Dear Friends of Lexington Plastic Surgeons:
LPS will not turn a blind eye to the inequality and mistreatment of black lives in our country.
I am a father, a husband, a physician and an entrepreneur. Yet I am not seen by segments of our society for who I am, relative to those designations, but for the color of my skin. No person of color is immune to the experience of racism.
There is no room for silence at this time. The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and a list of names and tragic losses far too long to list deeply saddens, and quite frankly, angers me. The protests in big cities and small communities across our country are finally focusing the attention for all of America and the world to the harsh racial realities well known to black and brown for centuries. It is no longer possible or acceptable for our nation to avoid or further delay an uncomfortable conversation about systemic racism, economic inequality, and the disproportionate arrests and incarceration of our fellow Americans of color.
As a company with establishments in many communities in the United States, we see firsthand the impact of this powerful movement. Our years of service to thousands of individuals and families of diverse backgrounds speaks to our commitment to bringing quality care to all no matter the color of your skin. We will continue our philanthropic endeavors such as Operation Keloid, Trigg House, our partnership with Columbia University to provide Scholarships for students of color, and more, in doing our role to be a part of the solution.
What is happening in the streets is strong, it is impactful, and the media is finally paying attention. But what happens at the ballot box is where we can have the most power. We implore you to make your voice heard in November, but do not neglect to vote in your local community elections, it is your city council that controls budgets for your local schools and your police force. Voting locally has a direct impact on the quality of life in your community.
Now is the time to stand together and raise our collective voices. It is only when we come together with one common purpose that we can change the world.
Let’s change the world.
Dr. Michael E. Jones