I don’t know how many times over the past month, I’ve heard the comment,
“I don’t see colour.”
I get what people are trying to say. They want to identify that they’re not racist and to show their support. However, that statement and well-meaning intention, often does exactly the opposite.
“I don’t see colour” can be offensive, hurtful, confirms ignorance, and suggests an individual’s colorblindness. It proves blindness to black experience in our country, our cities, communities, schools and workplaces. It shows ignorance to the reality of white privilege, differences between black and white cultures and the need for change.
One day my grandkids (ages 4 – 14) were playing magic tricks with their little brother. They told him they were going to put a blanket over his head and when they said the magic words, he would disappear.
They put the blanket gently over his head and said the three magic words and quickly pulled the blanket off. At once, everyone started calling his name asking “Where are you?” “Where are you?” “We can hear you but we can’t see you!” At first, he was smiling and saying, “I’m right here!” “I’m right here!”, but as he actually started to believe they really couldn’t see him, he began to panic and without giving it much thought, reached down for the blanket and placed it back over his head, then quickly pulling it off his head exclaimed, “I’m back!”.
To say “I don’t see colour.”, is like playing my grandkids game. We are virtually putting a blanket over someone’s head - pretending they’ve disappeared. It suggests we can “hear you”, but you are invisible to us. I imagine when a black person hears “I don’t see colour”, they must feel like my little grandson and want to yell, “I’m here, I’m right here.” “Why can’t you see me?” There’s nothing worse than being made to feel invisible and that you don’t matter.
Being “colour blind” is not the way to show support for those of other races or colour. Not seeing colour is not the way to empower or create lasting change for future generations. Embracing and promoting diversity in all aspects of our lives will do much more for creating inclusivity. There are many powerful ways for us to stand up and lead out in our communities, homes and workplaces to model acceptance of all races.
1. Be Colour Brave – Not Colour Blind
Eleven years ago, my daughter gave birth to twins – one survived and one didn’t. We were devastated with the loss, it was so heartbreaking to our family but especially hard for my daughter and her husband. She told me that whenever she’d run into people she knew, they’d avoid saying anything about little Thomas because they didn’t want to say the “wrong thing” and upset her. So, they’d choose to say nothing at all.
What she really craved, was for them to just say something in acknowledgement of her son. To acknowledge he was real to her and her family. To acknowledge their loss. She came to understand through that experience, that even clumsy acknowledgement is better than complete erasure.
To become a better support and/or advocate for organizations such as Black Lives Matter or for individuals in our communities, we need to see colour. We need to acknowledge differences and experiences and opinions. Don’t erase individuals or their experiences just because it’s not your experience.
Financial executive Mellody Hobson, shared this insight in her 2014 TED talk:
“You can be colour brave…I’m actually asking you to do something really simple…Observe your environment at work, at school, at home. Look at people around you purposefully and intentionally. Invite people into your life who don’t look like you, don’t think like you, don’t act like you, don’t come from where you come from. You might find that they’ll challenge your assumptions and make you grow as a person. You might get powerful new insights from these individuals.”
2. Listen
Liz Shumer, a staff writer for several popular women’s magazines including Prevention and Good Houskeeping, put it this way:
“The first step to combating racism in our society is listening, no matter who you are. It hurts to hear that you might hold prejudice, especially if you consider yourself an open-minded person. But instead of getting defensive or jumping in to explain your own perspective immediately, listen to other points of view including those of Black change-makers, elected officials, celebrities, friends and coworkers.”
3. Get Comfortable with being uncomfortable
Be ready to have hard conversations with those in your own social circles. Challenge their thinking and ideas with information you’ve discovered through research and by educating yourself around bias, racism and racial discrimination.
4. Support racial justice organizations like Black Lives Matter
Organizations like Black Lives Matter appreciate monetary donations to support the movement but you can also share their messages through social media and with all of your networks. Check out Canadian organizations that empower black communities here.
5. Continue Learning
It’s time for all of us to stand up, speak out and support the anti-racism movement through organizations like Black Lives Matter.
One of the best ways to begin is through learning and staying informed. You can start by looking at these websites Here and Here. They are packed with information and resources to help you become more educated and begin your journey.
It’s going to take all of us working together to dismantle racial bias that affects our country, our homes, our communities, our workplaces and our world. It’ll be hard work. It’ll be uncomfortable. But we can begin by being Colour Brave – and Not Colour Blind.