In 1963, the great Dr. had a dream.
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered at the National Mall to get behind the idea that people should be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Yet a lifetime later, it appears we have forgotten the dream and live in a nightmare.
Today, I often wonder what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would think about the state of the world. How he would see a nation of people not judging others by their character but falling into racial dogma and the trap of race-based politics.
It’s sad.
It’s disgusting.
It’s reality.
Race-based policies, positioning, and rhetoric, I believe, are inherently designed to tear us apart instead of bringing us together. It is essentially a way of looking at people as groups instead of as individuals, which I believe only sows more division and disunity.
But the biggest problem I have with race-based politics is a simple one: I don’t fit the mold.
You see, my father is very much a Black man, and my mother is very much a White woman. They would never be confused for anything else.
Which leaves me, a biracial person, caught somewhere in the middle.
I’m a Black sheep living in a White world.
And a White sheep living in a Black world.
I don’t have a racial home, and nor do I want one. I’d rather be treated as an individual.
But I think this perspective, my perspective, has given me the clarity to see straight through the murky waters, and I’d love to share my thoughts.
Nobody chooses their race
Not a single damn person alive chose to be the race they are. I repeat. Not a single damn person alive chose to be the race they are. They were born into it. The reality is unless you have Michael Jackson money to change your appearance, you’re more or less stuck with what you look like. But even with all the money in the world, there’s still one thing impossible to change… your race.
So, to vilify or label someone based on a factor they couldn’t possibly control is incredibly shortsighted and absolutely unempathetic.
This should be obvious.
Making any decision based on race is inherently racist
Anytime you let someone’s race influence your decision, that is, by definition, racist. Even if the intentions are good.
Your race does not determine your lot in life.
I had the blessing and curse of working in outside sales, which allowed me to see and speak to the world. During my work, I encountered a kaleidoscope of possibilities and outcomes.
Black CEOs.
Black janitors.
White CEOs.
White janitors.
Asian CEOs.
Asian janitors.
The list goes on. Their outcome was not determined by the color of their skin but by the color of their choices.
And for the record, I’d rather have a beer with the janitors.
We all get different starting points
Some people are born with a silver spoon and turn it into a golden spoon.
Some people are born with a golden spoon and turn it into a spork.
And some people are born with a spork and turn it into a nice middle-class Walmart wonder spoon.
It’s naive to think that everyone gets the same starting point. However, it’s more naive to think your starting point determines your ending point.
There are countless tales of penniless immigrants of all colors turning into millionaires. And there are countless tales of millionaires falling into poverty. Your only job is to play the cards you’re dealt to the best of your ability.
Meritocracy is the fairest way of evaluating talent
Judging people on the quality of their merit is the most fair and just means of evaluation. Because if you believe in merit, you don’t care what a person looks like; you only care if they can do their job.
Take the NBA, for example. There’s a reason why the teams that win have the best basketball players in the world and not 15 random ass people they met at an airport. They evaluate their team based on merit just by asking a simple question: Can this person help me win?
Now, let’s be real. There is a great case to be made to help people get opportunities they would never normally get. After all, systematic racism does exist. People do need help finding opportunities and breaking barriers. And frankly, there are many, many barriers that still need to be broken. But once you get in the arena, you only stay on the field with your merit. This is how the best teams in life win.
Diversity includes diversity of thought
Diversity is an advantage. Looking at a problem through different lenses only helps you see blind spots. But to gain the true advantage of diversity, one must consider diversity of thought. And yes, this means the blue team working with the red team and the red team working with the blue team, no matter how much they like to bitch about each other.
How can anyone or anything expect to grow if they are never challenged?
You should be judged by your character, not by your skin color.
The doctor was right. People should be judged on the quality of their character, not by the color of their skin. This seems obvious, but the obvious is often overlooked.
In real life, you can hardly get a family of four to agree on what they want to have for dinner—yet someway, somehow, we want to assume millions of people all act and think the same way because of the packaging they’re in? That’s crazy. That’s lazy.
The reality is no two people are the same, and lumping everyone together is as thoughtless as the person who thinks it. The least racist thing anyone can do is to judge people by who they are and not what they look like.
Life is inherently unfair
Your curse is often your blessing. Being born into seemingly unfavorable circumstances has often given people the cunning and ambition to achieve more. Conversely, many people born into great situations can often lose it or never gain the mental edge or ambition to succeed.
Everyone has problems. The question is, do you let the problems define you, or do you work to overcome them? You should know that victories taste much sweeter when you work for them.
The least racist thing anyone can do is treat everyone the same
That’s the line.
And the best thing you can do is treat everyone with love and respect
Even if it requires you to be the bigger person.
You’re being judged anyway
I believe the tragedy of today is people are afraid to say their true thoughts on sensitive topics like race for fear of judgment. They don’t want to offend anyone and get ostracized for it. I get it. However, I think it’s important to remember you’re being judged anyway, even if you say nothing. So don’t let fear of judgment quiet your voice. You have the power to control what you let affect you. If you believe in something, share it. You’ll have more silent admirers than public critics.
Please like, comment, share, and let me know what you think!
Good points, and well said. Your writing is very clear, reminding me of the book, How to Be an Antiracist, by I. X. Kendi, which I highly recommend. I’d like to add that a janitor can have a great work ethic and a CEO can have a lousy one!
For darn sure. And i’d like to add, the janitor also has a better sense of humor. thank you for reading!
Well said.
THank you so much!
An important post. We are all humans!
Thank you my friend! Indeed we are!
Biracial person here, and yes! I made a video once saying there is nothing wrong with being biracial except all the racism and racial issues. I have spoken with other friends who explain how they too are put outside of a box, and never fully accepted for being them. It is a deep pain if you have had the more negative experiences (as some don’t), and one day choose to look at the scar, but because of the ways of the world you spoke of, I am not sure if we as a biracial or multiracial identity will every fully have a healed wound.❤️
The silver lining is, we have one Hell of a good perspective!
Thank you so, so much for reading and commenting! I appreciate your story more than most
Absolutely! I believe that is exactly why I am able to consult openly. You may like my blog because I have content talking about being biracial and my stories are a bit deeper. I am thrilled to have found it, and you commenting. Thank you for being vocal about our beings. I think it is easier to see we are all just beings and on our journey- so keep on yours!
Looking forward to checking you blog out – keep on you’re Aswell
👏💕
A pleasure to read, thank you for putting it so clearly. We need people to get on board with merit, not color or sexual preferences
Totally agree! Thank you for reading
Anthony! This is refreshing and my kind of speak! All the best. Sharon
So happy you enjoyed Sharon!
Thank you so much for writing this! I really felt you.
I’m not black, nor am I biracial but I never understood the concept of color. In contrary, I have always been extremely curious to get to know people that looked different than me with different cultural backgrounds and beliefs.
I believe we can all learn so much from each other. It’s so sad that people don’t understand that.
The world would be a much richer place …
One of my best friends is black and I’m hurting to see how she and her kids are treated at times. And I just don’t understand it because they are such a wonderful family.
I will never understand this injustice …
I believe that people who go through so much pain and injustice usually are the most beautiful of people from the inside. Because they have seen life.
What you said to Samantha’s comment … You have a hell of a good perspective.
And I really believe that at some point of our lives what our greatest disadvantage may have been will eventually turn out to be our biggest asset.
I know from my own life … Everything I considered a failure now comes together beautifully and turns to the complete opposite. It’s not our condition that hurts us, it’s people.
Which then again means … Find your tribe and forget the rest. Don’t listen. It’s hard to do at times and I’m currently still learning it but I’m in a much better place with this mindset. And suddenly people enter your life you would have never thought would cross your way.
Thank you so much for reading and the thoughtful comment! and totally agree our greatest disadvantages turn out to be the advantages -very wise
These two–
“The least racist thing anyone can do is treat everyone the same.”
“And the best thing you can do is treat everyone with love and respect.”
Hopeful.
One day… 🙏🏽
One day 🙏🙏
This is amazing! It brings hope to know that MLK’s legacy lives on! Not only are your points factual, but they are observant. You have an amazing and empathetic perspective on this! In my eyes there is one race, the human race, and as you said- “And the best thing you can do is treat everyone with love and respect.” Humans are all together facing this world, so why divide each other? Thanks so much for the thoughtful insight brother!
So happy you enjoyed thanks for the kind wora
Next to your words, there’s a real and true saying “All are Human.” In respect to your writing, I have a fiction book about three different types of HUMANS, I’m trying to end, one thing they all have in common is HOPE. Your thoughts on Biracial was very timely for me to read. Thank you
So happy you enjoyed and you’re right – all are human
Such a great post. As a Muslim girl who is scared about getting judged “you will get judged even if you say nothing” part relieved me actually.
You are right, no matter what race what religion, no matter what you are ppl always have some negative statements to do…
Have a really nice day 🫡
Thank you so much and I’m so glad you found it comforting – I think the fear of judgement scares everyone – but it’s apart of life – we get to choose whether we let it effect us
Good work.
Thank you so much!
hello
Hi,
happy sunday
Hey, same to you. Stay blessed
thanks what are you doing
This time I am doing nothing.
ITS NIGHT HERE I AM CHATTING WITH YOU
Ok.
From which country are you?
From which country are you?
I am from Pakistan.
oh really?
Why confused?
by the name? not of pakistan
Its my nickname.
ok what is your real name
i thought some country from Europe
No,
Well where from you are belonging?
India
Nice.
Thank you are you married?
Everything belongs to me is in my blog posts.
ok
enjoy with dfamily
👍
smiles
did you read my blogs
No. What domain you are working on?
spices
Ok.
Nice post 🌹🌹
Powerfully insightful!
Thank you so so much!
This is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that challenges us to reconsider how we view and treat others based on race. It eloquently emphasizes the importance of judging individuals by their character rather than their skin color, highlighting the inherent unfairness of race-based policies and the need for diversity of thought. Your perspective as a biracial individual adds depth and authenticity to your message, reminding us all of the value of treating everyone with love and respect. Thank you for sharing your insights.
So happy you enjoyed, thank you for reading!
try being white af but grew up in the projects lol. checkout my whats up my nigga post. but your statement is right on race should be something to talk positive about. different culture etc.. not something to try to insult
💯 and will do – appreciate you reading!
i reblogged this but it dont show u as the original author didnt want u think im jackin ur blog ll
No problem at all, appreciate you sharing!
great post
Thank you so much!
Great piece! I can sooo relate as a fellow bi-racial 😂🤩
Thank you so much my friend! We walk the same path
What a wonderful, thoughtful, and thought-provoking piece of writing. I enjoyed this post very much. Thank you for some enlightened ideas.
Thank you so much! So happy you enjoyed, thank you for reading!
Your post is thought provoking, visually appealing, and so relevant! Good share, thx!!
Clean, effective overall design is a perfect choice for bringing neutral attention to an interesting, and very specific human complexity many have not even had to ponder upon, let alone seriously contemplate how to best navigate throughout day to day life having this circumstance. Not to mention the fact that being biracial is not a feature or characteristic any individual can control. Brava!!!! 🙌😎
So happy you enjoyed thank you
I can’t help but wonder how after so many years and so many attempts to address, race still remains such a big blocker for our human progress. Morally no one could argue against the statement that it is wrong to judge people based on race. Yet we continue to do so. Constantly. What is missing in this debate to help us break through this barrier?
I just think for me, always talking about race is what keeps it alive. I think if we removed that rhetoric and just looked at people as people we would get better
I love this so much! As a mixed-race person myself, I have learned that people judge you based on what you look like; not what race(s) you are. If you don’t look like both of your parents, people will typically think that you’re adopted. It is racist to treat people differently based on what they look like. It is racist to believe all people are the same because no character is the same, and grouping us all into one category is contrarian to the character of the individual. People need to struggle to see success, that’s how greatness is achieved.
Totally agree – the struggle makes the reward that much sweeter and what makes the journey fun
Great post