Jamal James is the WBA Welterweight boxing champion. He’s also a child of Minneapolis who lives and works in the city. His nickname is “Shango” but on May 25th, 2020, his name could have easily been George Floyd. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You see, James lives a few blocks away from the spot where Floyd was murdered by now convicted police officer, Derek Chauvin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I jog by that store every day. That could have been me,” James said to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Across the globe, horrified viewers watched Floyd’s murder and subsequent ignition of protests and social unrest. In Minneapolis, his death sparked pockets of violence across the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it also brought the rapidly diversifying city together. African American, white, Somali, Latino and others, they all came together to demand change in a police system that gave rise to officers like Chauvin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the child of Minneapolis, it was an emotional call that James quickly answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 32-year-old boxer and his inner circle took action. The gym where they trained was turned into a temporary food bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet this wasn’t something new. James has always been invested in his community, his city, and his state. <\/p>