I was in conversation with white woman about racism. She seemed well informed, conscious of the privilege she had that others did not, and willing to acknowledge her own part in the system.
As we conversed she said, "I see everyone as white."
This is a variation of the sentiment "I don't see color." It is problematic by setting up white as the norm and assumes everyone wants to be and should be seen according to that norm. It erases a part of their identity and denies white as a color. For a more in depth look at the harmful nature of these statements, there are many books and articles to help you better understand.
My objective in mentioning this experience here is to remind us that while we may have good intentions when we say or do a particular thing, the impact can be vastly different. We must acknowledge when we make a mistake and seek to repair damage. AND we must continually examine ourselves, our assumptions, and how we can easily come from a place of white supremacy even when trying to be equitable.
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