Being ‘a color’ is unrealistic
I n the United States, people are often categorized by their skin color. Society has assigned racial labels such as Black, White, and Brown without allowing individuals to define themselves. These labels were not chosen by the people they supposedly represent; they were imposed by the perceptions of others.
If you have a dark complexion, you are expected to identify as Black. If your skin is lighter, you are considered White. But what happens when these categories fail to capture the complexity of identity? What happens when an entire group of people is reduced to a single color that doesn’t even accurately describe them?
Since this is Black History Month, it’s important to clarify the impact of being labeled “Black” in America. Being Black is not a problem for a Black person. Being Black is a problem for a society that refuses to see and respect the humanity of Black individuals. No one chooses their skin color. People are born the way they are. Despite laws meant to protect against discrimination, Black people continue to face systemic barriers, economic disparities, and social prejudices. Even today, Black people are often treated as second-class citizens, while animals in this country sometimes receive more legal protections.
When Black people challenge these injustices, they are labeled militant, aggressive, or troublemakers. The moment they advocate for equality, they are seen as a threat rather than as citizens exercising their rights.
Many people claim, “I don’t see color.” But what does that really mean? If you were describing a suspect in a crime, would you only mention their height? If color blindness were truly the norm, how would children learn to distinguish between red, blue, and yellow? The color Black, as defined in art and science, is often described as the absence of light or a mixture of all colors.
Yet, no human being’s skin is literally black. Most Black individuals have varying shades of brown, yet “Brown” is not an option for racial identity. Why not? Who decided that Black people had to be labeled “Black” when their skin is more accurately brown? And more importantly, why does that label come with so many social disadvantages?
Racist individuals need to understand that their nonverbal behavior, microaggressions, passive aggression, and even their tone of voice reveal their true feelings. You don’t have to say “I don’t like Black people” for others to feel your mistreatment. Your body language, your reluctance to engage, your subtle dismissals, and even the way you change your tone when addressing someone who doesn’t look like you all expose your bias. Racism is not always loud.
It is often quiet, insidious, and disguised as politeness. It can be found in the extra scrutiny Black individuals face in stores, the way their ideas are dismissed in workplaces, and the assumptions made about their intelligence, character, or behavior. These unspoken forms of discrimination are just as damaging as overt racism. Being Black in America is not just a racial identity. It is an everyday challenge. It means constantly navigating a world where judgments are made based on skin color rather than character. It means facing discrimination from other races and, at times, even within the Black community itself, where “colorism” places light-skinned and darkskinned individuals against one another.
Until American society acknowledges that this issue is not just about race but about respect, the nation will never truly achieve liberty and justice for all. Who is really living in Blackness?
Racism is not just about seeing color, it is about assigning worth to people based on their color. Ironically, the real darkness does not exist in Black skin but in the minds of those who hold onto superiority complexes and outdated beliefs. People are different. They always have been, and they always will be. But beneath the surface, everyone breathes the same air and bleeds the same red blood. Until that reality is fully embraced, America will continue to struggle with its identity trapped in the unrealistic idea that people can be defined by a single color. In reality the true “Black” individual is the person that has chosen to live in darkness, harbor hate in their heart to intentionally harm other humans because they are different from them. It’s important to remember that loving others goes beyond our comfort zones or the people we naturally connect with. No one has ever seen God, and no one knows his color. Yet as human, you praise him, worship him, and rely on him during your darkest hours.
Your faith is built on loving a God you cannot see, as captured in the bible “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). If you can trust and love a divine presence beyond your physical realm, why can’t you extend that same love and respect to one another, even in the face of visible differences like skin color? Challenge yourself to accept and respect the skin color of all humans.
Sherry Holliman is a concerned citizen of Crittenden County and has some views on a variety of topics that she wants to share with her neighbors. She previously served on the Marion City Council.
Sherry Holliman
Community Commentary
