Humans have the tendency to base their reactions on what they see. Their impressions are controlled by their eyes. It’s an instinctive response. You might think that the more intelligent you are, the less controlled by those instincts you become. Sadly, that is not the truth. If you watch the news at all, the impression is that people only see the surface and make their judgments based on that alone. Forget the facts. Those can be filled in and ignored later. Beyond judging based on sight impression, humans despise being wrong.
What we see on the outside.
For millennia, mankind has looked at the color of a person’s skin to make multiple determinations. For most of history, it had nothing to do with whether the person was of equal value to them or not. It was a way to determine if the other person was of the same region or if they were a foreigner. The judgment of whether or not they could be allies had nothing to do with the color of their skin. If they were foreigners, precautions were taken. Weapons at the ready. Attempts to communicate. Wariness of the intentions of the other.
It was a matter of survival, not racism.
Throughout most of mankind’s history, skin color wasn’t a factor in how another person was treated. Most of the time it was whether or not someone thought that the other culture held the same values as them. Whether or not they held the same beliefs.
The traditions of other cultures were strange and conclusions were made rather hastily. Sometimes incorrectly, sometimes correctly. The clothes they wore, the way they spoke, how they treated others were all indications that helped one culture decide to trust or not to trust another culture. Over time, cultural differences were set aside for mutual benefits.
It’s understandable that when someone who has only seen others who look the same as they do to be hesitant when they see someone who doesn’t. There’s a curiosity and a caution that exists when a person of dark skin sees, for the first time, someone with light skin. That doesn’t mean that there is hatred. It doesn’t mean there is judgment. It doesn’t mean anything except that it’s a first-time experience.
What is not seen on the inside.
Outside of a laboratory or morgue, the inside of the human body is rarely seen. The average person might not be able to tell you what color a particular organ is. They can make guesses but on average that’s all they would be. A guess.
Here’s a breakdown of the colors of some of the organs in the human body.
* Brain: Most people think that the brain is grey. While that’s partially true, it’s only grey when it lacks oxygen and blood flow. In other words, when it’s dead. The healthy living human brain is a combination of white, black, and pink.
* Skeleton: That one most people will get. The human skeleton, in fact, all skeletons, is white. The marrow may be brown, grey, or black but that is determined by health conditions.
* Lungs: Healthy lungs are pink in color.
* Heart: You guessed it if you said the heart was red.
* Liver: Reddish-brown
* Pancreas: Tan and pinkish
* Kidneys: Reddish-brown
* Spleen: Reddish-purple
* Thyroid: Brownish-red
* Skin: Skin color is determined by melanin content and health conditions.
Color does matter.
Let’s go back to the brain for a moment. The healthy living human brain is a combination of white, black, and pink.
“The human brain color physically appears to be white, black, and red-pinkish while it is alive and pulsating. Images of pink brains are relative to its actual state. The brains we see in movies are detached from the blood and oxygen flow result to exhibit white, gray, or have a yellow shadow.”
https://memoryos.com/article/brain-color-its-not-always-rainbows-and-butterflies
There’s more to the colors of the brain than a simple answer can give. Neuron flow, nerves, chemicals, and other factors influence the colors of the brain. It’s not just black and white.
What about the liver? Much like the brain, you can’t see the color of the liver — or any other organ — from the outside. So you have to rely on the colors that appear on the outside, or at least outside enough to see. The skin tends to take on a yellow hue. The whites of the eyes become faded and yellowish. The colors of the eyes, not the iris but the sclera, can give indications of a person’s health.
The color of the skin can give indicators of internal health, give regional and genetic background, and determine the level of protection from ultra-violet radiation. What it can’t do is determine who a person is.
What makes you who you are?
You have a brain, a heart, lungs, a pancreas, liver, and a myriad of other organs inside your body. Held together by tendons, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. All of those things are held inside the body by your skin. If your skin was green with purple polka dots it would still serve the same purpose as skin that was brown, white, pink, or black.
Are you your brain or is that just a part of who you are? What about the lungs, liver, bladder, or intestines? Those are just parts of who you are. Your blood doesn’t designate whether you succeed or fail. Your hair color doesn’t decide if you’re a good person or a bad one. Your eye color has no power to show your intelligence or morality. If your organs don’t determine who you are, why should your skin?
The skin is just another organ. It is not a determination of a person’s being. It does not decide if someone will become a criminal or an upstanding citizen. The skin cannot infuse morals or hatred. It is a part of the human body along with all the other organs. The organs are only part of your physical construction. Your body is only part of who you are.
Why does skin color matter?
It matters as an indicator of your health. When the skin color changes it indicates issues within your body that should be addressed. The color of the skin also helps to deflect UV rays. Those who have darker skin have natural protection while those with light skin develop darker skin for the same purpose. That’s not to say UV rays aren’t harmful to those with dark skin, but that’s another topic. Spots on the skin, discoloration, colors around wounds all indicate the health and well-being of a person.
The color of the skin, however, does nothing to determine who you are. If you accept that you are more than your skin, more than your organs, more than your body, then you can accept that everyone else is too.
Micheal D. Woodruff, Author of “Dismantling the Stigmas: 10 Truths about ADHD”.
As a late-diagnosed neurodivergent, Micheal has had to come face to face with the realities, difficulties, and advantages that are related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He is certified in Unlocking Your Potential with ADHD. He also hosts the podcast “The Eclectic Writer” available onSpotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube music, and many more places.
