The Curtain of My Skin Color

Blog Updated 06.15.2020 at 7:51 p.m.

“The curtain of my skin color” is a phrase spoken by James Baldwin in a speech about the riots of 1968. The curtain referred to the the veil of racial identity that Whites used as an excuse for not seeing Black people as human beings. I then thought of the phrase color blindness with an emphasis on the word “blind”- not seeing. The term color blindness means not to see race and therefore, not to see Blackness, ergo not to see the humanity of Black people.

Color blindness has long been taught as a way to deal with racism. If you don’t acknowledge, it doesn’t exist. Instead, it does more harm. It devalues. It does not acknowledge the existence of those different from oneself.

Black people have lived in this country for centuries, where we haven’t been seen as humans but othered. Yes, there are some of us privileged to be seen because we look closer to the color of whiteness but yet we know we are Black even if others don’t want to see us as Black.

I remember incidences where White people told me that shouldn’t tell anyone that I’m Black, as if it was wrong to be Black. I’d be more acceptable being non-Black. I’ve also had other people try to identify me as another race or ethnicity because of my ambiguous look. But I know who I am. I am Black.

The curtain of my skin color is not a veil for me to be silenced or ignored. Remove the blinders and see me as I see you. We are both human and both living to do better and make difference. I will no longer be unseen or unheard. Too much work needs to be done. I’ve been silenced too long.

In the shade, I cannot grow as strong as my potential. But despite the shade, I’ve been able to grow with the small amounts of sunlight to feed and nourish me. This shade must be removed for me to be all that I am destined to be.

I am Black. I am Black. I am Black.

See me.