, life wouldn’t always be easy, you’ll face many obstacles to
