“I don’t see color.”

“I don’t see color.”

I’ve heard this phrase a lot, especially lately. It’s some people’s attempt to show how “not racist” they are. I know most of the time there’s no malice behind it, however, let’s talk about the harm a phrase like this can do.

I’m currently a white mom raising a black child. Let’s pretend I didn’t “see” color. Let’s say I pretended she was white and I used the same products on her skin and hair that I used on my Caucasian children. Okay, honesty time…I actually ignorantly did this the first day she was in our home. I used normal body soap, shampoo and conditioner, and lotion and oh man, she was a mess. So instead of continuing to make this same mistake over and over, I educated myself. I asked other black women for help, I asked other white moms of African American children for help, I even joined a natural hair group and put myself at risk for extreme scrutiny to get my daughter the best products for her skin and hair.

“I don’t see color.”

I HAD to see her color in order to do what was best for her. I had to acknowledge she was black in order to meet her needs. Had I continued to use the same products on her, her skin would continue to be pale and ashen instead of moisturized and beautiful, and her hair would still be a frizzy mess. I remember one time I had run out of her sunscreen so I just put another kind on her and she turned blue. BLUE, y’all! I was mortified. I couldn’t get that sunscreen to rub in anymore so my poor baby spent the entire day with a blue tint to her. MOM. FAIL.

“I don’t see color.”

What would happen if instead of deciding that we don’t see color, we decided that we do notice the differences that make this world great and we celebrate those differences? Can you imagine how boring this world would be if we all looked the same? What if instead of not seeing color we embrace that color and the culture behind it? What if we took the time to ask our black neighbors and friends how we can change the narrative?

“I don’t see color.”

You can’t call out injustice on something you don’t see. Not seeing color means turning a blind eye to something that so desperately needs to be seen. Not seeing color is telling someone that the color of their skin isn’t worth seeing. Not seeing color could very well be denying someone something that makes them who they are. Not seeing color is highlighting your privilege because you don’t have to think about the color of your skin on a daily basis. Not seeing color is the easy way out.

“I don’t see color.”

No. It’s time to make a change.

See it. Embrace it. Love it. Celebrate it.

Be a change and a voice for those who so desperately need our privilege to help fight the good fight. Don’t turn a blind eye to something we need to bring to light. Let’s start seeing color and calling out the injustice in this world. Let’s not be silent. Let’s not use “I don’t see color” as an easy way to skate by something that is maybe not so warm and fuzzy. Because I can imagine it’s even less warm and fuzzy for the people who have to live this every day. Do it for them.

Let’s rise up. Let’s wake up. Let’s stand up next to our brothers and sisters. Let’s start seeing color.