I’VE BEEN THINKING a lot about my melanin lately and how it truly is a part of how God designed me. The Bible says that God created everything with understanding and knowledge. He created and molded us in His image — we were formed in secret and knitted together in our mother’s womb. As a designer, I directly relate with this. Before I unveil any of my work, I like to refine it as much as possible before releasing it into the world. Then I have to take a step back and trust that it will do its job and have the intended impact I created it for. I’m sure God feels the same about His own works. About us. Whenever He releases a masterpiece into the world, He must have a ton of confidence to let them go out and make their own decisions, especially in loving Him back.
I’ve come to the conclusion that my melanin is a sign of God’s love. We’re all created in His image but I don’t believe we can comprehend His true image, especially since we all come in different shapes, sizes, colors, heights, lengths, abilities, hair textures, and so on. Difference is beautiful. Without it, the world couldn’t exist. Look at biodiversity in nature. The varieties within a single species of tree, flower, animal, insect, soil, and human is incredible. God intended for diversity and He most definitely intended for inclusivity, because He loves everything He created. That’s why it was good after each day of creation.
“Fear & refusal in seeing my color as part of my identity code — whether it is tied to religion or not — exposes the microaggression that no color is still better than my color.”
In giving us the gift of freedom of choice, evil came about like a virus and spread like a pandemic. Its symptoms include hatred and racism; causing people to suffer from oppression and trauma at the hands of those who see themselves as higher beings. People who threaten and inflict harm are only destroying themselves because no one is forcing them to do it. They are making conscious decisions to hurt others and God does not side with those who shed the blood of innocent people.
For someone to hate me based on my skin color is blasphemy. For someone to deny me and invalidate my experiences as a Multiethnic man is also a denial and invalidation of God Himself. Whites are taught that society is in their favor and it even permeated their spiritual understanding. This is across all religions and belief systems, even including lighter-skinned peoples in other cultures. BIPOC are no longer kneeling and taking a stand against White supremacy that has long been used to keep us chained, not only physically but psychologically & spiritually.
Anyone who believes in God, calls God by a different name, or doesn’t call on God at all, must stop saying, “I don’t see color.” This only adds to the problem because it comforts people to try and erase what is apparent. To not acknowledge the beautiful intricacies of how God designed me is to not acknowledge my authentic existence. Some believe they’re making some kind of divine decision but they’re really siding against me. Fear and refusal in seeing my color as part of my identity code — whether it is tied to religion or not — exposes the microaggression that no color is still better than my color. If White people were told, “I don’t see your ‘Whiteness?,’” it would throw the privilege they’ve enjoyed — which was invented — out the window. As Toni Morrison once stated, “Are you any good without your White skin? If you can only feel tall when someone else is kneeling, you have a serious problem.”
“Are you any good without your White skin? If you can only feel tall when someone else is kneeling, you have a serious problem.”
—Toni Morrison
No one can claim to understand the racism towards darker-skinned peoples if they don’t share the same skin. They can empathize but they will never truly understand how it feels to be targeted based on the color of their skin. However, I am hopeful in the many allies and White abolitionists who have stepped forward and dedicated themselves to positive change in helping to dismantle oppressive systems. Society may criminalize me. The world may demonize me. Industries may segregate and forget about me. Yet God blessed me as well as all of my darker-skinned brothers & sisters with melanin. By design, He made us excellent. ■
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark Baker-Sanchez is the founder & Editor-In-Chief of DONE. Aside from advocacy through design, he works as a Strategy & Design Coordinator for Jun Group and enjoys reading oversized coffee table books, geeking over typography, doing yoga and buying new trench coats. Find him on Instagram, LinkedIn & discover his portfolio here.
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Jazmín Ramirez is a freelance photographer and coffee professional. She currently works for Gifted in Fort Worth, TX where she styles & photographs numerous products from small makers. On her down, time you can find her making a tasty pour over at home and finding new inspiration from her favorite Kinfolk magazine. Follow her on Instagram.
ABOUT THE PHOTO ASSISTANT
Jeanette Ramirez is a Graphic Designer & Art Director based in Fort Worth, Texas. She is a lover of editorial design, great typography, and anything with a minimal aesthetic. When she is not working, she loves reading the latest issue of Kinfolk or Cereal Magazine and drinking cortados. See what she’s currently up to on Instagram.
