Member-only story
I Am Not Colorblind
July 12, 2023
Twice, now, I’ve been asked how I feel about being part of a very diverse community, in terms of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity. It happened a couple months back in a job interview with a Unitarian Church, and yesterday during my interview for admission to seminary.
I am about as white as they come, and I am a heterosexual woman with a graduate degree. In the seminary interview, I talked about how I’ve never experienced discrimination, I simply haven’t any direct personal experience. Even as a very large woman, I don’t recall ever having been disregarded or marginalized in business because of my size or gender. If it happened, it didn’t register. Perhaps I’m so conditioned, it went right over my head. Or maybe it’s due to the fact I was in the healthcare industry, which is comprised of over 75% women, most of whom have college degrees. But it’s more likely nothing truly significant has ever happened to me in terms of my size or gender.
When I learn of the things that happen to my black and brown neighbors, I am often flabbergasted. It doesn’t seem possible the things that happen actually happen. That’s how removed I am from racial discrimination in my day-to-day life. Oh, I believe it. It isn’t possible to deny or minimize what is happening. I have not one doubt this country is a terrifying place to be a person of…
