“I don’t see color.” It’s a noble sentiment, isn’t it? It comes from a place that desires equality.
However, imagine gazing into the sky on a bright sunny morning saying, “I don’t see color.”
Think of strolling through a park in the autumn looking at the tree leaves saying, “I don’t see color.”
See yourself playing in the snow on a somberly beautiful winter afternoon saying, “I don’t see color.”
Visualize enjoying a magnificent sunset saying, “I don’t see color.”
Picture going to a paint shop to decorate a home saying, “I don’t see color.”
Envision visiting a clothing store to buy an outfit saying, “I don’t see color.”
To celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, we often invoke his infamous quote, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Yet, it’s likewise a convenient way for society at large to avoid the subject of race relations and discount the existence of ongoing discrimination against minority communities altogether.
To achieve true unity and equality, we must put in the effort to embrace diversity and recognize the beauty of our cultures: language, dress, food, musical styles, etc. Dr. King also said, “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent.”
May we open our eyes and acknowledge the wonder of the human race in all of its splendor.
I say let’s see each other. Let’s see color.
