If you have not seen it trending on Twitter, roaming the internet, or as the hot topic of the news, it is time to get caught up. On August 11, 2017, a group of people gathered to participate in a rally. These groups of people were white supremacists, neo-Nazis. and the KKK. This carried on into the next day leaving, one woman, Heather Heyer, dead and many people injured.

How is this happening in 2017? People across America have wondered this and it is constantly a question that is unanswered. We are all surprised when events like this occur because it should not be allowed. The thing we have to realize is that hate will always be present no matter what year it is. It has not been magically erased because people have fought in wars or marched peacefully against this sort of behavior. Certainly, we have evolved from this idea of hating people because of their skin color, religion, or whom they may love. People like white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK have also found ways to evolve into a new way of expressing their hatred.

Charlottesville, Virginia is one of many extreme examples that shows us that racism has not gone away. Everyone tends to differentiate themselves from people like them. You may not go to the length of marching with Tiki torches expressing that you need to take America back, but look at the little things that lead to that. Make an effort to correct people when they do stereotype a group of people when people say racial slurs, and that includes the language used in the music today. We are more accepting today, yet people use the equality we do have as a way to get away with certain things we say.

It starts within our homes, the schools, and the conversations we have every single day. My heart aches and my eyes fill with tears whenever I see events like this. The conversations I have with my friends and family are hard to get through because we can't wrap our minds around the thought of how much hate is within this society. We are not born hating the people who are around us. This hate is influenced by the actions we see and words that we hear.

The white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK exercised their right as Americans with freedom of speech, yet unfortunately, it was used to project hate and express the "oppression" they have been receiving. For the next few weeks, this will be an ongoing topic, but what about the future. It has our attention now and it should continue to.

It is our duty as Americans to continue to speak out against the hatred. It is our duty to stand up for the friends and family who have been victimized by the actions of this behavior. Be proactive in making an effort to have the tough conversations about racism.

It is 2017 and yes we are still viewing the same things that our parents and grandparents have seen. We are the future and we have a chance to do something about it. No longer is it acceptable to be bystanders and be silent when we see how wrong something is. It should not take events like this for us to come together as one.

Are you willing to stand up?