Black author 'implores' white people to have difficult conversations about race - because their 'discomfort' will never match the pain black people have suffered
- Founder of Make Motherhood Diverse Candice Brathwaite appeared on Lorraine
- Candice Brathwaite, Milton Keynes, penned book 'I am Not your Baby Mother'
- Spoke of incident with six-year-old daughter Esme who was ostracised at school
- Says she encourages white people to broach issue of race with their children
An author 'implores' white people to have difficult conversations about race because their 'discomfort' will never match the pain of black people who have suffered at the hands of systematic racism.
Candice Brathwaite, Milton Keynes, is an author and founder of Make Motherhood Diverse – an online initiative that aims to encourage a more accurately representative and diverse depiction of motherhood.
Appearing on GMB today, the activist spoke about George Floyd, 46, who died in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25th after US police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck while he lay handcuffed on the ground.
She explained that there is 'no measure' of discomfort when it comes to having difficult conversations about racism, after black people were forced to see a video which surfaced of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes.
George Floyd, 46, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25th after having his neck crushed by US police officer Derek Chauvin
Candice Brathwaite, Milton Keynes, appeared on Lorraine where she told she 'implores' white people to have difficult conversations about race
'I always tell white people, the feeling of your discomfort will not match the feelings of George Floyd's family today', she said.
'It's not going to match how victims of police brutality families will ever feel.
'Your discomfort with broaching these issues with your family, you're uncomfortable for what, five minutes?
'We watched a black man die for nine minutes. There is just no measure with that, so I implore people to feel that discomfort. Because it is only through that we will make a change.'
She told host Lorraine Kelly the 'discomfort' of white people discussing race will never match the pain of black people who have suffered at the hands of systematic racism
The mother spoke of an incident with her now six-year-old daughter Esme, who was isolated from her peers when a white child refused to play with her while in Reception.
She said: 'There's been so much conversation with white parents saying, "I don't know how to tackle this conversation", but my Esme she didn't get a choice.
'Because we know sooner rather than later, someone will ostracise her for being black and for her to sit with that feeling of otherness the whole day, it makes me emotional.'
Her comments come after Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25, sparking protests around the globe.
George was arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill at a deli, white officer Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes
Speaking of the global protests that have followed his death, Candice said: 'I've never seen the world respond to a problem in this manner'
After he was arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill at a deli, white officer Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Floyd became unresponsive and was later pronounced dead at hospital. Ex-police officer Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Speaking of the global protests that have followed his death, Candice said: 'I've never seen the world respond to a problem in this manner.
'Gen Z are not playing, they are here to fight for the cause and I am getting tingles. I feel like we won't go back from this moment.'
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