© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
KCUR 89.3 and 41 Action News examine George Floyd’s legacy, one year later.

At A Kansas City Barbershop, Six Black Men Share How They Processed George Floyd's Death

41 Action News Anchor Kevin Holmes holds a roundtable discussion one year after George Floyd's death.
KSHB
41 Action News Anchor Kevin Holmes holds a roundtable discussion one year after George Floyd's death.

41 Action News brought together six Black men for a roundtable discussion about the day George Floyd was killed, their own mental health and how to heal as a community.

May 25, 2020. When first hearing that date, people might not think much about it. But many around the world will never forget the name George Floyd.

That was the day he was killed, sparking protests, immense grief, anger and calls for change. But some saw more than Floyd – some saw themselves.

In this roundtable discussion, 41 Action News brought together six Black men, including anchor Kevin Holmes, to talk about that day, their own mental health and how to move forward.

Participants in this discussion included Kansas City, Missouri, Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell; Niwa Babayemi a doctoral candidate of counseling psychology; Pastor Armour Stephenson III, City of Truth Church in KCMO; Retired Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department Officer Steve Williams; and former NBA Player and Head Coach Earl Watson.

The conversation ended perhaps how it should’ve started – every head bowed, every eye closed in prayer, led by Stephenson.

“Lord, we just thank you for this opportunity," Stephenson said. "We thank you for all these brothers and sisters who are here. We’re just sharing our hearts and our perspectives and ultimately our lives. And we thank you for our stories. Each and every person in here has a story.”

Some of those stories are intertwined, like Watson and Williams. Watson, a former professional athlete and coach, grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, where Williams patrolled his neighborhood.

“For me growing up, I wasn’t afraid of him (Officer Williams)," Watson said. “I was afraid of him telling my mama. Take me to jail, don’t tell my mama.”

Everyone heard Floyd call for his mother, moments before his final breath.

This group of community leaders gathered at the one place where no discussion is off limits – the barbershop. We talked about that moment in time, cemented in each of our brains; how we process it; the trauma associated with it and how we heal individually, and as a community.

Kevin Holmes: Walk me through that day, one year ago, when you heard about what happened. When you saw the video and what went on in your mind?

Dr. Mark Bedell: We’ve seen that pattern play out time and time again. And I think as a leader of a system where kids are seeing this and they’re having to go back and ask, why does this continue to happen? And we took that approach that in our school district. We will no longer condone those kinds of practices and stand silent.

Pastor Armour Stephenson III: I think for me, when that took place, I immediately got an onslaught of, "Pastor, what’s going on? Why does this keep happening?"

Holmes: How do you (pastor) answer those questions?

Stephenson: I’m letting people know that God has not ignored that. But God has already dealt with that. And our responsibility is to put faith and trust in that, knowing that all things will be made right in the end.

Earl Watson: I needed that, pastor, because for me, I was froze.

This story is part of 9:29 — The Minutes That Moved Kansas City, a KCUR 89.3 and 41 Action News collaboration about the legacy of George Floyd.

KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
Your donation helps keep nonprofit journalism free and available for everyone.