I was born here in America. My parents are from Jamaica. I am the product of what the current President of the United States would call a 'shithole country'.

I live in a nation with a government that hates me for my skin color. I live in a nation whose government despises immigrants; a government that hates my family. I live in a nation with a president who would love to see me fail.

I have had enough. I’m speaking out. I’m using my voice because I’m tired. I’m tired of hatred. I'm tired of living in a divisive nation. I’m tired of being made to feel ashamed of my heritage because it comes from a ‘shithole country’.

I'm tired of being seen as less than for being a black woman. A black woman who comes from a family of hardworking, successful immigrants.

The word of God tells me that: “There is neither Jew or Greek, there is neither slave or free, there is neither male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus”.

I want to believe that completely and in all areas. Unfortunately, while I believe Jesus sees me as equal to others, the country I live in makes me constantly question my equality.

Therefore, do we, as citizens, even believe that bible verse? Does this nation, as a whole, believe we are all equal?? Immigrants and natural-born citizens alike?? Am I then, better than my parents for being born in a 'superior' country?

I ask you this:

Where have our standards as a nation gone? What has America become?

What does it even mean to be an American anymore? Does it only mean blue eyes and white skin? Has it always meant that, then?

Why am I going to pledge my allegiance to a nation that I feel doesn’t care for my needs or the needs of my people?

Why am I pledging my allegiance to a government who calls peaceful protesters 'sons of bitches'?

Think about that.

It's easy for people to tell me to just leave America, and to 'go back to where I came from' if I don't like the way in which things are currently happening. While that is a solution, why don't we instead, as a nation work towards equality of all peoples?

Why don't we work to make this nation a safe and balanced place for all? It is true that we have made significant progress, but we are nowhere close to where we could and should be.

I know it's not that simple, but it's better than just simply giving up and leaving America.

The sad reality is that we will never make this kind of progress with a president in office who insists on spreading hate through the comments he makes.

On the other hand, I do appreciate this country for giving me opportunity. I will forever be grateful for that. It is true that there is no country like America.

Yet, there are times in which I truly feel let down by this nation that has given me tremendous opportunity and advantages. This is one of those times.

It's hard to have hope and look forward to the future, knowing in the back of your mind that things may get better, but are more likely to progress downward.

That doesn't mean we should lose hope. Simply speaking, we should keep marching forward, believing that this dark period in our history will not last forever.

Racism will not win. It will be defeated.

We will see the light again. In the meantime, we must raise our voices, and speak out against the injustices that are coming our way. I, for one, am just getting started.

President Trump doesn’t want immigrants from ‘shithole countries’. Well, that's his loss. He will cause this nation to miss out on the beauty and diversity that immigrants bring to America.

Let us not forget that every person of any race who was not born in the United States is an immigrant. If you were not born in America, you came from a different country to the United States of America.

Being an immigrant doesn't have a specific color of skin. I wish our President knew that.

In closing, now more than ever is the time for us, as American citizens, of all creeds, to re-evaluate what it means to be an American.

It's time for those of us who have been silent for too long to stand up. Stand UP, and do better.

This is MY war cry.