Growing up in a non-diverse (and in my situation that meant surrounded by mostly white people) community has its own trials and tribulations. Being a half-white, half-African American individual who is more fair-skinned than dark, I had the privilege to "blend" in with the masses at my schools. Looking back, this was the exact opposite thing I would've done knowing what I know now.

I lived in a typical suburb type of community that wasn't too small but everyone definitely knew each other around the county. Now, racism was definitely apparent, but it never caused a lot of uproar or backlash. Did I see confederate flags flying from F-150s from time to time?You better believe it.

When certain people talked about things that involved black people, for some reason I was the liaison to everything African-American. Or even worse, if they said something that was even on the line of being racist, everyone would look at me and be like, "But it's cool cause you're not like THAT."

Young Trey Kerr was more focused on being accepted than excluded so I agreed to being the exception in their racism narrative.

By being the exception, I was just a filtered version of what they thought African Americans were supposed to be. I had lighter skin, I dressed like them, I acted like them, so they felt that that was enough for them to accept me as one of their own. But here's the kicker.

I WASN'T.

By being the exception, I gave them the power to decide when I was "acting black" or "acting white," whatever that means. I then would become anxious to avoid acting like a particular one, something known as stereotype threat.

By being the exception, I failed my African-American heritage. For everyone who ever fought for us to gain the rights and the so-called equality that we have today, I sincerely apologize.

I am forever done being an exception to how you think African-Americans act or speak, because I am who I am. No matter the race, I find friends who have the same qualities and talents as I do. And the best part is, none of us are confirming our races' characteristics, because that is not what race is about.