I expected to see a lot of different opinions surfacing around the black community and police brutality this weekend. I expected to see "All Lives Matter," "Black Lives Matter," "black-on-black crime," "systemic racism," "hear us," "if, then." I prepared myself for it all and I knew where I stood in the matter.

What I didn't expect to see was (predominately white) people making the conversations around these events about them personally. That really threw me for a smooth loop.

Let me give you an example to better clarify this foolishness because I know it's a bit hard to understand.

There were people floating through my timeline letting everyone know that they felt personally offended, personally attacked, when people talked about race relations in America.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am a supporter, an advocate for expressing your feelings, it's not good to keep all of that negativity inside. It gives you gas. But how on God's flowery, green Earth did you manage to make this about you?

Let me give you a breakdown of the major issues being discussed online and in the real world at this moment:

1. The black community and its allies are standing up peacefully against injustices and police brutality.

2. People and police officers are being murdered on the basis of hate and discrimination.

3. People actively trying to silence the cries of those fighting for justice and true equality.

4. (Just in case you're not understanding the theme here) Anything more important than your feelings being hurt.

I get it though. I understand why you feel personally attacked. When I watch workout videos, the skinny, peppy girl in the front offends me because I'm chubby and should probably reignite the love triangle between me, salad and the gym. When my friends kiss their significant others around me, I get offended because I'm a single Pringle who's ready to mingle (*wink-wink to the eligible bachelors reading this article).

When I watch natural hair videos, The girl with natural hair down her back that she grew in a month and a half offends me because I feel like Jesus will be back before my edges will (I blame Beyonce).

Why do I feel offended? Because they, honestly, make me uncomfortable and that uncomfortable feeling leads to reflexivity and that reflexivity often leads me to have to come face to face with my shortcomings and that leads to me having to admit that I should be doing better.

I think this same concept applies to those people who need reassurance that the world doesn't hate them when we discuss race relations. Here's the hard truth: our society isn't perfect. Some people benefit from the system and some people don't. Some people need to be conscious of their race every second of every day and some people don't. If you feel attacked when people bring up race relations in America it may be because you're complacent in the matter and you're feeling some much-needed conviction. Or maybe you're coming to realize that you have some deeply imbedded prejudice that you need to take care of (and that's not something to be ashamed of. Just check ya-self and move on). When people speak out about racial disparities in America, are they calling you racist for benefitting from the system? No, of course not. Are they saying that all white people are evil? No. Are they personally attacking you as an individual? No. They are actively fighting a system, an institution and a mindset. It may make you a little uncomfortable because it's an uncomfortable subject to discuss. You have the option to stay out of the conversation but you don't have the right to silence anyone.

In a time like this when we should be working to make sure every voice is heard, every life is valued and everyone has the right to justice and peace, please don't make this about you.

And if you decide to anyways, please cry about it, collect your tears and send them to me in a decorative mason jar with pink a crazy straw. *sip sip*

I hope this inspires someone to check themselves (we all need a good self-check every once in a while) and be open to listen instead of being quick to silence.

Peace and Love.