For Many Black People, George Floyd's Death Has Triggered A Wave Of Trauma A sign honoring George Floyd in Roxbury's Nubian Square Craig LeMoult / GBH News Brandon Jones remembers when he first learned about the death of George Floyd. "My first reaction was numb, actually." Jones wasn't sure how to feel, he said. He was horrified. He was angry. But it didn't feel like something new. "It reminded me of other killings of other unarmed Black people, specifically Black men,â Jones said. Jones is Black and 6-foot, 7-inches tall. âI'm aware that my physical presence sometimes evokes fear in people," he said. When he watched the video of Floydâs death, the Sturbridge resident realized someone could feel threatened by him, and call the police. "And knowing that it wouldn't take much for me to end up with a similar fate,â he said.