A disclaimer: I'm given this my best shot and wanted to write about something I felt strongly about with inspiration from social media, but I'm not an expert and hope the intention of my words, to bring about a change and to make a difference, is what readers take from this article. I have not experienced the oppression of minorities but I hope to be a voice counted in fighting for them. Thank you in advance for reading.

In the days since the horrific events that took place in Charlottesville, I've found myself once again immersed in the social media response. In the time I pass on Twitter, I see many different perspectives in the aftermath, and because each user's timeline is truly tailored to their own beliefs and biases because you select who to follow, I did get quite the liberal standpoint on the situation in my reading of tweets.

But one thing I noticed was a specific perspective in which white people made the claim of "Not All White People" with regard to the violence and the people behind them.

This argument definitely got some heat online, and led me to read perspectives that really inspired me and the writing of this piece. Users responded, essentially saying that while this event isn't what all white people would have wanted or ever wanted to cause, it's on us to make this right.

And this is an idea I wholeheartedly agree with.

You can't say that the events we saw in Charlottesville and in recent months that have been at the hands of white supremacists and Nazis and just genuinely vile and sick people aren't on behalf of all white people. That's a statement that so blatantly flaunts and shouts white privilege, you can almost feel it reading these tweets.

What I read about was compelling online. The reason this statement is so out-of-line is because, as one user wrote, every white person benefits from white privilege. It doesn't matter if you're a Nazi or the most forthcoming activist for every minority- if you're white, the way that society is designed, the way our country runs, how the government works, and how every facet of our existence takes place works in your favor.

Seeing people online cry "Not All White People" is truly sickening. Being white, I've seen none of the oppression that minorities have faced. That's just a fact. I have it easy. Every white person does. And the only way we can move forward and have any sense of hope that my kids and your kids won't have to grow up in a world so filled with hate is to accept and embrace that hard truth. Every white person owes the rest of the world an infinite apology, in this country especially and that shouldn't be hard to do for the trouble that minorities have faced in every part of our history. That's not to say that every white person has ancestors that were owners of slaves or were involved in the very foundation of racism in this country, but every white person must recognize the role of others in this horrible part of history. Don't pretend we have ever had it harder.

I think that's where progress will start- we have to own up to the truths that are so divisive in this country and it's entirely our responsibility. It's not just about saying racism is bad and equal rights are deserved in this country, that's a given, it's 2017. But it's about speaking truths and embracing them even if that is uncomfortable- white people have to know, understand, and accept, even proclaim, that we have undeniable mistakes in our history and the way society hands us privilege is unacceptable. If we do that, we halt any validation hate groups will have.

Essentially, what must happen is a change in how we approach this issue from complacency to action and speaking up, or taking a stand. We can't stand by as these acts of terror take place. There is no room for indifference anymore or not choosing a side because it wasn't your fault or an issue doesn't apply to you- if a cause involves the lives of your friends, neighbors, or fellow American citizens, your voice is vital and needs to be used.

Our world is so hateful, but I think that's what's really happening isn't an uproar of hate spilling into our streets. It's the unleashing of a sleeping giant that is the racist core of our country. It's something that has always been evident, always been around, but this new administration has given it the validation it needs to thrive and find its way in our lives in an entirely new form. It's something that we have the power to fix, but it takes becoming uncomfortable and confronting what's really happening in our nation for that to happen.