 |
Another
week upon us and I need some good news to get things pumping, and I found it in
Darnella Frazier. She
was the young woman who recorded a police officer, aided and abetted by other police
officers, murder George Floyd. She stood on that sidewalk with her cell phone filming
the entire gruesome vile episode in one single shot, and I believe it was her video
that most convinced the jury to find Derek Chauvin guilty of murder. And
now the Pulitzer Board—yes, that Pulitzer—has
given Darnella Frazier a special citation for the video that she says has haunted her since that
day in May last year. The citation at the 2021 Pulitzer Prize ceremony is a
rare instance of the board recognizing the journalistic achievement of someone
with no professional experience in the field, something dubbed “citizen
journalism”. The Pulitzer Board called Darnella Frazier an example of “the
crucial role of citizens in journalists’ quest for truth and justice” and
recognized her recording as a “transformative video that jolted viewers and
spurred protests against police brutality around the world.” And
finally held a police officer fully accountable in the murder of a Black
American. Her
video has been compared to the video—made by George Holliday—of Rodney King
being beaten by LA police officers during a 1991 traffic stop, and the video of
a New York City police officer—filmed by Ramsey Orta—choking Eric Garner to
death for celling “loose” cigarettes. Darnella
Frazier was also awarded the 2020
Benenson Courage Award from PEN America, presented to her by filmmaker Spike
Lee. On
the first anniversary of Floyd’s murder, Darnella Frazier wrote about the
lingering trauma in a message on Facebook. “A
lot of people call me a hero even though I don’t see myself as one. I was just
in the right place at the right time. Behind this smile, behind these awards, behind
the publicity, I’m a girl trying to heal from something I am reminded of every
day.” Darnella
Frazier, in her own way, has started a healing in this country and so, yeah, I’d
call her a hero. |
Monday, June 14, 2021
Citizen Journalist Darnella Frazier Honored by Pulitzer Board
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I am not surprised that Darnella Fraser daily thinks about that incident she viewed and recorded in the interest of justice. I hope she has professional help in healing from a horrendous experience I could only watch a couple of minutes of the incident because it was so inhumane and sadistic. I hope that time will aid her.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Helen. When I first heard of this (I couldn't watch) I thought "That poor girl is going to need therapy or at the very least counseling".
ReplyDeleteSuch a lot of weight for a young woman to carry.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how she did it.
ReplyDeleteIt's historical, because it literally changed the course of that trial. Without that video evidence, the policemen who killed Floyd would have gone free. But what a high price to pay.
I'm sure most of the people who witnessed the killing of George Floyd have PTSD.
XOXO
My heart feels for her given what she witnessed and has to live with for the rest of her life. But so grateful to people like her for not turning away. She IS a hero.
ReplyDeleteThis is what happens when you become a voice of reason.
ReplyDeleteAn honour that is WELL DESERVED! She was very brave to record while facing threats from the police.
ReplyDeleteYes, an honor, and hope the very
ReplyDeletebest for her going forward.
xoxo :-)
Agreed -- as a former journalist myself I worry about "citizen journalism" and the ease with which information can be distorted in the wrong hands. But Ms. Frazier showed how to do it right, presenting it in context and in its entirety.
ReplyDelete