Two weeks ago I was able to embark on a journey to Rome, Italy thanks to Spelman and the Harvard Model United Nations Program. I traveled with nine other Spelmanites and had an amazing time; I explored new places, met new people and made new memories. It was truly a time to learn about diplomacy and cooperation beyond borders. We, a collective body of students from all corners of the world (over 110 to be exact), were able to engage in various activities solving global affairs of today to create solutions for the future.

And while the event was worthwhile, there was an instance that was not exactly "Stars and Stripes Awesome".

During the wait of the opening ceremony, delegates were proudly displaying their country flags and shouting out their country's name or even singing their national anthems. When the United States began to chant, "USA, USA, USA!" I stood up and joined in and the entire auditorium began to "Boo!" It was absolutely embarrassing and completely unexpected. Sure, I know that the election for President of the United States is quite the circus this year, but I didn't think that an entire auditorium would think we (the American delegates in the room) were all the blame. Nonetheless, once it happened I quickly sat down and the flag was folded and placed neatly on my lap.

Why would they do such a thing? Well, for the rest of the conference, anything United States-related always came back to Donald Trump. As we all know, so-called "self-made" megalomaniac billionaire Donald Trump is running for President of the United States for the Republican Party and he's rising in the polls and media publicity. From comedians like John Oliver completely telling him off to Stephen Colbert kind of jokingly considering accepting an America under Donald Trump, it appears that Donald Trump could become the next Republican nominee for President of the United States. And the rest of world is starting to ask questions, wondering how this has happened.

Even the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, Matteo Renzi, took a shot at the United States while discussing politics, because why not? Trump is an international sensation, he's even making the Italian newspapers! But is this the glorification America really needs right now or is it the one we deserve? As an American citizen able to look on the outside within, we need to get it together. The world is not going to wait for us to catch up in the categories we've fallen under in. Because if we're going to continue to be the "Greatest Country on Earth" we need to figure out who's going to run it and how they're going to maintain that title.

But the most disappointing thing is that I, a black female living in the United States, am being judged for living in a country that is allowing an individual like Trump to prosper. Trump, someone who refuses to condemn the KKK because he doesn't "know" much about white supremacy or the Grand Wizard. There's no mention of police brutality, unequal pay for women, the Black Lives Matter movement, the attack on Planned Parenthood and debate on a woman being able to take care of her body. Nothing. The rest of the world, as far as Harvard MUN was concerned, wasn't worried about black issues or women's issues, but Donald Trump. The same individual that would harm both of these demographics is getting the most attention and that's that.

I guess as an American I was feeling embarrassed, but as a black female, I was enraged that that was the only thing that people were upset about with America when there are so many other things that have been plaguing the U.S. and Europe that people could talk about.