I'm mixed race. My father was Black. My mother was white. I am probably lighter than you (no seriously, look at my pic). I have blue eyes. My hair is insane and curly.

I walk the world largely as a white woman because that's what the world sees. But the thing is, the see it only until they learn otherwise. That white privilege I get can, and has, just as easily been snatched away.

I suspect I'm a lot older than you. You look very young. I'm 52, so I've lived with this a long time, and honestly only found comfort in the last 10 years or so.

You are you. That includes all of your heritage, Black, white, whatever else. There's pride, strength and resilience living inside you from your ancestors and you do not, I repeat DO NOT need to pick. You are neither, you are both and that's perfectly fine.

I don't know what it's like where you live. I grew up in Canada and I've always found more acceptance in the Black community and among my Black relatives.