What if we were all just human?

A friend of mine shared an except of a book he’s reading the other day and the simple message of the page and a half he shared was:

Imagine for a moment that all humans recognised each other as another human.

No religion. No countries. No job titles. No judgement.
Just humans.

Recognised as such by each and every one of us.

Last week we talked with Char about unconscious bias and how difficult it it is to spot. I see the thoughts above as a way of noticing if you’re making decisions based on unconscious bias.

If we strip back everything we think we know about the people around us. Would our decisions and reactions be different?

I’ve seen on Twitter this week the emergence of blind casting.

I assume this is similar to The Voice? Or maybe just getting rid of the requirements for roles to look like anything (which a lot don’t so I’m inclined to think the former is correct).

I like the idea behind this casting as long as it is done with an open mind. And it is this element that needs to be introduced to each and every one of us. Are we open minded when we look at the humans we share this world with?

And if we’re not, why not?

Other species of animals do fight and they set outcasts aside. They also stay in tribes. Is the globalisation of us as a species a time for us to see each other only as humans and nothing else? What difference would this make?

If we are all truly to be treated equal this concept would be hardest for one group more than others, maybe two looking at the ideology of Communist China, but Western Whites would be the ones, I feel, would have the hardest time getting to grips with this mindset.

Speaking as a white man, why is this?

This is the unconscious bias in action. It is the imagery I see around me all of the time showing white faces more likely than any other.

I’m not worried about losing a sense of status of my whiteness. As much as I am a product of privilege I want there to be equality in the world and I am at peace that certain opportunities and benefits I afford may be impacted by me lending a hand pulling others up to see me.

I still have thoughts, and white fragility type things pass my mind, but I’m grown enough to recognise this and quell those thoughts for the benefit and advancement of all humans on this planet.

This makes me proud.

What thoughts cross your mind when you think of treating of all humans as just humans?