I'm often asked which I think is a bigger problem in society today, racism or sexism? According to Jay-Z, it's harder to be a woman than it is to be Black, but as a Black woman, I find this an impossible question to answer. I honestly think that its hard for women of color to separate the two. As I get older I see how interconnected my race and gender are in society's eyes.

For women of color, and Black women in particular, sometimes the racism we face is a direct result of us being a woman and the sexism we face is tied to our skin color. The angry black women stereotype, for example. It's not solely because we are women because no other women face the same label, but it's not solely because we're Black either. Not only are Black men excluded in this stereotype, but they sometimes reinforce it. And this stereotype is one of the most devastating to Black women as it precedes us into any space.

This is why intersectionality in feminism is important. And to clarify, when I speak about being a feminist or feminism, I'm not referring to the womanhood-bashing, "does this mean I can hit a girl?" "threat to masculinity" foolishness it has become. I am talking about the social, political and economic equality of the sexes.

Mainstream feminism is notorious for ignoring the struggles of "the other"--the women of color. For example, white feminists often bring up the wage gap between men and women, but seemingly disregard the fact that the numbers and statistics they use only apply to white women even though colored women make up the majority of the world.

I think with the new wave of feminism, the pink pussy hats, and the #TimesUp campaign, its time for women to REALLY come together and that means that it can't just be white women at the forefront anymore. It's time for white women who truly believe in all of these causes to take that extra step and make it a priority to treat women of color as equals. And the first step to treating Black women as equals is to treat Black women as humans.

As we step into 2018, I think there is a mountain of things that need to be left in 2017.

Here are 10 things white women need to stop doing in 2018.

1. Saying the word *Black* under your breath.

It's not a bad word, so why are you whispering it? Continuously whispering the word, "Black" under your breath reinforces the stereotype that there is something wrong with blackness and therefore it is taboo and something that shouldn't be brought up out loud.

Every Black person has been in this conversation with a white person. It's the conversation where we are informed that even though we are Black, we aren't "Black Black," and therefore we are supposed to gracefully endure racially insensitive comments.

Example: "One time, my car was broken into on campus *whispers* they were black, " but they caught them on camera and found my purse in the dorms across the street.

2. Thinking having a larger behind and curves means you're "competing" with Black girls.

Something I often see down one of my timelines are those photo-sets of white women with larger behinds captioned something within the realm of, "To make Black girls mad." We aren't mad, you are.

Love your body and carry on.

3. Only buying your daughters white dolls.

Whiteness is not the norm, and therefore we need to stop treating it as such. To be frank, the majority of the world is not white and so there is no need for whiteness to manifest itself as the norm any place in society. There's nothing wrong with being white, but there is nothing wrong with being brown either and this is where we need some level of relearning.

It's important to teach girls at a young age that beauty doesn't just come in all shapes and sizes, but in all colors and features too.

4. Speaking in AAVE.

We have yet to reach a time when AAVE or any Black dialect, for that matter, has a common place in society. Black American's who speak in African American vernacular are usually subject to ridicule. That being said, there's a level of disrespect that comes when members of the oppressive group are able to use that dialect in the name of sounding "cool."

5. Saying, "one of my best friends is Black."

You very may have a Black best friend. Good for you. The issue is that this comment is usually a slap in the face after something racially intensive was just said.

Example: I just think Black women need to let go of some of that anger. I don't mean that as disrespect, my brother's girlfriend is Black.

6. Truly thinking that Black women are always angry.

We really aren't, but that just goes along with the stereotype. At some point, society is looking for us to be angry, so even when we aren't we're asked, "whats wrong with you?" "are you okay?" "why aren't you smiling?" Well, if we weren't upset before, I guess you got what you wanted.

This also makes it hard for Black women to express their emotions. It's hard to be upset, angry, depressed when you have to constantly think in the Black of your mind, "am I being judged right now?"

7. Assume a Black person got into college because of affirmative action.

Personally, I have two degrees. I made almost straight A's at the two institutions I attended and have countless Dean's List certificates floating around my mom's house, but my intelligence, my accomplishments and my accolades, whatever they may be, along with those other Black women have often been talked down. Not only have I been forced to sit and listen to a group of white people speak on affirmative action as a means of white oppression, but I have been asked if that was how I got into my university.

So in 2018, let it be understood, that while affirmative action programs are indeed still necessary, they A. don't put unqualified people into positions they don't deserve and B. are not the story of every person of color.

8. Bringing up race in conversations where race isn't a factor.

This has ties to #1. Just because you're speaking about someone of another race, it doesn't mean your racial differences are pertinent to the conversation. All that does is attempt to unnecessarily associate mundane things with "the other."

Example: I got to the gas station and all the pumps were full. I pulled up behind this lady, she was *whispers* Black, and it sucked because I was running late.

9. Commenting on Black women's hair.

Unless you have a degree in it, don't mention it. It can not be stressed enough that while we are all definitely the same on the insides, we are vastly different on the outside. We do not have the same hair texture. We do not have the same hair texture. And one more time for the ladies in the back. We do not have the same hair texture.

Our hair is very different and therefore, it requires different treatment, care and maintenance. That does not make out hair ugly, it makes it unique.

Afro's are not unprofessional. They are natural and the way our hair was intended to look and to grow. Dreadlocks are not unprofessional or distracting. They are a protective hairstyle that allows us to cut out some of the time-consuming maintenance. As are wigs and weaves. Black hair is a lot more sensitive than other hair types. It is a lot thicker and loses moisture a lot faster which is why we style it in the ways we do--to protect it from breakage and damage and to save time.

As fellow women, you know how important your hair is to you, so you should be able to understand how important Black women's hair is to us.

10. Having Black friends and asking to be removed from every conversation concerning race.

You're not an expert feminist if you're not versed on how race plays into feminism. You also shouldn't be afraid to denounce whats wrong and speak up for what is right.

11. Thinking the Black friends you have are "not like other" Black people.

That's just straight up racist and there is no place for racism in feminism.

12. Cultural appropriation.

It's not about hairstyle. It's not about what music you like or how you dress. It's about recognizing the fact that while you look "cool," women of color are being stereotyped, talked down to and tossed to the side.

13. Making fun of ethnic names.

A name is a name. Get over it. It doesn't define who a person is or what they can do. You know this, so behave.

The view that women experience oppression in varying configurations and in varying degrees of intensity. Cultural patterns of oppression are not only interrelated but are bound together and influenced by the intersectional systems of society. Examples of this include race, gender, class, ability, and ethnicity.” - Kimberlé Crenshaw