Saying “I Don’t See Colour” Is An Excuse For You To Ignore My Struggle
Saying I don’t see colour disregards the existence of anti-blackness.
"I don't see colour."
The people I have come across in my life who use this phrase use it in a defensive context, they use it as a piece of evidence to support their assertions in conversations about racism. However, what some of may know or may not know is that by saying that they "don't see colour" implies that they don't see my struggle, or see my oppression and the battles I still have to face because of my colour. It prevents people from acknowledging social issues people of colour have to combat in relation to issues such as; featurism, colourism and racism.
You don't see my pain and struggle.
When you say you don't see my colour when you see me as a person, it means that you are ignoring my race, of which plays a big part of my life as a black woman in society. Consequently, you will fail to see the obstacles myself and my people have to encounter from day to day, that you as a non-person of colour will never fully understand because the colour of your skin has never been the target. If you were to finally see my colour, you would be able to recognize the issues I have to face, from understanding why I am profiled in a clothing store, or why my people have a fear of the police and why I have been a target for bullies because of my race. By seeing my colour you will finally be able to try and look at my obstacles from my perspective to adopt somewhat of an understanding of black issues in society.
You don't hear me nor amplify my voice.
When saying you don't see colour, you immediately block yourself from the issues black people are trying to bring awareness to, especially when we are advocating for change. Whenever I try to bring up conversations that are about racial injustice and discrimination my non-Poc friends are often dismissive and they get defensive, not even wanting to learn about the problems my people encounter on a day to day basis. This is what not seeing colour does. As a result, it will only perpetuate the habit of ignoring issues on race then the cycle of not addressing racism will continue to blossom and we will never grow such a large base of allyship in our lifetimes. When you don't see my colour or try to understand the obstacles I have to face because of my colour, you will never be there to support me or back me up in times where your allyship is needed.
You will never fully understand me.
By purposely choosing to ignore my colour, you will never understand why I get discriminated against in the workplace when it comes to my hairstyle, you will not have the ability to grasp the reason why I have to change my hair to conform to eurocentric hairstyles.
By purposely choosing to ignore my colour, you are choosing to never understand why I am always called " an angry black women" or why I am labelled as " strong". You are purposely choosing to never take the chance to fully get the historical reasons as to why my people and I are being treated and have been treated so poorly by society.
For you to understand all these examples I have listed you need to have an awareness of race and stereotypes, this cannot be achieved without "seeing colour."
Now with this knowledge, before saying "you don't see colour" please consider using another phrase that does not disrespect or gaslight the person of colour right in front of you. Let's take actionable steps that allow us to embrace each other's beautiful differences because remember different does not always have to be a negative thing.