I’ve only been racially abused once, though I’ve been abused and bullied, both physically and mentally, many times in a whole host of different ways.

Ears which resembled the handles on the FA Cup, a tendency to blush at any minor thing and several other weird body parts all led to me being harangued endlessly at school and, to some extent, at college too.

But, and maybe I’m lucky, I don’t feel the bullying I suffered left either physical or mental scars.

And, the incident of racism, where I found myself at the heart of a remote Indian settlement where the villagers had never previously seen a white man, was a truly fascinating, rather than devastating, experience.

So why do I share this with you now?

This week Diane Abbott is receiving a huge amount of flak for her comments about racism which threaten to derail a 36-year political career.

My opinion of her is not political, but I’m not a fan, never have been and doubt I ever will be, but fully accept as a black female Labour MP, who in my opinion has said many daft things over many years, she must have been on the receiving end of some horrendous abuse, much of it racist.

For her to suggest there’s a hierarchy of racism and Jewish, Irish and Traveller people are simply subjected to prejudice was always going to be taken badly. But, it was what she said about redheads I found interesting.

She likened ‘the prejudice’ faced by Jews, Gypsies and Travellers to the treatment faced by white people with points of difference, like red hair.

Of course, what is, and isn’t acceptable changes all the time.

At the time I was being abused in the playground just about anything was free game – I’m not saying it was right, but every minority imaginable was abused roundly.

Over time society’s sensibilities change, minority groups mobilise, people become ‘better educated’ and attitudes alter.

It may be hard to believe now, but less than a decade ago travellers were still the target of abuse in mainstream media.

Channel 4’s Big Fat Gypsy Weddings was last shown in 2015, but no-one would dream of airing it now, not least because they know lawyers would be knocking on their door.

And that’s why I found the group Abbott chose to highlight interesting.

I have a redhead friend, well aware of the ‘Marmite’ factor her hair induces, who says she’s faced abuse all her life. Not only this, but she reckons the stereotyping continues into all areas - even the baddies in films are more often than not redheads. According to her given a roomful of Agatha Christie’ murder suspects you can be sure it was the ‘Ginger’ wot done it.

Mark my words, redheads will be the next minority group to mobilise, they will form action groups, seek the support of top lawyers and fight back against the abuse they have unfairly received for many years.

Diane Abbott was very misguided, at best, to say what she did but, in doing so, I believe she has identified the next minority to stand up and be counted.