Color un-Blind

I commented to Arthur the other day how I noticed that Asian news casters and psychologists were “used” to cover/ comment on the recent Dallas shooting on WGNN, because it was a “neutral race” in this saga. It would seem wrong for a black person to cover the assault on their race, and too loaded for a white person to do so.

A “Black lives matter” protest passed me by as I walked towards the train station. One of the banners that caught my eye read “Asian Americans against police brutality”.

Six years ago, I would not have noticed these things. My “racial radar” would have been completely insensitive and I would have taken pride in being “color blind” (ie. I see each individual as he/she is, and not making much about his/her color). And now, thanks to the Multicultural Counseling class in Trinity, my time here in the U.S as a minority and a few jabbing experiences, my racial/cultural journey has begun.

I sometimes lament the loss of my “color/gender innocence” because sometimes it’s all about being politically correct and it becomes the overwhelming lens through which things/people are assessed. Nonetheless, I am grateful for the heightened awareness and sensitivity that I have. A few key lessons I think I’ve learnt so far are –

1. Own my blind spots: admit that I don’t understand the other culture/race. I am not them, I have not been in their shoes and I do not know what they are going through. Despite being human or maybe having had similar experiences, I have no right to assume – not how they think, not how they feel nor how they should respond. I don’t know how the Malays or Indians feel in Singapore, nor the Blacks and Hispanics feel in the U.S. And sometimes I may have discriminated against them knowingly and unknowingly.

2. Empathize: even though I don’t understand, I have to try and empathize. They can feel marginalized and discriminated against even if there was no intention to do so, they have the right to be angry, they are entitled to feel. They can have the space and safety to lick their wounds. Do not justify, their emotions matter and they are real.

3. Celebrate and love as God would: Imago Dei. Remember that they are made in the image of God, lovingly formed by our Heavenly Father, created to reflect His beauty. He gave us color, He gave us culture, He made us different. Despite all our imperfections, there can be unity in our diversity for at the very least we share humanity. Look into their eyes, get to know them and love them as our neighbor. Love, even if they might the enemy.