I am beside myself and want to wrap that little girl up in my arms and protect her from all the meanness and vileness in this world.

I went through as a child... wasn't invited to B-day parties, community outings and game events, even some school events. (I went to more than a dozen public schools in several parts of the US) and was generally made to be a recluse because I wasn't white enough for lots of folks. My birth documents claim I am white, though. And my mother was ridiculed for being married to my darker dad and having "mixed" children. The 50s and 60s really sucked in a lot of ways for kids who were not pearly-white. Sad to see it is still the reality for far too many.

And I'm glad that I am getting old, not sure how much more of this crap I want to be around for.