Ruth Anne King said she grew up in a household with white racist grandparents who despised the color of her skin.

“I had to decide pretty early on that either I was going to be Black or I was going to be loved,” King said. “And [my grandparents] didn't say ‘Black.’ They used the N word.”

King said not being able to be Black growing up caused trouble because her identity was “all haywire,” but she has since found her identity.