IGNITING A SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT WITH A CELLPHONE

Frazier was not the first person to witness an act of police brutality, record it and have the recording go viral—that action dates back at least 30 years, to 1991, when Rodney King’s beating by LAPD officers was filmed by a bystander on a nearby balcony. But Frazier is the one who, by taking a cellphone video of George Floyd’s killing by a white Minneapolis police officer in May 2020, then posting it on Facebook, ignited a social justice and police reform movement that continues to this day—and who has inspired countless others to reach for their cellphones when they witness or are involved in racist encounters or acts of police violence.

Since Floyd’s death, Frazier, now just 18 years old, has received numerous accolades for her actions, including a special Pulitzer Prize this year for “highlighting the crucial role of citizens in journalists’ quest for truth and justice.” She’s mainly stayed out of the spotlight, though, choosing instead to continue to quietly shine a light on racism, police misconduct and, occasionally, random acts of kindness, via posts on her Facebook feed. She’s also still grappling with the personal impact of what she calls “a traumatic life-changing experience,” writing in a poignant post on the anniversary of Floyd’s death: “It changed how I viewed life. It made me realize how dangerous it is to be Black in America.” —M.G.