WIDE ANGLE COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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It has been one year since the start of COVID-19. We've experienced a global pandemic, seen thousands of people rise up after the death of George Floyd, elected the first female and first African American/Asian American vice president through record voter turnout, lived through a (largely) white nationalist insurrectionist attack on government, and witnessed a sharp uptick in Anti-AAPI racism. Derek Chauvin's trial started last month and this week Daunte Wright, another Black man, was killed by the police. This is a unique, painful and complex moment in our history, where social progress and regression simultaneously push and pull at one another.  

We reached out to Wide Angle students, staff, board members and alumni with the opportunity to reflect on what this moment means and to offer our communications channels to share their thoughts. (Note: Responses were collected before Daunte Wright's murder and release of Adam Toledo's death.)

We received responses from ten people including three Students, three Staff Members, three Board Members (including a Board Member who is also an Alumni, Parent, and former Staff), and one Volunteer Committee Member. Individuals choose how they wanted their quotes to be attributed. 

Below are some of their responses:

Are you following the Dereck Chauvin case? Why/why not?

 

“I read highlights because to watch the trial in real time is overwhelming.”

– Day Hall, Wide Angle Board Member, Alumni, Parent, and former Staff Member

“Yes, but in real-time. It is very triggering to watch the tearful, eye-witness testimonies in a video format on the news but am reading a nightly recap of their statements”.

– Wide Angle Board Member

“No, because how can some defend someone who clearly murdered someone on camera? Also I just think it’s depressing and anxiety inducing to watch that trial. That is such a public issue and was a start of a crisis. Specifically if Dereck does not get sentenced which is a likely possibility.”'

– Carrie, Wide Angle Student

“I am following the Chauvin case because I think it is important to bear witness to this moment.”

– Wide Angle Staff Member

“A little bit, but not enough. I've heard about it here and there and was very invested when George Floyd was first murdered. These stories can be really bad for mental health though, especially as a black person in this country, so I have not gotten much into it recently because I am already not doing so well.”

– Indigo Turner, Wide Angle Student

 
 

What are your thoughts about the case? What do you hope will come from it? What, if anything, are you afraid will happen? Why?

 

“I was not brought on a jury member so I'm not even trying to attempt the type of neutrality that is asked of them. So I hope he is found guilty and I hope analysts won't proportion it as the 'end of racism' or the 'end of an era of shield of silence.'

This is my first time really following a case - and I find the court system to be interesting to say the least. Most of the time, I reflect on the criminal justice system at large, and what terms like 'neutrality' or 'impartial' mean in America.

I'm truly afraid that the case will end in a verdict of not-guilty on all or most charges. I think when you step into a role like a police officer or doctor or business person, you should become more responsible and accountable - not less so. I think if anyone else had done this to Mr. Floyd and I heard that there was a non-guilty verdict I'd be shocked. That's not so much the case this time around.”

– Wide Angle Staff Member

“I think Dereck Chavin is a racist murderer who deserves to be in jail. I hope he goes to jail for a long time for proper murder charges because there is no way u can kneel on someone's neck for 9 minutes unintentionally. I am un-hopeful honestly because of how often these cases happen without proper justice, but I'm trying to be optimistic.”

– Indigo Turner, Wide Angle Student

“I hope that people see, through the eyes of the witnesses, what is being allowed to happen.”

– Wide Angle Volunteer Committee Member

“I am hopeful that this case will set future legal precedents to hold individual officers accountable, but I am disappointed that it does not look at the larger systemic changes that need to occur. I am anxious that he will be acquitted on all charges (and feel there's a good chance that will happen), but this could be a moment that sparks change.”

– Moira Fratantuono, Wide Angle Staff Member

“History has proven that white men are the most protected in this country. I don't think justice will be served. I think chaos and community upset will occur post verdict.”

– Day Hall, Wide Angle Board Member, Alumni, Parent, and former Staff Member

 

Do you feel that meaningful progress towards racial justice has been made since George Floyd's death last spring? Why/why not?

 

“Yes we are getting closer, but there is still a very long way to go.”

– Wide Angle Student

“No! George Floyd isn't the first or last victim of police brutality. In order for there to be real change the judicial system would have to be uprooted and reconstructed.”

– Day Hall, Wide Angle Board Member, Alumni, Parent, and former Staff Member

“No, defunding police is not a wide thing across this country. They did barely anything to change policing.”

– Carrie, Wide Angle Student

“No- or it's too soon to tell. I think issues of racial injustice are more meaningfully recognized and have entered the public consciousness. But being conscious of an issue doesn't automatically equate with meaningful change or even meaningful mental shifts.”

– Wide Angle Staff Member

“In the justice system, not too much progress has been made. There is some community-level sea change happening with small-to-large businesses, teachers, public figures, etc. being more vocal about unequivocally condemning racism and hate crimes, but the laws are written with so many loopholes that real justice can't be achieved until those are re-written.”

– Wide Angle Board Member

“No, sadly. Because we are always reticent to lose what we white people have--as if it's a zero-sum game.”

– Wide Angle Volunteer Committee Member

“I think we are seeing public opinion shift - in some polls, a majority of Americans thought that Derek Chauvin committed murder and should be prosecuted, and more people seemed to be in support of the protests after the murder - but, we are still so far from an equitable society. We're struggling to convict a police officer who was filmed murdering another person. Even if justice is served in this instance, and even if opinion does shift in a meaningful way, there's endless other work to be done to make our society more just and equitable - work in education, housing, the economy, etc - to balance the scales after hundreds of years of racist institutional practices.”

– Wide Angle Staff Member

“Yes, many white people have become more involved in the BLM movement since George Floyd's death. It can also be a bad thing however, because there has been a lot more performative activism since it all happened.”

– Indigo Turner, Wide Angle Student

"‘Meaningful progress’ is hard. Yes, there is much greater awareness among white people across a range of issues around our racist history in the United States. There is also greater polarization and greater violence, but yes, I feel we are making progress.”

– Wide Angle Board Member

“I think conversations are being had and I see people hoping to make progress. These actions could be first steps, but whether or not they will be first steps towards progress (vs. many people returning to status quo/complacency) remains to be seen.”

– Moira Fratantuono, Wide Angle Staff Member

 
 

Is there anything else that you’d like to share?

 

“Intersectional activism > oppression olympics”

– Wide Angle Student

“I just want to wish everyone well as they process this. I try to think about Mr. Floyd's family and send positive thoughts their way.

Also, I am appreciative that this is framed as Dereck Chauvin's trial instead of George Floyd's trial. When Trayvon Martin was murdered, I remember it being commonly referred to as the Trayvon Martin case. Maybe that's more reflective of the spaces I've stepped into since then, maybe general rhetoric has changed... I'm not sure, but I am glad that is happening.”

– Wide Angle Staff Member

“At the end of the day, I'm hopeful, but prepared to be let down by [the United States] yet again.”

– Wide Angle Staff Member

 
 
 

Recommended Activists and social justice accounts to follow:

 

This list was generated from the ten participants in this reflection and is by no means an exhaustive list. Bolded accounts indicate that they are Baltimore based.

 
 

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Meet the author

Hannah Shaw is the Communications Specialist at WAYM. She is a multidisciplinary designer and received her BS in Marketing from UMD and MA in Social Design from MICA.

 
Wide Angle Youth Media