"White Boy Privilege," a poem written and performed by an Atlanta eighth-grader last spring, has gone viral in the wake of recent violence.
Royce Mann, 14, presented the poem at a school poetry contest, apologizing to women and minorities for being on the top of the ladder while they are on the first rung.
"To be honest I am scared of what it would be like if I wasn't on the top rung, if the tables were turned, and I didn't have my white boy privilege safety blankie to protect me," he said, reciting his poem.
He told CBS News that his intention was to be truthful in admitting that he wouldn't want to give up his position of privilege.
"I wouldn't trade places with anyone," he said. "Because I think a lot of people aren't truthful about that."
But, in his poem, Mann acknowledges that those privileges shouldn't be exclusive.
"Everyone should have the privileges that I have," the teen recited. "Everyone's story should be written so all they have to do is get it read . . . I get that change can be scary but equality shouldn't be."
More than 8 million people have seen the video, which has been shared widely on the Internet, CBS News reported.
Royce has received widespread applause for his performance, but he deflected praise, saying, "I'm not the hero of this movement or anything. There are definitely a lot of people who've done a lot more than me.
I'm just trying to do my part," CNN reported.
Twitter users shared mixed reaction to the poem and the attention it has received.
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