I'm an 18 year old white female.

I go to college in Missouri and 5 weeks into it we are already talking about politics.

I get graded on assignments that have to do with politics and social issues. Specifically, the BLM movement and white privilege.

I don't give my honest opinion to anyone except close friends because I am legitimately scared that I will get harassed or physically hurt because the kids I go to college with can't stand the idea of someone not agreeing with them.

It's not fair that in a group discussion on Zoom, I keep my mouth shut when I'm asked for my opinion on BLM and how I've been affected by it.

I would rather look like an idiot in front of the entire class than give my opinion on a social issue and get a label put on me just because I don't go along with the most popular opinion.

I'm not taken as seriously because I don't provide "diversity". I don't bring or have any "culture".

I can't like R&B music or rap music because that's a white person trying to fit in in black culture.

I can't wear Dutch Braids because I'm trying to "appropriate" black culture.

I can't have an opinion on anything because I'm white.

I can't cook because I'm white.

I have "no flavor" because I'm white.

I can't say wear a Snoop Dogg shirt, make a Cardi B reference, or even talk about the R. Kelly cases because I "will never understand the struggle behind being black".

I can't disagree with any black person or else I'm a racist.

I genuinely like Snoop Dogg and know every song on his Doggystyle album. I like Cardi B's music and I listened to her a lot when I was going through a break up. I think the R. Kelly cases are super interesting. Hearing what his victims went through is crazy to me but I love hearing their stories.

This isn't me trying to push "black struggles" aside. I just genuinely enjoy those things.

If a black person says the sky is green and I tell them "no. It's blue." That's not me being racist. I'm just saying what I think.

Just because I'm white doesn't mean I have no culture or that I can't cook. I love cooking and I have my own personal stories that make me who I am.

Just because I'm white doesn't mean I have "no flavor" or that I'm boring. I'm not boring. I love being adventurous and my personality is one for the books.

I can have an opinion on anything I want in this country. I live in it. I vote. I shouldn't be shut up just because people think I can't relate or that my voice is irrelevant because I'm white.

I shouldn't be embarrassed to be white. My voice matters just like everyone else's.