"I really don't see race..." psssh

Heck, even Stevie Wonder sees race

"Seeing race" is only about your retina converting light into neural signs that instant message your brain to create visual images, as much as "Netflix and chill" is solely about sharing a big bowl of popcorn and binge watching your favourite series with the current guy/girl interest.

I've always mused about what is meant by those who claim not to "see" race.  My conclusion is that it means being able to recognise someone's ethnic difference without making assumptions about, and judging them by it.  After all, all Asians aren't Martial Arts experts, computer geeks or restaurant proprietors; there are black men who are present and stellar fathers; and white men can jump.  
Of course this doesn't negate the scientific differences that are unique to the various races across the world but it also doesn't justify the superiority or inferiority of any race.

Since the announcement of the relationship and subsequent planned nuptials between royal redhead, Harry and Suits star, Megan Markle, so many have tried to make an issue of the actress' ethnicity.  Of course this means I must weigh in on the race thing with my hyaku en ( ￥１００) worth.

For millennia people have 'seen' race.  Aaron and Miriam in the Bible took issue with their brother because he'd married someone who wasn't one of them, so I'm preeetty sure these attitudes aren't going away any time soon.  But the real thing is, there will always be those people who will take issue no matter what.  I know couples whose families had problems with their partner's country of origin - same race, different country and 'everyone knows that people from (insert country name) are (insert stereotype)'.  I've known of others who took issue with the partner's family/ educational background or financial situation - it's not only about race. 

Race, and by extension, race relations, is quite complex but time and experience always alter our perspectives.  Eight months ago when I moved to Asia I was aghast at how ugly/ridiculous some fashion choices looked.  Yet, a few weeks ago, I - a grown woman in her late 30s - wore visible knee high socks as part of my outfit for work... It doesn't look as silly anymore.  That example (though possibly trivial and not at all about race) highlights that given time and a willingness to put aside one's prejudices on an issue, a new outlook is possible... Having lived my entire life (until a few months ago) in the Caribbean, I've only heard of, read and watched movies about racism.  Though there are complexion prejudices in my country of origin, racism doesn't exist there.  But I have seen what racist perspectives can do and I am quite sympathetic to those who've been victimised because of their race.  Still there are more of US (not racist) than THEM (outright racists) so how about just trying to embrace people regardless of their ethnic origin?

The 'faceless' nature of the internet and living in different countries have taught me an awesome lesson.  I have social media friends of different races whom I've never met. Yet some of the things they say and how they behave, mirror that of people of my own race.  The same goes for many of those I now interact with, I actually think, 
"OMG! that's exactly how (a friend of a different race) would respond!"

I'm not scientifically versed so I won't dwell on this, but as far as I know every race in the world has the same four blood types.  And though there may be differences in the prevalence of a certain type in a particular race, at the end of the day I'm sure there is the possibility that Lacretianique's lifecan be saved by Ching Ho's blood and vice versa. 

People are like a box of chocolates.  There are differences and that's what makes interactions so exciting though sometimes testy.  But the main ingredients are the same.  Nothing's wrong with recognising that physically we look different, it'd be rather dumb to pretend we didn't.  

So I guess what I'm saying is, for me when I see people I see race, it's just called the human race.