That must be a bad feeling feeling invisible or not to be seen as individual by people you see everyday. I’ve never expereinced that in America but certainly overseas. It’s real common in places in central america (where I often travel) for locals to refer to white skinned people as “gringos” regardless of obvious variation of hair or skin tone….In Guatemala I’m “the gringo”…I’m on no campaign to change it it but do call it out if it’s said in a particularly mean way.

It’s also common for hispanics (here and elsewhere) to refer to anyone from Asia as “un chino” (chinese) regrdless if they are from Thailand, japan, vietnam etc…It’s impossible to try and correct them. They don’t get (or care) that there’s a difference. People chunking is not right and it’s hurtful but is pretty common around the world.