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Darnella Frazier, the Minneapolis resident who filmed George Floyd's murder in May 2020, has received an honorary Pulitzer Prize. Frazier received the news on Friday alongside a number of journalists who received various awards for their work.
“The Floyd story, in particular, highlighted not only the essential role of journalists, but the increasing importance of ordinary citizens in the quest for truth and justice,” Pulitzer Prize Board Co-Chair Mindy Marques said.
“We want to note that the board has awarded a special citation to Darnella Frazier, the teenage witness who filmed and posted the transformative video that jolted viewers and spurred protests against police brutality around the world."
This is not the first time that a prestigious organization has presented Darnella Frazier with an award for courage. In October, PEN America presented Frazier with the 2020 PEN/Benenson Courage Award.
“With nothing more than a cell phone and sheer guts, Darnella changed the course of history in this country, sparking a bold movement demanding an end to systemic anti-Black racism and violence at the hands of police,” PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said about the organization's decision to present Frazier with the award.
“Without Darnella’s presence of mind and readiness to risk her own safety and wellbeing, we may never have known the truth about George Floyd’s murder."
Frazier reportedly graduated from high school in Minneapolis this spring and is looking forward to continuing her education in the future.
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