I have been pet before.  I’m not lying. It happened at the graduating ceremony of a pre-law program I completed one summer while in college. I don’t know where this man came from, but I remember standing around networking or talking with my family  and out of nowhere this older white guy approached me, stopped, smiled and patted my head like I was one of his pets.  I felt so confused, violated and belittled.  He didn’t say a word or ask my name. He didn’t tell me congratulations, or maybe he did. But what I remember most was this chum grin, fat pink hand and the sensation of being pat on the head like a pet.