Former NBA star Sam Perkins recently said what every black person in America has thought or said numerous  times in the past two weeks since unarmed black man George Floyd was killed by white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who held his knee to Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds.

Perkins was one of several speakers and panelists at “Courageous Conversations,” a 90-minute outdoor event sponsored by Mavs owner Mark Cuban, CEO Cynt Marshall and the Dallas Mavericks in response to the Floyd murder, the subsequent racial unrest and protests nationwide, and to discuss the systemic racism and disparities facing the African American community

The event, held on Victory Plaza outside of the American Airlines Center, was the brainchild of Marshall and had as its overall goal: Listen.

The team put together a very diverse group of participants and speakers including Mavs player Maxi Kleber, coaches Stephen Silas and Jamahl Mosley, DISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa, Dallas Police Department Chief Renee Hall, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins and others.

“So when we talk about systemic racism and we talk about challenges and overcoming the past, when half of the African-American community could not vote to change the country they live in, could not vote to change the states they live in, could not vote to change the cities they live in, is it any wonder that we need Courageous Conversations today?”

Police Chief Hall shared the pain all law enforcement officers felt when viewing Floyd’s murder.