One of the most popular and apparently controversial posts I have ever published on this site—The Best Take Down of Hipster Racism You Will Ever See—led to lots of heated debate in the comments section.

Some (mostly but not exclusively white) people angrily denied the existence of hipster racism while others (mostly but not exclusively people of color) absolutely loved the hipster racism video. But there’s one comment so amazingly spot on and insightful, I just had to share it.

The commenter describes herself as a young twenty-something woman named AJ. She’s white, admits to having unknowingly been racist in the past and talks about recognizing and giving up her white privilege. My favorite line is when she says “I don’t think I’m some white hero, and I know that black culture and combating racism can get by just fine without my help.” This girl deserves mad props for doing what so many white liberals refuse to: She recognized her own privilege and (as best she can) gave up racism.

AJ, if you’re reading this, you’re kinda the shit. Everyone else, please enjoy and maybe share this with your racism-denying white friends.

I find this video, like many people, to be nothing short of amazing. I’m a young woman in her twenties and it hit me last year, like I believe it should hit all white people, “I am really fucking racist, I really need to fucking change that.” Despite growing up with a little sister who was half-black and being deeply surrounded by black culture, it dawned on me that I was racist because that is what white culture has engrained in me. It had nothing to do with my parents, and yet, everything to do with them. My parents never said anything that seemed outright racist to me, but all white people are racist until they begin to accept (and change) that fact, and anyone who argues otherwise is probably just… well, racist! So I set out to change me, aggressively, and am I still doing so today. I didn’t ever want to cross a wrong line in my life again. And then I set out to change others, although much less aggressively, since I don’t totally believe that’s my place. But sometimes, I think it’s acceptable for me to do — for instance, I moved in this semester of college with girls who I did not previously know, but their racism astounded me. I have called them out on it and told them why it was unacceptable from the first day I noticed it. (Don’t worry, I don’t think I’m some white hero, and I know that black culture and combating racism can get by just fine without my help, but this racism [and outright ignorance toward it] that we white people have is something that frustrates me and I can’t sit back quietly anymore.) They used all the typical lines when I would call them on it — “Well, I’m from the South, I have a ton of black friends!” / “I say nigga all the time with my black friends and they love it/me!” — just the common stupidity, that I know even I was guilty of in the past. I don’t call everyone out like this, mind you, I just couldn’t stand living with people who were so completely disrespectful and ignorant. I’m not saying I’m perfect, I still slip up on the racist side of things… and my little sister is the first person to pop me in the mouth when I do. But I’m trying to change, because this is a culture that doesn’t deserve to still feel oppressed by white stupidity and privilege anymore, and especially not by my own.