when i was a child i hated my name “snowy owl” because even at a young age i knew i had white privilege and was different from my family and i associated the word snowy with whiteness.

it took me a long time to get used to the name and so many people make fun of it that i am back to not wanting it.

but then melissa is not my name either. so i am nobody. no name.

when people mock my name they are mocking my family and my people and i am not okay with that. i am not making them vulnerable anymore.