Debra Baines shouts George Floyd's name from the median of Cullen Road, as she watched the remains of George Floyd brought to Silverlake Community Church to be transferred to a horse-drawn carriage on June 9, 2020, in Pearland, Texas.

When editors asked me to write about George Floyd's murder and what it means today, five years later, my response was quick and emphatic: No.

I had nothing more to say.

I'm honored that Houston Chronicle editors believe my opinion matters and respect my journalistic and storytelling abilities. I have turned down very few assignments in my career, but this was different. The mere thought of writing a column to commemorate the anniversary of the horrific death of a Black man that we witnessed worldwide had me emotionally exhausted........

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