DAC: Victim or Victor Reclaiming the Rhetoric After Floyd, Wright, and Taylor.

Welcome back to Da Urban Conservative, where we dig deep into the truth, unfiltered. Today’s episode centers on a question that every one of us faces at some point: Are we victims or victors in our own stories?
With George Floyd, Daunte Wright, and Breonna Taylor back in mainstream media, it feels like we’re living in a loop. Same stories, different day. But what’s changed? Has anything truly shifted in how we see these tragedies, in how we process the injustices, or how we empower ourselves and our communities to move forward?
Let’s start by breaking down what it means to be a victim versus a victor. See, everyone has a story. The difference is how you use it. Do you let your story define you as powerless? Or do you use it to rise, to fuel your own empowerment? When we talk about Floyd, Wright, and Taylor, we’re talking about deep wounds, real trauma. Communities that have been hit over and over by systemic racism, by brutality, by a justice system that still struggles to deliver justice for all.
But here’s the thing: while these stories are painful, we have a choice in how we react to them. Many will say the system wants us to stay victims, to internalize that trauma until it becomes part of our identity. But is that what we want? To be stuck in a cycle where the only role we play is that of the oppressed?
George Floyd’s death sparked global protests, shaking up a system that’s been resistant to change for centuries. But have the reforms followed through? In some places, yes. In others, it’s the same old story: police budgets remain untouched, and accountability feels like a distant dream. Daunte Wright’s killing, almost a year after Floyd, was another reminder that the fight isn’t over, that our victories are often met with new battles. Breonna Taylor’s name still echoes as a call for justice, a reminder of the lives interrupted without consequence.
But here’s the important part: do we remain victims of these systems, or do we take the stories of Floyd, Wright, and Taylor and turn them into tools of empowerment? The system wants us divided, demoralized, and detached from the belief that real change is possible. But look at the people who have come together, the movements that have sprung up across the country, demanding not just reforms but a complete reimagining of public safety. That’s power.
It’s not just about being reactive; it’s about being proactive. We can’t wait for the next tragedy to spark outrage. We have to push for systemic change before the next headline hits. Floyd’s murder shouldn’t be the last time the streets are filled with people demanding justice. Wright and Taylor’s names shouldn’t fade from our memories just because the news cycle moves on. We can be victors by taking control of the narrative, pushing for legislation, reforming police accountability, and demanding transparency in our legal system.
Some will ask, “What’s changed?” And the answer is that not enough has. Yes, conversations are happening in the mainstream that were once reserved for backroom talks, and yes, certain cities have made efforts to rethink policing. But there’s a long way to go.
We have to own this fight. We can’t afford to let the stories of these individuals be reduced to hashtags and soundbites. They’re reminders of the systemic racism and violence that we face, but they’re also calls to action. Victimhood isn’t a permanent state unless we allow it to be. A victor’s mindset is one that takes control, one that challenges the narrative of helplessness and builds something better.
Let’s talk about solutions. Ending qualified immunity, defunding police budgets to reinvest in communities, creating civilian review boards with real power to hold officers accountable—these are steps toward victory. But we also have to look at ourselves and ask how we’re contributing to the change we want to see. Are we voting in every election, from local sheriffs to the president? Are we putting pressure on our representatives to pass meaningful legislation? Are we holding our leaders accountable when they fail us?
The media cycle will move on, but we can’t. If we choose the path of the victor, we keep pushing forward. George Floyd, Daunte Wright, and Breonna Taylor aren’t just symbols; they’re real people who deserved better. And we owe it to them, and to ourselves, to keep fighting for the day when justice isn’t an exception, but the rule.
So as we look at what’s changed, we also need to look at what we need to change. Do we want to be a generation that only reacted, or a generation that rewrote the narrative? The choice is ours.
Thanks for tuning into Da Urban Conservative. Stay informed, stay engaged, and remember, we control the story. See you next time.