George Floyd's teacher says he always dreamed of becoming Supreme Court judge while revealing 2nd grade essay
Back when he was just eight years old, George Floyd dreamed of having a real impact on society by ensuring justice for American citizens. His aspirations were recently revealed by Waynel Sexton, who taught Floyd in 2nd grade at Frederick Douglass Elementary School in Texas.
Sexton shared an essay written by Floyd nearly 40 years ago in the wake of his tragic death in police custody. According to the teacher, the assignment was submitted at the end of Black History Month. "How will you impact the future? What will you do to make a difference?" Sexton asked her students at the time.
In response, Floyd expressed his dream of becoming a judge of the highest court in the country one day.
"When I grow up, I want to be a Supreme Court judge," he wrote in the essay, alongside a drawing visualizing his aspirations. "When people say, 'Your honor, he did rob the bank', I will say, 'Be seated.' And if he doesn't, I will tell the guard to take him out. Then I will beat my hammer on the desk. Then everybody will be quiet..."
Speaking to CNN's Brooke Baldwin, Sexton said she has retained her students' memories over the years in the form of their projects. She said Floyd's essay was one of her favorite memories of him.
"My heart breaks for his family," Sexton said. "How could we have known that the little boy, the little 8-year-old who drew this precious, delightful picture about justice and wanting to be justice, 38 years later his life would be taken. Sadly, I'm sure this isn't the way he envisioned being famous or bringing justice."
Sexton described Floyd, who went by his middle name "Perry" at the time, as a quiet kid who enjoyed spending time with his classmates and actively took part in all the singing and dancing done in class.
"He was a good boy," she continued. "He was a delight to have in the classroom."
The death of George Floyd has set off a string of emotions that have taken the form of a massive movement across the United States, as well as other parts of the world. As much as people have raised a hue and cry over another senseless killing of an unarmed black man, they were equally outraged by the manner in which he was killed.
In a viral video taken by a passerby on May 25, 46-year-old Floyd could be seen lying on streets with handcuffs on during his arrest as a Minneapolis cop, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck, almost crushing his head on the pavement underneath. “I can’t breathe,” Floyd says repeatedly in the footage. “Please. Please. Please. I can’t breathe. Please, man.” Bystanders also urge the officer to get off Floyd's neck but he refuses to listen. He keeps pressing on the spot for nearly nine minutes till Floyd loses unconsciousness and ultimately dies.
Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder and third-degree manslaughter. Recently, three other officers involved in the arrest — Tou Thao, Thomas Lane, and JA Kueng — were charged with aiding and abetting murder following nationwide outrage that they should be brought to justice as well. If convicted, all four officers face 40-year terms in prison.