Hey, everyone. There's some spirited cursing in this episode. Be aware.

A year ago today, George Floyd was murdered, precisely 263 steps from Marcia Howard's house.

Marcia's a high school English teacher, or at least she was.

Now she's something else, an activist, a caretaker.

Even she has trouble coming up with the right word.

If George Floyd Square is kind of like a village, can you describe your role in the

village? Like, are you the mayor? I don't run nothing but my mouth. I guess I would say,

I don't know if that's entirely true, because when I look at, for instance, your social media, your handle is Marcia Howard 38th Street.

Clearly, the place is deeply embedded inside of you.

I got to tell you, this is my neighborhood.

This is my neighborhood.

My own student is the one who filmed the death of George Floyd.

I haven't taught a day since.

Instead of reporting to a classroom, Marcia's been reporting to George Floyd Square.

She's part of a volunteer security team that's organized

itself at the intersection of 38th and Chicago, where a steel fist sculpture has sprouted up in the

middle of the road, right in front of cup foods, and traffic is closed off for a block in any direction.

Marcia's got her own uniform at this point.

You can see it in her TikTok videos.

She wears a yellow beanie.

It's a yellow headband in the warmer months.

She's got trademark glasses.

...