Until recently I had never heard of the term "passing". That's probably because I'm white and grew up in mostly-white, suburban Southern California communities.

Things are different now. Living in one of the most diverse parts of the nation, we have great opportunities to break down the walls that divide us.

We are conditioned to distrust and vilify those who are not like ourselves. I recently read a line, "Race exists because there is prejudice, not the other way around." I think of that statement, and it makes me peel away the labels that have defined me, until I reach one that we all share: human being.

King had a dream that one day every man would be judged by the content of his character, not by the color of his skin. I have a dream that one day we won't even notice the colors of our skin.

If we continue to "check the appropriate boxes" -- race, ethnic origin, religion, gender -- if we continue to celebrate programs and holidays that accentuate differences between us rather than those that bring us together, we will continue the pattern and maintain the chasms. We will never break free.

Daveweb's I Have a Dream born on 12/16/00.
Last updated on 7/29/07 by David Younker.