The United States has a sordid history with systemic racism and intolerance since before its inception, and the effects of that extremely painful past are still felt throughout our country today. The progress that may have been made is simply not enough, as the Black community continues to suffer from institutional discrimination and racist violence from individuals and organizations alike.

The agony and anguish experienced by the Black community has existed for years on end and has not disappeared even to this day. While many in our country have been witness to the benefits of change and progress as time has marched on, communities of color have remained largely stagnant in a cycle of trauma and racism. The COVID-19 pandemic has only augmented and magnified their suffering as the year has progressed; but it has also brought the inequities and systems that cause this pain into glaring focus.

We cannot claim to live in a world of equality if members of our communities are victim to hatred and bigotry. Silence in the face of racism has always been unacceptable, and now more than ever, it is no longer an option. We need to acknowledge the inequalities and disparities that stem from systemic racism and harm our Black communities. Regardless of our backgrounds, beliefs, or political affiliations, it is our responsibility to truly recognize the injustices that we see so that we can work to change them. We must be able to eliminate our fears and prejudices, and we must be willing to listen and learn from our colleagues, neighbors, and friends who have been marginalized and discriminated against.

Black lives matter, and we must be ready to do more to turn those words into resounding change and action that will be felt and that will last for years to come.