MKayla Nelson,
The University of Tennesse-Knoxville
Growing up in a small predominately white town in Appalachia, I was surrounded by confederate flags, derogatory terms, and racist comments hidden in “southern hospitality”. Recognizing my own white privilege and biases was not easy, and is a constant process of listening, learning, and changing. Now is the time for those in positions of power, institutions, and the privileged to speak up, educate each other, learn, and grow. It is time for the “hollers” of America to create a lasting change. Our “southern hospitality” should extend all races and not just those with lighter skin tones. I hope to see a day where “Ya’ll” means ALL.
