At this time last year, the nation was reeling in response to the murder of George Floyd. City after city saw protests, including Chicago. A year later, Derek Chauvin has been found guilty of Floyd’s killing, but what else has changed? Black and brown people are still dying at the hands of police officers, and though the country is no longer in tumult, the trauma is still there, still real. Last year, the baiduhai’s “Faces of Change” series introduced readers to everyday people who were motivated to organize. Now we’re looking at how those people are faring in a world that, to so many, doesn’t feel any different. Here are some of the “Faces of Change,” one year later.
Ferrai Pickett
After George Floyd was murdered, she went to work cranking out buttons with social justice slogans. Then, out of tragic necessity, she added more designs to the mix: “Justice for Ahmaud.” “Justice for George.” “Justice for Breonna.” She launched an Etsy page and filled orders from across the world, donating the proceeds to Black-owned business that were harmed during last summer’s looting. And now she is a mother.
Sydney Jackson
After helping to organize rallies following the murder of George Floyd, their activism is taking a more internal, more positive turn, toward a path of joyful healing. Events will be organized that celebrate self-love through actions such as dance. That they are doing this while also finishing off a double major at the University of Chicago is impressive.
Eva Maria Lewis
Since last year, she has launched a nonprofit called Free Root Operation, which looks to combat gun violence through compassion and opportunity. Part of Free Root is a child outreach program that includes “peace rooms,” places where schoolchildren who are acting out can seek calm rather than be punished.
Lexie Pitter
After the murder of George Floyd, the Chicago resident adopted a “no sleep, seven days a week” motto, but this took a toll on her, mentally and physically. This year she is focused on healing. The work is still getting done, but the mindfulness is different. She’s still delivering food, but is also part of an effort to set up safe spaces on the West Side, with Pull Up The City.
Brianna Hull
The killing of Louisville resident Breonna Taylor was what kick-started activism for Hull, who even coordinated a counter protest against a Back the Blue rally in her college town. Some of that work also included lectures about transforming words into action when it comes to white allyship, and speaking to high school students about activism and how they can get involved.
Sharonda Roberson
The murder of George Floyd made this Aurora attorney go on an accelerated plan. Her 10-year goals got compressed into 2. A person who never saw herself as someone who would be on the front lines, calling for change and making a difference, wound up being in that place, doing exactly that. And she’s still organiziing, including helping spark the installation of a police oversight board in Aurora.
LaSaia Wade
Derek Chauvin might have been convicted, but little has changed for this firebrand. Black people are still dying at the hands of police, who are mostly going unpunished. But Wade, despite it all, has more joy now because of her 8-month-old son, and the focus has shifted to protecting that joy, that child from the outside world.