Dear white Democrats: I am part of the problem and you probably are too.

In the wake of George Floyd’s death, recent events have put a well-deserved spotlight on racial inequality and injustice in the United States. Frustration over our country’s lack of progress has bubbled to the surface and created a feeling of despair among those of us desperate for change. As I sat in my house in the early days of the Floyd protests, crying tears of sincere grief, I found myself saying: “Nothing seems to work. What are they supposed to do?” My jaw dropped as I realized the words that had left my mouth. “What are THEY supposed to do?” The words had come from a place of overwhelming empathy for the black community and genuine desire for equality, but they revealed that I was part of the problem.

My husband, a self-proclaimed metaphor master (I must admit, he IS pretty good), recently used the example of a life preserver to explain the Black Lives Matter movement to our young son. He described a scene where multiple people were thrown from a boat into the water. Each person was tall enough to stand in the water except for one, who was struggling to tread water and stay afloat. “Who matters the most in that moment?”my husband asked, “Who should we throw a life preserver to?” Our son easily answered, “the one who is struggling.” It’s such an easy question to answer, but my actions (or lack thereof) did not match the verbal response. The words I had spoken, “what are they supposed to do?” demonstrated that I wasn’t throwing the life preserver to the person who needed it. Instead, I was standing on the boat encouraging the drowning person to come get the life preserver for themselves.

So, this is my public confession. I, a progressive, bleeding-heart liberal, am part of the problem. And chances are, my fellow white Democrats, that you are too. We have felt politically and civically engaged because we talk about issues and rage about the need for change among our friends; we stay informed through news articles; we post on social media – all while expecting others to take real action.

Maya Angelou said “do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” So, while this is a confession that I have realized I am part of the problem, it is also my commitment to become part of the solution. White Democrats hhave stood dry and comfortable on our boat, giving a drowning population permission to have life preservers instead of actively helping them reach safety. It is time for us to turn our lofty principles and good intentions into action. Get involved in elections, protest, support minority-owned businesses, donate money, donate time, write our elected officials – do whatever we can. Just don’t continue to support from the sidelines.

Jessica Logsdon is a graduate of Transylvania University and UK Law. She lives in Lexington.