Summary of "Stephen A's Take: Stephen A Reacts to George Floyd's 5-Year Anniversary"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Stephen A. Smith Show
• Host: Stephen A. Smith and iHeartPodcasts
• Episode Title: Stephen A's Take: Stephen A reacts to George Floyd's 5-year anniversary
• Release Date: May 25, 2025

Introduction

In this poignant episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith reflects on the five-year anniversary of George Floyd's tragic death. Smith delves deep into the societal and systemic issues that have persisted since the incident, evaluating the progress made and the challenges that remain.

Background: The Tragic Event and Immediate Aftermath

Stephen A. Smith begins by recounting the events of May 25, 2020, when George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He emphasizes the severity of the act:

Stephen A. Smith [02:15]: "Anytime an officer keeps his knee on an individual's neck for more than nine minutes, that's murder."

Chauvin was subsequently convicted on charges of murder and manslaughter, receiving a sentence of over 20 years in prison.

The Question of Change: Has Progress Been Made?

Smith shifts focus to the broader question of whether the heightened awareness and activism surrounding racial inequality in 2020 have led to meaningful changes for Black Americans.

• Polling Insights:
  • In September 2020, 52% of U.S. adults believed the increased focus on racial issues would lead to improvements for Black Americans. However, by February 2025, this sentiment had drastically shifted, with 72% expressing that no significant changes had occurred.

Stephen A. Smith [04:50]: "72% said the increased focus on race and racial inequality after George Floyd's killing didn't lead to improvement."

• Black Lives Matter (BLM) Support:
  • Support for the BLM movement has waned, decreasing by 15% since June 2020, now standing at 52%.

Stephen A. Smith [06:10]: "The share of Americans who express support for the Black Lives Matter movement stands at 52% today, a drop of 15% compared to what it was in June of 2020."

Analysis of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives

Smith critiques the trajectory of DEI efforts in corporate and societal frameworks.

• Decline in DEI Commitment:
  • Companies have scaled back DEI initiatives.
  • Workers increasingly view DEI efforts negatively, particularly evident since the Trump administration.

Stephen A. Smith [07:30]: "Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion has also declined. Companies have pulled back on DEI initiatives and workers views of them rather have grown to be more negative."

• Impact on Black Americans:
  • Contrary to popular belief, Smith argues that DEI initiatives have benefited white women more than Black Americans.

Stephen A. Smith [08:20]: "White women have been the biggest beneficiaries of DEI, according to numerous statistics... I get tired of black folks being seen as beneficiaries to something someone white has benefited from more so."

Public Perception and Societal Attitudes

Smith highlights the growing skepticism and diminished hope among Americans regarding racial equality.

• Equal Rights Doubts:
  • Belief that Black Americans will achieve equal rights has increased from 39% in 2020 to 49% in 2025.

Stephen A. Smith [09:45]: "49% expressed doubt that black people will ever have equal rights with white Americans, even though that's up from 39%."

Scrutiny of Black Lives Matter Leadership

Smith addresses internal challenges within the BLM movement that may have hindered its effectiveness.

• Leadership Issues:
  • Allegations of financial mismanagement and questionable agendas among BLM leaders have weakened the movement's credibility.

Stephen A. Smith [10:30]: "The leaders of the movement itself brought some scrutiny upon themselves in terms of how they were handling finances... those who appeared to be corrupt were the ones that ended up being the face of the movement."

Missed Opportunities for Systemic Change

Smith laments the lack of strategic political engagement by influential figures during the peak of the movement.

• Role of Professional Athletes and Celebrities:
  • Despite their significant influence, athletes and celebrities did not effectively lobby for legislative changes or engage with policymakers.

Stephen A. Smith [11:20]: "Why don't you connect with folks on Capitol Hill?... professional athletes who had this cachet never took the bull by the horn and did that."

Current State and Reflection

Five years later, Smith observes that many of the issues spotlighted in 2020 remain unresolved, indicating that the movement's efforts were largely superficial.

Stephen A. Smith [12:00]: "What do the riots, what do the protest? What do these kind of things have to show for its efforts? What indeed has been accomplished? I just know it's a pretty damn good one."

He emphasizes the need for concrete actions over symbolic gestures to effect real change.

Stephen A. Smith [12:15]: "We need more than symbols. Real change involved our laws, participation in issues that pertain to the American public."

Conclusion: A Call to Action

Stephen A. Smith concludes the episode by urging for increased activism and strategic efforts to address systemic inequalities.

Stephen A. Smith [13:00]: "As we move forward, maybe a little less talking and more acting, more action is necessary."

He underscores the importance of leveraging financial and social capital to influence policy and foster genuine progress.

Stephen A. Smith [13:25]: "Professional athletes, Hollywood, everybody had an opportunity to do this in 2020. Folks didn't do it... the issues that existed in 2020 still exist today."

Notable Quotes

• On the Nature of George Floyd's Death:

  "Anytime an officer keeps his knee on an individual's neck for more than nine minutes, that's murder."
  — Stephen A. Smith [02:15]

• On Public Perception Shift:

  "72% said the increased focus on race and racial inequality after George Floyd's killing didn't lead to improvement."
  — Stephen A. Smith [04:50]

• On DEI Beneficiaries:

  "White women have been the biggest beneficiaries of DEI... I get tired of black folks being seen as beneficiaries to something someone white has benefited from more so."
  — Stephen A. Smith [08:20]

• On Leadership Scrutiny in BLM:

  "Those who appeared to be corrupt... were the ones that ended up being the face of the movement."
  — Stephen A. Smith [10:30]

• On the Need for Action:

  "Maybe a little less talking and more acting, more action is necessary."
  — Stephen A. Smith [13:00]

Final Thoughts

In this reflective episode, Stephen A. Smith provides a critical analysis of the societal changes—or lack thereof—since George Floyd's death five years ago. He challenges listeners to assess the true impact of activism movements and emphasizes the necessity for sustained, actionable efforts to achieve racial equality and systemic reform.