I too am white and a recovered drug addict. I was the worst of the worst who only survived by chance. I, and your son, are both “heroes” in the literary sense that I am speaking.

All people can be heroes. But some deaths have a bigger impact on the world than others. Sure, you could choose to see your son as a martyr. No one would stop you. There is no right or wrong way to understand a human life. It just so happens that Floyd’s death was public for all the world to see, and something about it resonated with people. You do not have to see him as a martyr, but others do. Again, there is no right or wrong way to understand a human life. Choose for yourself. Thanks for reading and responding.