People of Color

As I am sure some or most of you have been following the debates that have been going on leading up to the November election, a recurring phrase keeps being uttered by multiple candidates. The phrase is “people of color” and it fascinates me to the point that I am compelled to write this blog about it. Perhaps I am from a different place in time or just simply getting older but I would like to focus on the word color. From my perspective white is a color, I say this because growing up I had a white crayon in my Crayola box for those that remember those, furthermore we have a “White House” which is our center of political power. We also have white chocolate, vanilla ice cream which is white, we have white colored cars, houses, clothing, dogs, cats, the rare albino’s which are all white and some of us even have hair that turns white if we are lucky enough to have in our golden years, I’m sure you get the point.

So, with all that and more I am curious as to why “people of color” fails to include the legitimate color of white? The definition according to the Oxford dictionary states “a person who is not white or of European parentage” I disagree with that definition simply because it doesn’t make sense, white is a color and I have not found anything to change my view on it. What does make sense is that it further separates us as a civilization by dividing us into groups which goes hand in hand with classifying and separating us further.

Politically it has been weaponized to pit one group of humans against another, legitimizing the separation. In my view the term actually does more harm than good. Is it not true that we are all human? Does it truly matter where you came from, what color your skin is, or what your financial worth is? For me the answer is simply a resounding no. There are good and bad humans all over the world, many examples can be found. They come in all colors, genders, from different geographic locations and economic standings.

I fail to see why a person’s skin color dictates a pre-disposed position of treatment or classification. It would seem that it is a form of discrimination or even racism, two words that have been uttered by everyone to the point of almost being useless as a point of context.  

 If anyone would care to comment as to why I may be wrong or right I would enjoy the chance to be corrected, enlightened or supported. At this point I am simply confused at the legitimacy of this phrase.

As always thank you for your time and I look forward to your comments both good and bad.

Eric (and sometimes not)