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People of color

A term as old as the United States itself is to me hilarious and insensitive all at the same time.  In today's age where the anxiety around your origins is palpable not being 'colorless' is a handicap.

I mean if Indians and African American and Arabs and Mexicans were to be bucketed as the 'people of color', you should not be penalized to think that the 'white folk' who invented the disparaging phrase be considered 'colorless'.  After all white is a color is it not?

What are they then?  Transparent?  Far from it.  Those that cling to that ideology without saying it or those that say it without realizing it are essentially dense.  That through which light also does not pass.  Opaque is more like it.

A stereotype is a natural instinct of the human mind to categorize without allocating serious consideration and all of us including yours truly is guilty.  An Udipi joint in my neighborhood gets very little tipping from me because I go in not expecting service.  Some of that bias is based on past result but in all honesty if I see a new server I need to give him the benefit of doubt.   I don't.

That they prove their worth in the next half hour is unfortunate.  That said there is room for all of us as a species to look inside before looking out and fine tuning the dial to just be a bit more color coordinated.

If we can spend enormous amount of time in the sartorial sense then applying a dash of broad minded acceptance of all skin types should gain us that attractive innocence of the kid has who draws with all her crayons.

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