"As I enter my majority-adulthood life, I'm living in a nation that's never quite let go of its hostility towards women and people of color, especially black people. I believe some of the strength that I need to face the world, fight it, and survive it is still found in female friendships, but I'm looking for them outside of familiar circles. I'm not a regular churchgoer anymore since my Christianity has taken a dramatic turn to the left, and I don't think I could sit quietly by and agree if conservative views were espoused again like they were back when I was in college."

If you think, at your age, that this nation is hostile towards women and people of color, wait until you hit 65.  (I am almost 69.)   Our society wishes we old ones (female AND male) simply did not exist, if for no other reason than we tend to remind the younger ones that they'll be old someday too.  With that said:  I agree w with Maureen :  I loved my 50s and have REALLY loved my 60s.  I hope you do also.