Stop ‘coloring’ people

is a powerful form C olor of communication, the way you see color will influence your thinking, and cause reactions. Whether you believe this about yourself or other people in your life, color does matter.

How do you see color?

What is color? Is color the reality or a false belief of things that is caused by different qualities?

Color causes humans to be racist and prejudiced.

Colors cause emotional reactions, negative stereotypes, and racial discrimination against individuals; in some cases, it can lead to violence. The difference in prejudice and discrimination is discrimination can be the manifestation of prejudice and involves negative, hostile, and injuries to rejected people.

Many people’s attitudes are taught at a young age.

When family, and friends talk about race and share their opinions it is more than likely you will inherit those opinions as truth for that color of people. Unless people begin to seek the truth about people who have different interests, upbringings, and cultural beliefs the world will never change. Everyone knows that sometimes being with people that look like you, creates an atmosphere of belonging. However you can be a part of your own color and still not belong.

Many of you have heard this before, “He or she acts White or he or she acts Black.” Meaning the Blacks think the Black individual is acting White or the Whites think the white individual is acting Black. The difference is overtime this thinking will support the belief that you think that you are better than other colors of people.

Having conversations with the opposite colors about their color can be extremely uncomfortable but having these discussions will help most people understand their own blind spots. Everyone is afraid to address race related issues because of being misunderstood.

One race fear that they may say the wrong thing, while the other race fear experiences will be dismissed.

The best way to address the behavior of humans is to talk with a close friend that is different from you in a private setting and share your truth about your experiences. Everyone has stories about their life in black and white images.

It is sometimes easier to socialize with people that look like you. Color conversations are not ever going to be comfortable because of each individual personal life experience.

No matter how much you trust others with your negative experiences or share offensive comments there will always be a disconnect. In today’s time color should not matter. Why is racism even a thing anymore? Why can’t people move past the color of a person’s skin?

Stop judging and get to know people from different backgrounds and find out how much you have in common. If you look in the mirror and see your truth about your reality of your life, the anger and frustration you project onto others will cease. If you want people to stop being a certain way then you start with yourself and stop blaming others for your downfalls.

People in rural communities are often oppressed and easy targets for the oppressors. Have you heard these comments before, “those people took our jobs” or all they want is a government handout?”

The bias and not belonging will become real for you when you have to be part of a diverse group without notice. Addressing challenging issues will always be uncomfortable for some people. Under the right circumstances productive respectful conversations can lead to less hatred and more understanding.

Sherry Holliman is a political columnist, former Marion City Councilwoman and a concerned citizen of Crittenden County, Arkansas, with some thoughts on a variety of topics she would like to share with her community.

Sherry Holliman

Community Commentary