Thursday, October 15, 2015

Color Brave vs. Color Blind


Before this, I had previously had a similar discussion about this topic. The idea of being "color blind" never really sat well with me. I think that when some people mention that they are "color blind" they mean it in the best way possible, but the term in itself is insulting and degrading to people of color. Saying that you are color blind is directly ignoring a very big piece of someone's identity. Its pretending a part of them does not exist. To me, that is taking away from the person as a whole. According to Mellody Hobson, who presented the TED talk on being color brave, color blindness is the equivalent to running away from a problem, while being color brave is helping to face the problem head on and create change.

I found another interesting article to back up what Mellody Hobson talked about in her TED talk:



In regards to the tweet that read:

 "never trust anyone
   who says they do not see color
   this means to them,
   you are invisible"
 


This is extremely important. This has to be understood.
 
In my opinion, this just solidifies the message from the TED talk. I think the tweet is a simple and short way to convey a very important message that so many people do not seem to understand.
 
I have definitely felt invisible before, in regards to be sexuality seeming to be invisible to others. I feel like although it may not be as widespread, having a part of you ignored or denied can make you feel invisible, even if that piece of you isn't a physical attribute that you have. I think that youth spaces like  Youth In Action can really help try to end this invisibility because these members of society-regardless of their age are sharing their stories and their experiences with one another. Awareness can be spread at any age.


2 comments:

  1. Kate, I completely agree with the what you said, " having a part of you ignored or denied can make you feel invisible, even if that piece of you isn't a physical attribute that you have." Mellody Hobson talks about being color brave, but think if we are intentional about acknowledging people's experience and what that means for them, than we can avoid ignoring aspects of people that have contributed to who they are due to their unique identities and experiences.

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  2. I like that you took Hobson's talk on invisibility and took it more than just a phsyical characteristic. Beautifully said, "having a part of you ignored or denied can make you feel invisible, even if that piece of you isn't a physical attribute that you have." Hobson talks about seeing your color and your true self and your attributes but you took it a step further and I think this is also a true and powerful subject. When the world tells you that something about you isn't right and isn't acknowledged you're forced to be invisible and no one should ever be made to feel invisible whether that be with their skin or even any characteristic that makes an individual themselves.

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