Beyond Beige
On a return visit to my alma mater for a recruitment event, a professor I had taken a senior level course from told me I was “almost memorable.” I don’t know if he intended to be rude, but however lacking in decorum he was, he revealed a truth; people often don’t remember me. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m invisible, but I do feel like I have a certain amount of anonymity as I move through the world with my vaguely familiar face. I have changed my hair, sometimes I wear glasses and sometimes I don’t, but overall, that’s not the root of the cause. The truth is that there are people who stand out, and there are those of us who blend in, no matter how hard we might try.
On the other hand, there are people who can’t go anywhere without being noticed, even if they wish to be discreet. They stand out because of how they look, how they behave, or perhaps both. They become celebrities in their own microcosm, noticed, with admiration or scorn, for their differences. Which differences we celebrate as a culture may change over time, but the differences themselves seem relatively consistent: the color of one’s skin, sexual orientation, clothing, disabilities, observed religion, theatrics, beauty, wealth, confidence, power...the differences can be nuanced or overt, but they are detectable without much effort.
I grew up in a middle class, Midwestern, white, Christian, suburban community, surrounded by people with similar backgrounds and values. In my high school of over one thousand students, there was only a handful of Black students, a few Jewish families, and no openly gay students; it was not hard to stand out. In this homogeneous community, it was easy to fit into an “other” category. Boredom prevailed and escapism ensued. Creativity, drugs, or immersing oneself completely in one’s pursuits felt like the only way through. We lived in a bubble, a suffocating, boring, beige bubble, and I hated it.
People who create, make change, impact their communities…the people who stand out…these are the people I admire. These are the people I want to call neighbor and friend. These are the people I want to feature on our blog to inspire the people like me who at times lose faith in themselves and mankind. To remind us all that our talents and voices are unique and valuable. That we don’t have to be the best, the most successful, the smartest or most beautiful to be worthy. That we each can create a beautiful life, and a better world, if we express, embrace, and celebrate our differences.
