Following the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota, protests against racist police violence flooded the streets of every borough in New York City, and continue to this day. Our photographers have been out documenting the historic moment, which is part of a larger national, youth-driven movement working to defund the police and end systemic racism. With hundreds of photos, we asked New York City teens to choose one that resonated with them, and write about it. Below is a piece from Tevelle Taylor, a 17-year-old from Brooklyn, who attends Benjamin Banneker Academy. You can follow him @tevelletaylor.
WHAT I SEE
I Am That Fast-Paced Heartbeat At The Encounter Of Police
I Am That Shock Welcomed Into The Mind Of The Majority When The Black Man Can Pronounce His Words Correctly
I Am That Last Breath Taken By George Floyd
I Am That Anger Aroused At Every Melanated Achievement
I Am That Unopened Pack Of Skittles & Arizona Drink
I AM
I Am Suspicion When Two Or More Black People Are Gathered Together
I Am The Loss Of Gravity That Compels The Arms Of Black Men To Float, In An Effort To Cease Intimidation
I Am That Relief After Hearing The Metal *Click* Of The Handcuffs Cutting Off The Circulation Of Every Innocent Black Man's Wrist
I Am The Sorrow Felt By The Little Black Boy When His Parents Tell Him That He Can’t Play Cops & Robbers
I AM
I Am The Slowing Down Of Black Body Movement When Being Spoken To By The Men In Blue
I Am The Confusion Awakened After Seeing A Black Man Knowledgeable In His Rights
I Am The Sharp Pain, Inflicted By The Cops, Giving Him A Reason To Shoot A “Resister”
I Am The Gravitational Force That Sinks The Hearts Of Black Mothers When They Hear That Their Son Became A Gun Target
I Am The Unfinished Jog
I Am The "Strange Fruit"
I Am The Antonym Of Privilege
