Before reading this, you are required to identify yourself as:

White or Caucasian

Hispanic or Latino

Black

American Indian

Aleut Eskimo

Asian or Pacific Islander

Other

This list routinely appears in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review newspaper. A reader response is required before access is provided to the information the reader seeks. Variations of lists like this appear in many other places. WHY? What value do the summarized answers have to those who force us to respond?

When asked to name my race I always answer “Other” or fill-in with “American.”

The popular use of the term “people of color” is divisive and offensive. Those who use the term may not realize the impact of its use. Its use can easily create a caste system where skin color is used to establish inescapable societal positions.

Color palettes always show both black and white as colors.

I am a person of color – white. I was born with white skin and there is nothing that can change that fact. Skin color is not something any of us can change and makes only as much difference as we allow it to make in our thoughts and actions toward those of a different color. All races bleed red blood.

We are Americans and we need to accept that fact and move forward together.

Disclaimer: While I have flaws, being a racist is not one of them. Upon discovering a racist (and there are some), I step away. There are good people and bad people of every skin color. Why allow the bad ones to influence our thoughts or actions?