Darnella Frazier never recorded a video of George Floyd’s death, which saved Derek Chauvin in prison. If she refuses a cousin’s request, walk to the store.
Her cousin Judeah Reynolds, 9, wanted to buy snacks but was too young to walk alone.(Witness at Derek Chauvin’s trial writes a book)Reynolds insisted, and Frazier finally agreed to walk. Both Reynolds and Frazier would soon be immersed in history.
On Friday, the day Floyd will celebrate his 49th birthday, Reynolds published a book about what she saw and how to help children deal with the traumatic event.
In her book “A Walk to the Store,” Reynolds writes: “When we arrived at the store we saw something bad At first we didn’t know what was going on. But we know it’s wrong. My cousin uses her phone to make videos.”
“I kept thinking about it and felt very sad,” Reynolds added in the book. “It’s hard for me to sleep. When I sleep, I have nightmares. When I wake up from a terrible dream, my mother hugs me, hugging makes me feel better.”
Included in the book are worksheets with questions and exercises to help children. Process the traumatic event. For example, the manual recommends keeping it the same. Children who have experienced a disruptive traumatic event need normalcy and routine. It also says to use honest language and seek professional help if things don’t get better.
Reynolds, now 11, was shocked when she saw her first book.
“I said, ‘That’s me.’ It was amazing,” she told CNN as she captioned the cover of a book in which she was wearing a teal green shirt with the word love written on it. It looked like the shirt she wore on Floyd’s obituary.
When asked how many copies she plans to sell, she replied “1 billion.” Yes, she knows that’s a lot of copies.
Reynolds said she had the idea to write the book from another kid – Cameron Brandidge – who used the power of storytelling to educate people about autism.
“She inspired me to write a book. I saw her book the day I met her and I was like. “I would like that too,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds tells her story to mother of entrepreneur and activist Cameron Chevletta Brundidge. Brundidge, who has authored three children’s books based on her children’s experiences, is an advocate for representation in media and literature. Reynolds said she received Cameron’s book from Brundidge.
“And that was the first time she saw a little girl on the cover of a book whose main character looks like her, hair like her, nose like her, skin like her, and that’s why we have to say representation. It’s important,” Brundidge said.
Reynolds was the youngest witness to testify at the trial against Chauvin, who was found. 3 offenses In the murder of Floyd, Reynolds asked her father the meaning of the guilt on the day of the verdict. Today she has her own definition.
“It means when you lie and they reveal your truth,” she said.
Outrage over the incident has sparked international protests against police violence. while raising the level of national dialogue on race and social injustice.
The four officers involved in Floyd’s death were fired and charged.
Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane were found guilty. It violated Floyd’s civil rights. Thao and Kung were also found guilty of additional federal charges earlier this year. because he failed to intervene to stop Chou Win. Thao and Kung were sentenced to three and a half years in prison and three years in federal prison respectively.
Thao-Kung is also facing a state trial. on charges of assisting and supporting second-degree murder and assisting and supporting second-degree murder. They have pleaded not guilty.
Lily Coyle is the owner of Beaver’s Pond Press, the publishing company behind Reynolds’ books. Coyle says she doesn’t want to tell the story. She’s trying to find a way to tell a story that isn’t broken.
“It’s a commendable burden. It’s good to work. But it was very painful,” she said. “How many other children have watched the video or witnessed the traumatic event? whether in person or online.”
The illustrator donated her time. Others agreed to either take it later or give them a gift. Coyle said they were responsible for all costs associated with producing the book and paying Reynolds 60% of the profits. While Coyle and Brandidge wrote a session with Reynolds. They waited for clarity on the direction of the book.
“I don’t want children’s books in a world that hurts children or makes life harder for people. It must be a healing tool. And we want to bring elegance to this horrible situation,” Coyle said. Understand that bad things really happen, but there are many good people in the world. see bad things But don’t get stuck with it. You can be a part of the good instead of letting the flames of the bad and letting it burn you.”
Nearly two years later, the pain is still raging. Creative KuponyaIt’s not just children who need help processing traumatic events. Witness at Derek Chauvin’s trial writes a book
The mental health practice is just a few blocks from what is known as George Floyd Square. Mental health experts say that about 85% of the clients he treats from the practices he tells his wife say are black. On average They treat about 120 patients identified as youth (ages 7 to 24) every year. said he saw children, lawyers and professional athletes, including players from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Covid and George Floyd aggravated what was already there. After George Floyd, our numbers quadrupled. We’ve hired three new doctors. And we still cannot meet the demand,” he told CNN. “As a black male doctor I actually saw a black man come to the table. And this is in contrast to the stigma of being relegated – 95% of my clients are black men. If you build it, they will come.”
Stamschort-Lott It says research shows that 90% of successful treatments are related to the power of relationships. And Reynolds’ books are one way to help the community. Stamschort-Lott Said adults should give children space to act and allow them to share their feelings.
That’s part of why Reynolds plans to distribute about 150 books on Friday to students at the Josie R. Johnson Montessori School in Minneapolis.Witness at Derek Chauvin’s trial writes a book
Reynolds said by sharing her story. She learned that she could help make things better. She told CNN that she wanted other children to Those who may have survived the traumatic experience come to believe they can too.
“I was too young to walk alone to the store,” she said at the end of the book. “But I am old and brave enough to make things better in a very big way.”
