By Maya Mukherjee, aged 14
Maya is my cousin’s daughter. She wrote this article for her school who felt it was too political to publish, so we’re publishing it here.
As you all may know, on 25th May 2020 an African American man named George Floyd was brutally murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis. He was handcuffed and pushed onto the floor. The knee of the officer was placed onto George Floyd’s neck, consequently killing him. The officer, Derek Chauvin, a white man, was charged with third degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Unfortunately, this is common; however most of the time the officer does not get charged with any crime.
George Floyd is one of the many innocent black lives that were taken from this world by the police. Other examples include Keith Childress, Bettie Jones, Michael Lee Marshal Kevin Mathews, Michael Noel and Eric Garner. This is only a handful of the names. This must stop. People assume that just because of the Civil Rights Movement 52 years ago that racial oppression has stopped. This is false. Slavery has stopped, but racism is present to this day. White privilege still exists and we need to make a change. All lives matter when black lives matter. Let’s make a change right now.
By staying silent in times of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. Do your part by helping! As Martin Luther King said “Don’t judge a person by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
Sign the petition https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
Donate: https://blacklives.help/
Sales Director at Kiss The Fish Ltd
Like many people, I had no idea what career path I wanted to follow after graduating. I tried marketing initially, but when I saw an opportunity in sales, I tried it and found I preferred the more direct role of selling. My career progressed through a range of technology companies, from smaller companies, to larger corporations. I reached the role of Global Vice-President of Sales & Marketing in a tech corporation, then decided it was time for a change. I ditched the commute and joined a SaaS company in Brighton. I knew I wanted to do something useful with my new-found free time, so I started mentoring girls for a charity, and attended several Brighton Digital Women events. The more I found out, I knew I wanted to get involved. I joined the team in December 2019 and I love the solidarity, team-work and friendship of this inspiring group of women.
Thank you Maya. Girls like you make me hope, and believe, that our future will be safe in your hands.
Brilliant writing Maya!
So clear and full of facts and useful information. You will change the world xxx
Maya you’re a true inspiration for so many people. You write with such passion and empathy about the cruelty of human beings with each other and the injustice of our society. It’s young people like you that are the hope for a better future. Thank you Maya.
Maya ,
Thankyou for your clear, factual writting , there’s a bit too much out there for me to figure out what to share with my 7 and 9 year old but you have helped because now l will share your words with them , Thankyou 🙂
Thank you Maya for this article. It is reassuring to hear such a clear and thoughtful account. You make me hopeful that change will come with young people like yourself adding their voices 👏🏾
Maya, thank you so much for sharing your thought-provoking and inspirational words with us.
This is absolutely brilliant Maya. Thank you for writing it, it’s really powerful.
Thank you, Maya, that’s so well put: keep writing about things that matter.