Seeing Race

At the introductory press conference for New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo, he told the truth.

Since he's the team's first black head coach, he was asked about race and said:

I do think of it because I believe if you don't see color, you can't see racism and whatever, whatever happens, black, white, disabled person, I've all or even someone with disabilities, I always, you know, for the most part, people are like, you know, don't you know, when they're young, they kind of make a spot hot. Younger people know what that means. But what I would say is like, No, I want you to be able to go up to those people and really understand those people. So it goes back to whatever it is. Black, white, yellow. It really doesn't matter, but it does matter. So we can try to fix a problem that we all know we have.

The man has a point. You should consider me among those who believe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s most profound statement was about judging people by the content of their character.

That phrase is often used to argue that we should have a colorblind society.

But I don't see things that way.

While race is not everything, we refuse to argue that it's nothing.

Race is one of a vast array of puzzle pieces that make up a person's character.

Pretending not to see race is foolish and common.

On this one, and I can barely believe I'm saying this about a New England Patriot as a Bills fan, I'm with Jerod Mayo.

What do you think?

Should we have a colorblind society? Is it necessary?

Tell me in the comments at jamesbrowntv.substack.com or email me at jamesbrowntv@gmail.com.

You can also leave me a message at 585-484-0339.

On that note, I'm James Brown, and as always, be well.