Yes, racial tensions in this country exist among all colors, but the most defining (and polarizing) in our historic development has certainly been between black folks and white folks. My wife, an American citizen who immigrated from Bangladesh, knew this struggle was part of the storied fabric into which she was moving. "We knew about its history of slavery," she'd say, "so we just assumed when we got here that whites were mostly in charge." Immediately, my liberal arts education made the hairs on my arms stand up when I heard this comment, but then I realized that as an outsider her perspective may be more objective than mine. Ideally, I'd like to see this country as an experiment in democracy, the end result of which is a celebration of diverse equality. I think for many thinking Americans, that mindset grows in pervasiveness. But, perhaps we are further behind than we tell ourselves. Perhaps the world does not see us with the idealistic hope we have for our potential future but with a more realistic understanding of where we stand currently. So then, how do we truly move forward? Not move on, mind you, which implies a sweeping under the rug. But redefine. How do we redefine our cultural landscape for us (all) to believe in it and for the rest of the world to understand us? Maybe it starts more simply than politics can support, more basic and less complicated than those in power would have us believe. Like anything, maybe it starts with how we think about things.
I propose that maybe it starts with a symbolic redefining as elementary as color shift. I propose that no more shall we think of ourselves as black and white. How about instead we try on thinking of it as purple and pink. Black and white as concepts are too loaded with literary and spiritual overtones to be effectively progressive. One being seen as evil and one good, one righteous and one subversive, one involving no color and one involving every color, they are too far apart from each other on the color spectrum (opposites, in fact), whereas purple and pink are right next to each other, different yet abutting. Also, and not to imply vulgarity (but hopefully to show that these concepts are not purely abstract), these are the colors of our respective genitalia, our most vulnerable parts. By reissuing our identities in relation to our vulnerabilities, we relate ourselves to each other more intimately, a reminder of our shared humanity. Lastly, and perhaps the most controversial part of this idea, these color choices arguably skew the power dynamic of society back toward left of center, back across the racial aisle. Purple may be seen as richer, deeper, even more regal compared to its brighter and lighter counterpart. In short, purple may be seen as a slightly more powerful color than pink, a welcome difference from how the power dynamic of our society is too often viewed today (i.e. by those viewing from the outside or those joining our experiment later, like my wife).
This shift of color consideration from polar opposites to a single shade apart may more aptly reflect the truth of diversity and shared human experience, that we have differences but are really so similar. What can actually be done with this change of mindset, this recasting of color, I do not know. But a change in thinking is certainly a step in the right direction toward a change in practice.
Thank you for reading and, as always, more to come.
