Because of spouse and child's pre-pandemic weekly Friday breakfast at one of two restaurants, there are a lot of people who know my daughter well enough to ask her how school is going, or even how a test was, or even just to exchange a pleasant hello. Consider that background.

If anyone, whether a total stranger or someone we'd seen for years, ran their hand through my kid's hair, there would be words. Very strong words. And my kid is a white kid with blond hair. That's just basic social contract.

But for a girl of color? Oh, HELL no.