University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Kristin M. Bradshaw
I Think We Can Use Him As a Catalyst of Change
June 29, 2020 | Men's Basketball
By Tori Heck
Georgiadogs.com Intern
Sahvir Wheeler has one wish right now.
"If I had that kind of superpower," Wheeler said. "[I would] make everyone feel cherished and everyone be loved."
To him, love is a large component in creating the change that the world needs to see right now -- the change that he believes the Black Lives Matter movement encompasses.
The death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers on May 25 reignited an ongoing call for racial justice. Floyd's death, along with many others, sparked protests, demonstrations and demands for change across the nation.
Wheeler's hometown of Houston is the place Floyd was raised and ultimately laid to rest after his death. Wheeler is seeing the impact of Floyd's death on his community first-hand while being home in Texas.
"I didn't realize that so many people that I knew … actually knew him personally," Wheeler said. "You can see the impact he had on people in a spiritual way."
Wheeler's friends that knew Floyd have shared with him that Floyd was "always trying to uplift everyone." According to Wheeler, Floyd did this through sharing the Bible, being there for people to talk to and being "a positive guy in the neighborhood."
Police brutality has long been an issue in America, but Floyd's death has drawn increasing attention to a continual, national discussion about the causes and possible solutions.
"I think we can use him as a catalyst of change," Wheeler said.
Wheeler has begun to see change in some ways. He feels people are starting to take note of protestors and has seen several instances of large companies speaking out in favor of Black Lives Matter.
He recalled playing NBA2K recently, and the company putting out a statement issuing an offline timeout in honor of Floyd's memory.
"It's sad, the way it had to happen," Wheeler said. "But as long as we're making change, I think we'll be in the right direction."
Hatred is a learned behavior, while love for each other is natural, Wheeler said. He feels that if the world could get back to that natural state of love and treating everybody equally, it would create change.
"Love is the best thing we can give to one another. It's the one thing that Christ … did for others … Love is something that is natural."
Georgiadogs.com Intern
Sahvir Wheeler has one wish right now.
"If I had that kind of superpower," Wheeler said. "[I would] make everyone feel cherished and everyone be loved."
To him, love is a large component in creating the change that the world needs to see right now -- the change that he believes the Black Lives Matter movement encompasses.
The death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers on May 25 reignited an ongoing call for racial justice. Floyd's death, along with many others, sparked protests, demonstrations and demands for change across the nation.
Wheeler's hometown of Houston is the place Floyd was raised and ultimately laid to rest after his death. Wheeler is seeing the impact of Floyd's death on his community first-hand while being home in Texas.
"I didn't realize that so many people that I knew … actually knew him personally," Wheeler said. "You can see the impact he had on people in a spiritual way."
Wheeler's friends that knew Floyd have shared with him that Floyd was "always trying to uplift everyone." According to Wheeler, Floyd did this through sharing the Bible, being there for people to talk to and being "a positive guy in the neighborhood."
Police brutality has long been an issue in America, but Floyd's death has drawn increasing attention to a continual, national discussion about the causes and possible solutions.
"I think we can use him as a catalyst of change," Wheeler said.
Wheeler has begun to see change in some ways. He feels people are starting to take note of protestors and has seen several instances of large companies speaking out in favor of Black Lives Matter.
He recalled playing NBA2K recently, and the company putting out a statement issuing an offline timeout in honor of Floyd's memory.
"It's sad, the way it had to happen," Wheeler said. "But as long as we're making change, I think we'll be in the right direction."
Hatred is a learned behavior, while love for each other is natural, Wheeler said. He feels that if the world could get back to that natural state of love and treating everybody equally, it would create change.
"Love is the best thing we can give to one another. It's the one thing that Christ … did for others … Love is something that is natural."
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