A few weeks ago, I was driving in the city on my home from work. It was a one-way small street and behind me was a police officer offer, he followed me for a good five minutes and although we eventually were just going the same way I couldn’t get this fear out of my head. After he turned another lane I had to stop my car in a parking lot and just cried. I wasn’t expecting that reaction for myself as I believe that most of law enforcement officers serve to protect. That was the first time I experienced a fear of what could go wrong.

As I was driving I was thinking of all the victims such as Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Philando Castile and many more. The fear that they must have felt is indescribable. Some even in front of their families as their last breath came at the hands of a police officer. This moment made me think of all the battles that people of color must encounter and how society plays a role in that.

The idea of privilege is what stands out to me. Although privilege comes in many degrees, we all have a sense of privilege in our lives. I still went through moments in my life of trying to understand what it is to be a black woman. Privilege is defined as to be those rights, benefits, and advantages enjoyed by a person or body of persons beyond the advantages of other individuals. Privilege can come in the form of financial, social, educational and many other forms. The more I surrounded myself with a variety of people, the more I saw the different forms of inequality.

I’ve had moments where people in my life have questioned my experiences or not listened to how I feel as a black woman, which can make you feel irrelevant. It's hurtful that I get dismissed when I’m trying to share my story, especially in a society where the black woman is one of the least protected. My experiences as a black woman are true to myself and have shaped how I may view the world. I’m not saying that I must conform to how society views me, because I also believe that that to an extent you are in control of what you make of your situations but there are factors that can create a bigger imbalance.

The number one step of becoming an ally to people of color is listening to what they have to say and understand that is their truth even if you don’t agree with it. Asking questions, support black businesses, respecting the culture, reading books, being informed about what's happening in today's society are ways you can be an ally.

Yes, we have come far but people of color are still marginalized here in America and around the world. Living in the 21^st century with such freedom in this country gives the people the ability to speak out and foster change. So next time a person of color talks, please listen.