So…you say you don’t see color? Explain.

What do you mean you “don’t see color”?

Do you mean you literally only see things in varying shades of gray? Does your world look literally colorless? When you watch “The Wizard of Oz,” does Oz look no different than Kansas to you?

Is that what you mean when you say that you “don’t see color”?

Or do you believe that seeing a person’s color is equivalent to judging someone’s character? Do you believe that not being white is bad?

Is that what you mean?

Or do you mean you don’t see any difference in how we look? Do you think everyone just looks white? Do you think everyone looks Black? Which is the default?

Or do you mean it even more abstractly? Can you not see my history? Can you not see all that people who look like me have done? Can you not see the joy of American music in all its forms? Can you not see the contributions to art and literature and dance, not to mention sports? Can you not see the beauty created by people who look like me? Can you not see how unrecognizable the world would be without us?

Or do you mean that you can’t see how differently we are viewed by our institutions? Can you not see how personal belief in those institutions leads to personal belief in treating us differently?

Or do you mean that you’re unwilling to see the hatred people who look like you have for people who look like me? Can you not see the systems that give you permission to do and say things that the rest of us cannot?

Or do you mean that your public ignoring of the inherent systemic value in race makes things better?

Or do you believe that racism is a simple thing that exists wholly within a person’s heart?

Is that what you mean?

Or do you believe that not acknowledging racism will make it go away? Do you truly believe that one’s ability to see is the root of the problem?

Is that what you mean when you say that you “don’t see color”?

Or do you just want absolution?

What do you mean you “don’t see color”?


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3 thoughts on “So…you say you don’t see color? Explain.”

  1. It really dosnt have to be a black and white world. There are so many shades of humanity, so many different colors of kindness. I don’t care what color your skin is, your eyes are, your hair is..I DO not see color. I see hearts and I see souls. I hear music, I see art, I feel the message of anyone expressing themselves in kindness and love and understanding. I DO not see color. I see souls.

    • If you don’t see a black man (or woman’s) black skin, then you can’t see all the harm perpetrated on them because of their skin and you can’t see all the white-washing happening all around us in daily life. It’s sad that you can see so much and still see so little. Also, nobody can see my soul but me & “god”.

  2. My take. Not seeing “color” is an abstraction meant to usually imply that you —- the so “enlighten” white person — is looking beyond the person’s skin tone and not judging the person on the basis of it. But of course – unless the person is color blind – this is actually a cop out ! For it is a failure— as you pointedly say —- to acknowledge the essence, the history and experiences that are so unique to people of color in the United States — particularly those with a Black African heritage.

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