I am sorry to hear that some of your classmates treated you unfairly for writing the story you wanted to tell.

The number of stars some of these comments are getting depresses me. It’s as if people are being deliberately obtuse.

I think your interpretation of this statement is disingenuous. Of course it’s possible for a reader who isn’t white to identify with characters who are white and who were created by white authors. For example, she can identify with the personality traits she shares with them.