TBH, I missed the reptilian. That's funny. I think if it was later in the article I might have caught it, but my focus was on content first, so I wasn't as in tune with the topic yet. Of course, I might have missed it anyway, since I tend to be bigoted against many reptiles.
I get the impression I have just a few years on you. We were middle-class and I grew up around a lot of wealth. It wasn't mine, but I got to enjoy some of the benefits of it because of spending time with friends. IMO, that was a privilege, but it just was what it was, having nothing to do with ethnicity. My point is that it wasn't my right, and that's how it would be regardless of ethnic background. Mom's family was poor - cotton pickers and hillbillies. We actually have a trace of African on her side, but it doesn't show that I'm aware of. Dad's side was farmers and entrepreneurs, fairly comfortable but not rich.
We've enjoyed a lot of love on both sides. That's just human.