I've no doubt the author has experienced racism throughout her life. But I'd like her to understand that many non-blacks have experienced much of what she's written about. My white husband's university educated parents were told by his kindergarten teacher that he would likely need to go to a technical high school. She concluded he wasn't very bright because he only ever played with the blocks (he managed to get a biochem degree & MBA). Fitting in on Bay St with the "private school boys" was difficult and he always felt like an imposter. One year the partners at his firm took the younger partners to a men's store to have them buy new clothes (with $ taken from their bonus) because they didn't approve of how they dressed (not expensive enough suits). He was told to buy a new car and when he didn't get the German one, the partners' faces fell.  We just took it all in stride with a "whatever" attitude and played the game.    Sometimes it's not about being black or a woman.