My Learned Prejudice

This story is dedicated to those who ever felt rejected by society because they were different. You are not alone, I feel like that daily.

I was born a pink being. This is the norm for my community and I pride myself in being a different shade of pink than those around me. However, the others are of a different culture altogether. I was not born with prejudice against other human beings who are blue instead of pink. I just saw them as strange, but not different. Growing up I was more curious of there color than afraid and that alone made me want to know more. However, since the time I could walk and talk I was warned to stay away from them. Don't play with the children of blue tone. Don't talk to them. Stay with your own shade of pink. You're a bad person if you have anything to do with the blue colored people. And I was always one for perfection so stayed away from them I did. At times I felt bad for the blue colored people. I constantly tried to put myself into their shoes and live life as they did; however, I was a bright shade of pink so that became a challenge; seeing how I got the attention of others and compliments daily on my shade. My tone is considered the pretty and important. The brighter the pink the more wisdom you are to have...according to scientist of my color. I did not just learn to shy away from the blue colored individuals by my parents alone but from my peers, my neighbors, my parent's friends, even teachers. The tone of voice people used to address them, the facial expressions and gestures used at them was always recognizable and demeaning.

As I grew older the more I displayed the same behaviors toward blue beings. The adults who controlled my life and whom I imitated and depended on insisted that people with blue skin stay in their lane. Although, I felt sympathy for them it did not stop me from giving the dirty looks, talking in whispered voices around them, and treating them as if their skin tone was a contagious disease. Due to the need to fit-in, I was willing to go against what in my heart I knew was wrong and do exactly what my religion of Truth taught me not to do...Judge.

The way my life continued there was no way communication could have existed between blue beings and myself. Until the day I wondered into the wrong neighborhood. Or maybe it was the right neighborhood at the time seeing how I would never be where I am today if that accident never happened. I was meeting some friends at a local bar out of town. I did not know where this bar was located so I looked it up for directions; however, the machine gave me directions to another bar on the other side of town with the exact same name. Right place, different location.

As I pulled into the parking lot I knew immediately I was on the wrong side of town. Blue-toned people were everywhere. I was not afraid dough I mean I was pink if anything they were afraid of me. I had unseen privilege so if anything happened to me even something as small as a paper-cut they were going to get the max. I felt safe but uncomfortable. Yet that did not stop me from getting out of my pink car and walking into the bar. Curiosity got the best of me I guess.

Once inside the bar I realized that I was not the only pink being in attendance. A rally meeting of some sort was going on in the back of the bar and as I got closer I could hear that the conversion was not a normal discussion for everyday people. They were discussing equality and standing/fighting back the system of injustice done to their people. I was engulfed in the presence if the people. The unity they displayed, the determination in their voices, the seriousness written over their faces captured me in a world unknown.

I blue being walked up and stood next to me. Out of habit I moved over to give us space. He looked at me with bewilderment and confusion. Now up until this moment I have never talked to any blue being and I sure did not know what they sounded like. His voice boomed through the room like a drum of sweet beats. Authority and Charm was etched in the music which came from his lips as he said, "Moving away will not shield you from me, I am in your space and at the moment there's nothing you can do but accept that. How does that make you feel?" When I realized the question was intended for me to answer I felt lost. I did not know if I was to engage in this conversion or ignore his statement like I was taught to do. I found myself in a position of unfamiliarity and I was torn between what he said and what I should do. Because of my educational background and learning to challenge my own beliefs I decided to accept his challenge. I turned toward him and stated, "If I had feelings to your observation, I would feel my privacy being invaded, I would feel uncomfortable and degraded. Your presence would ignite hatred and a sense of violation; so thankfully I do not have feelings huh?" The look on his face changed and a smile appeared. His smiled somehow illuminated the area to which we stood and the speaker's voice (a pink being) became invisible to my ears. I did not hear anything, I did not see anything, all that was important was him and his smile. It amazed me that he looked exactly like me. He was normal if only for a second. We laughed at our encounter. "My name is Jayden Blue, and yours?" As he held out his hand I contemplated on how far I was willing to take this experience. Talking to a blue being maybe justifiable but touching one is death by stupidity; still I offered my hand to his, "I am Sunshine Pink, nice to meet you". My phone buzzed in my jacket pocket and I knew it was my friends calling to see what happened to me. I could answer and tell a lie but lying is against my morals, I would have to be honest; yet the truth would be against my morals as well. Jayden sensed my hesitation and asked, "You are not here for the rally, are you?" I don't know why but for the first time in my life I could not look a blue being in the eyes due tot he shame of my response, "No, I stumbled upon this place in my pursuit to meeting some friends". His expression went from normal to blank and I felt less than. As ironic as that may seem. "Well, you better get going, pinks are rarely here for the cause. Your life of normality is waiting on you." He started to walk off and I could not help myself from stopping him, "Sometimes, the best lessons in life come to you unexpectedly". He turned around and stood there for what seemed like forever. My phone rung again. "Why?" is the only word that came from his lips and as I thought about my response, all I could think was, "That's a question I've asked myself for years. Why are blue being treated differently, why can I not talk to them? why am I supposed to stay away? why do I have to be pink? Why should our color matter? why?" After rattling off what was battling inside me for years he just stood there and looked at me with a look I have never seen before, a look of amazement and confusion blended together. "Will it be to much of me to ask you if we can sit and talk?". Without saying a word I walked to the nearest table and sat down politely. I did not know what to expect from this blue being and I doubt if he knew what to expect from me. After all I am his enemy, we are to not speak, touch, or engage in discussion that suggest we are equal; and yet here we are.

He sits sown beside me and from the outside it may have looked odd for a blue being to be this close to a pink being--it may even be against the law; but here in this bar at this moment I felt comfortable and this situation felt normal--like it supposed to be this way all the time. He gentle sat up and started talking in a soft, sweet, empathic voice, "Pink I do not blame you for your upbringing. You were taught to hate me, to avoid me, and to see me as different. You learned these things from your parents, your neighbors, your peers, in your observations, from your readings, and from the constant separation between us. Because of this I do not blame you, instead I pity you. You developed an unattractive picture in your mind, an ugly stereotype of people of blue shades. The crazy part is you probably will carry these prejudices over to your children and the cycle will not end with you. So I do not blame you and I will not blame your kids either, I am sorry you will never know the joy of living without avoidance, the happiness of sharing the world with others and getting a different viewpoint on society to broaden your perspective, I'm sorry you have to live sheltered and not enjoy the mixing epidemic of colors. Apart beings will never exist but together purple beings will thrive in the world creating a new generation of colors on which we can stand. I'm sorry for you and your people. I have..." I got so caught up in his speech and the passion that seeped through that I forgot where I was and who we were. I cut him off with my lips touching his. My mind did not think and obviously his did not either because he took my face in his hands and kissed me back. Everyone in the bar stopped to look at us (the outsiders) kiss and share personal space that has never been shared with a pink and blue being. Afterwards, everyone clapped and I was confused on their excitement. The speaker on stage broke the silence, "You just witnessed history in the making" and everyone clapped again. Jayden and I smiled and looked at each other and together we recited the speakers words, "History in the making"...