It has been 401 years since the first slaves came to the United States. It has been 155 years since the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified and abolished slavery. It has been 56 years since the Civil Rights Act was passed. It has been 0 years, 0 months, 0 days since racism ended.

Racism remains a deeply rooted issue that still plagues our country. Black lives are in danger every day and they are who matter, not the personal feelings of a white person. And if you say "all lives matter" or "blue lives matter," I mean this in the most offensive way possible, go f*uck yourself.

I'm angry, I'm hurt, I'm sad. But this isn't about me, this will never be about me. This is about the protection of black lives. As a white woman, I will never understand the pain and fear you feel every day. But I hear you, I support you, and I will stand by you.

For the white people reading this article let me make this very clear: it is not the responsibility of black people to unteach racism. Read articles, read a book, understand why protests are happening, and use your white privilege to speak out against racism.

I don't want to write this article to make it about myself and my feelings, but rather to list resources to help educate other white people.

*I would like to comment that I am not writing this article to give myself clout, I want to use my platform to do any good that I can. If I make any money off this article I will be donating it to Reclaim the Block and The Bail Project.*

A very powerful protester sign said:

*I do not take credit for the sign, but the maker of the sign is unknown*

"White privilege means I can do the following without fear of being harmed or killed.

I can go jogging… Ahmaud Arbery couldn't.

I can be detained by police… George Floyd couldn't.

I can go birding… Christian Cooper couldn't.

I can relax at home… Breanna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, and Kathryn Johnson couldn't.

I can have a mental health crisis… Anthony Hill couldn't.

I can defend my girlfriend from armed intruders… Kevin Davis couldn't.

I can run (unarmed) from a cop… Walter Scott couldn't.

I can play loud music… Jordan Davis couldn't.

I can ask for help from a stranger… Renisha McBride couldn't.

I can play with a toy gun… Tamir Rice couldn't.

I can lawfully carry a weapon… Philando Castile couldn't.

I can get a traffic ticket… Sandra Bland couldn't.

I can walk home with skittles… Trayvon Martin couldn't.

I can party on New Year's Eve… Oscar Grant couldn't.

I can go to church… The Charleston 9 couldn't.

I can shop at Walmart… John Crawford couldn't.

I can sell CDs… Alton Sterling couldn't.

I can owe a fine… Nicholas Thomas couldn't.

I can take out my wallet… Amadou Diallo couldn't.

I can breathe… Eric Garner and George Floyd couldn't.

BLACK LIVES MATTER."

Say their names. Enough is enough. Educate yourself and use your voice to speak out against racism. Being not racist isn't enough anymore, we need to be anti-racist.

All lives don't matter until black lives do. #blacklivesmatter