First Look

Why do we look at one another…suspect?

When we see the young man with the sagging pants and the baseball cap turned to the back, probably a gang banger, two or three baby mom’s, couple felonies…he’s suspect.

Could it be, he’s an Ivy League, straight A’s, loves his moma and is respectful to his elders kinda guy?

What about the young lady, with the baby on her hip? We tag her with the automatic label — hood rat, unwed mother, probably high school dropout, welfare, living in the Section of 8’s…she’s suspect, too.

Could it be that, that’s her little sister, maybe even her niece on her hip? She’s babysitting or being paid with the promise of a trip to the mall, by those who trust and know that she’s a good girl and will protect and nurture the little one entrusted to her care…

You see the outside of the vessel is viewed from the assigned designs that make us see them as the stereotypes created from a perpetrator who wants to know nothing of their inside, easier to create their story from their outside.

We overlook the positive staring us in the face. Not wanting, not trying to really See Each Other, See Them. Making us scared of each other, our own. Before we even open our mouths to say…hello! I see you.