Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. talked about being able to explain white privilege to white suburban women when the issue of race came up during the second Democratic presidential debate in Detroit, Mich.

Gillibrand made the case that she could make the case for racial justice to "white women in the suburbs."

"I can explain to white women in the suburbs that when their son is walking down the street with a bag of M&Ms in his pocket, wearing a hoodie, his whiteness is what protects him from not being shot," said Gillibrand.

"I don't believe that it's the responsibility of Cory and Kamala to be the only voice that takes on these issues of institutional racism," Gillibrand continued. "As a white woman of privilege who is a U.S. Senator, it is also my responsibility to lift up those voices."

More:'A bunch of malarkey!' Joe Biden uses familiar phrase to fight back against Kamala Harris

Gillibrand called it her responsibility to explain to people across America why the issue is everyone’s responsibility to address.

Contributing: Maureen Groppe