Yes, I DO See Color

One of the most counterproductive ideas any human being could ever have is “I don’t see skin color”. Idealistically we as the human race have been conditioned to believe that this mindset is the proper way to go about how we regard our fellow man, but I’m here to tell you why this mindset is more negative than positive.

First off, what is the mind frame of someone who believes that not seeing skin color is the best outlook on life to have when regarding someone else’s racial identity? Well a person who believes in not seeing a person’s race believes they are being unbiased and are voiding themselves of prejudice in doing so. Basically they see it as by lumping everyone in the same category they are by default not categorizing them at all. Therefore, they couldn’t possibly harbor discrimination and be contributing to what’s wrong with society right? WRONG!!!

Here’s the issue with this type of thinking: we all ideally wish that we were all the same and were cut from the same cloth of fairness and equality. We also wish that we could relate to each other in the same ways and that we all share the same sense of understanding in regards to the world’s woes. The reality is life just isn’t that simple. The fact at matter is as human beings we all come from different races and different places where our experiences are well, different. Because we come from different environments this means that the way we are treated in certain experiences as well as how we process those experiences will be different.

A big issue that is being heavily discussed in mainstream media today is police brutality and racial injustice, especially between Black and White. Think about this scenario real quick: if you have a Black male who lives in the inner city where interaction with law enforcement is likely hostile and you have a White male who lives in a suburban neighborhood where interaction with law enforcement is more harmonious, then you can’t exactly expect them both to have the same mindset about the police. Their different experiences have warranted different perspectives and if you deliberately blind yourself to those differences for the sake of believing that you see everyone equally, then you’re not fixing the problem, you’re just being ignorant to the fact that it is there.

As a Black male it is important to me to understand that there is a White male or female out there who is not able to relate to certain discriminations I’ve faced because of our difference in backgrounds and how society regards us. There are stigmas that have been attached to us both and many people will treat us both a certain way based on those stigmas. A person who chooses to be “color blind” would fail to recognize these differences and in the process they wouldn’t understand the the anger and pain that either side may feel because of their specified grievances. You’re trying to hold them to the same standard ideally, but the reality is their standards are NOT the same so no realistic positive outcome will come from trying to view them as such.

Contrary to popular belief, we definitely need to see each other’s skin colors, I certainly do. The reason why I see color is because I’m supposed to, we all are. If we weren’t meant to see each other’s colors then it physically wouldn’t be possible, nevertheless we can see each other’s colors and guess what? That’s a good thing. Everyone was perfectly created in whatever skin they are in and if your form was perfectly made then why shouldn’t I see it?

The truth is I SHOULD see it, but because we live in a world where so many forces, especially the ones in power, have caused so many atrocities from oppression to genocide all because they saw a difference in skin color as something that made a group of people less than or abuse-worthy. Now the rest of the world believes that if we also see skin color, then we too are contributing to the mindset of negative ideologies. I should see your skin color and you should see mines because we were flawlessly created. NO! Our colors do not define everything about us, but they are a part of who we are and that part is meant to be seen and embraced.

Remember this, to not see the entirety of who someone is to deny who they are and the differences they come from. We’re not making the world a better place by doing this, we’re only throwing it’s woes in a socially constructed closet that will eventually overflow with junk. See me just like I can see you and know that there is nothing wrong with seeing our full selves.