A Lesson in Acceptance

Recently, I was required to read a letter written by Dr. Martin Luther Kind Jr. for a literature class. It made me think about a lot of things, primarily my own ignorance towards racism and how it is still a prevalent obstacle even in today's world. Contrary to popular belief, racism still exists and it affects people more heavily than one might think.

I grew up in a suburban home in central Florida as an adopted minority child of two loving, white parents. I didn't like where we lived. I hated how everything was so separate, yet so mixed in. I couldn't stand the old men who wore speedos while roller-blading down the beach, nor could I tolerate the steroid-pumping cops that patrolled the neighborhood nearby. Mainly, I couldn't stand the large white, redneck population that made life for minorities a struggle.

Until the age of 16, I was completely blind to racism. Growing up in a family full of wonderfully color-blind people made me color-blind too. However, going to public school made that slowly disappear. The black girls would often ask me questions such as "Why are your parents white?". It was awkward and frustrating. I'd often just ride the bus rather than have my parents take me to avoid the grueling interrogations. I just wanted to be left alone. The white students at my school seemed just as color-blind as my family and I so I sought comfort with them. Even though I was half white, half African American I always identified myself as a white person. I stayed out of the sun to stay light-skinned and made a special effort to act as all of my white peers acted.

However, I could not escape the questions. Because the other black girls in my school sensed that I was uncomfortable with discussing the subject, they teased and harassed me. Some were even physically violent. As a result, I became more and more skeptical of half of my race. I disliked them. They were mean, loud, violent and unfriendly while the white girls were always warm, friendly, and welcoming.

Then everything changed. In high school I met a girl named Artesia. She was the only black girl I'd ever met who felt the same way I did. She'd endured the same teasing because of her willingness to be color-blind. She hated the prominent "ghetto mentality" that was so prevalent among the black girls in our school and sought to just be herself. One day I was placed in one of her classes on an assignment for one of my teachers. I peered into the window and saw the white male teacher passively give out student assignments. The boys in the class were touching her breasts and when she repeatedly told them to stop and complained to the teacher, he simply dismissed here.

For the first time in my life, I'd seen oppression in its most awful form. This sweet, innocent young woman who wanted nothing more than to finish high school and not get sick of it and drop out like the rest of us was being sexually harassed and the one authority figure who is supposed to take the matter seriously, did nothing. You can rest assured I had a few heavy words for that man.

I left home at 16 and lived with a white man. I was attracted to white men. It was just a personal preference. However, this man was incredibly abusive and evil. During my time with him my eyes opened. I learned to recognize who was racist and who wasn't simply by a glance and the tone of their voice. I started understanding why I couldn't get a job in crappy, central Florida - the redneck heaven of the South. I understood the meaning behind the old white woman's pursed lips and the young punk's cold grimace. Everything made perfect sense now.

Sometimes I wished I'd never opened my eyes. I liked being color-blind. I liked thinking everyone was the same. The truth is, everyone is the same. Unfortunately, society does not treat us that way. Color-blindness is not a skill -- it's a gift from above. When one is truly color blind, one can see the world from an objective and fair perspective. The world needs an infection of color-blindness. My loving adoptive parents have shown me that such a trait is a necessity in this world and that the color blind person is a gift to mankind.