We need everyone on this one.

Yet again, our country is hurting from the death of a black man at the hands of the police. I understand a lot of people don’t know how to comprehend these events when they happen. Face it, the topic of race is taboo in many social circles. But avoiding the conversation is what partly got us here.

Right now, social media is ablaze with the stories of black people highlighting injustices they’ve faced because of the pigment of their skin. Read them.

Also, it’s time to put your reservations to the side and engage; your silence is loud. I am not a fan of the absolutism that has plagued politics for years now, but on this issue, there’s no neutral ground. Racism exists and cannot be extinguished until we all acknowledge it.

This problem is systemic and ingrained in our society. If you don’t believe me, look no further than the site where the protests are happening. A black reporter was arrested during his coverage of the Minneapolis protests, while his white colleagues went untouched. And as I type this, the officer who killed George Floyd has not been arrested. This isn’t by chance; as you read and hear about the hurt of black citizens, please understand this unequal treatment is by design.

This morning, President Trump showed that property is more valuable than black life. I won’t give his comments any more air than they deserve, but it’s disheartening that the president thinks state-sponsored violence is the best course of action—especially when so many black people have been victims of it.

The leadership at the top is failing us, but fortunately, movements and change don’t start up there—they start down here on the ground with us.