Rhonda Jacobs I have struggled with feelings of unworthiness for as long as I can remember. From the outside, my life looked pretty perfect when I was growing up. My parents had a happy marriage, were supportive, and earned enough for us to be more than comfortable. I was mostly happy, but I also had a deep sense that something was wrong with me. My most painful moments were at parties.

When I went to Black parties, my friends made fun of me because I was rhythmically challenged and I couldn’t get my awkward middle-school body to mimic the latest dance moves. As the only Black girl at parties associated with my predominantly white school, I was never chosen to dance, I was never the object of anyone’s attention, I felt like I didn’t belong.

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