In these times of Social Racial Reform, it is time for The Democratic Party to sever it's ties with its racist past.

The Democratic Party was partly founded by Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson was a polarizing figure who not only owned slaves but brought out the atrocities of The Trail of Tears against Native Americans. Southern Democrats supported slavery in the 1800's and fought to keep it alive in The United States of America. After Lincoln's assassination, Vice President Johnson assumed the Presidency. Johnson, a Democrat,  opposed Lincoln's plan to integrate slaves into the South's social order. Johnson and The Democratic Party opposed the 13th, 14th, and the 15th Amendments. 

During Reconstruction, The Democrats did not promote Black people going into politics and did not elect a black man until 1935. But after Reconstruction White Democrats quickly reestablished white supremacy in the South by issuing Black Codes, Restricting Blacks to own businesses, and imposed Poll Taxes and Literacy Tests of Black People. The White Southern Democrats enforced this by the use of terror. The Klu Klux Klan was founded by Nathan Befford Forrest, a prominent Demoncrat. 

Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, often sided with the Klu Klux Klan and even screened the very first movie in The White House, The Birth of a Nation, a pro racist movie honoring The Klu Klux Klan. 

Later, during the Civil Rights Act of 1963, less than 70% of Democrats supported the bill. It was Democratic Senators who filibustered the Bill for 75 days. It wasn't until after JFKs death did the bill get pushed and signed, but President Johnson's motivations are in question as to why this was done. Since then the Democrat Party has made much progress towards righting its racist past, but we can do so much more. 

In review, at a time when our country is looking to the past and renaming schools or removing offensive images that harken back to Annabellum and the days of slavery, I think it is time for us in The Democratic Party to self reflect. We need to distance ourselves from our racist past, for that is not who we are anymore. We are a champion for People of Color. I propose we rename The Democratic Party. We remove the donkey, a symbol suggested by Andrew Jackson, and replace it with a different symbol that promotes what The Democratic Party stands for today.