As I was watching Ivanka Trump introduce her father, Donald Trump, as the Republican Nominee, she said something that resonated with me. When Ivanka said that her dad was "colorblind," it reminded me of a statement I heard at a community forum I recently attended. I couldn't see whoever was making the statement, but I heard them say, " If you're colorblind, then you're part of the problem."

First of all, what is racial colorblindness? And how does it make you part of the problem?

According to Psychology Today, racial colorblindness is, "... the racial ideology that posits the best way to end discrimination is by treating individuals as equally as possible, without regard to race, culture, or ethnicity." You would think that someone saying, "I don't see race; I just see people," would actually be a good thing, that people wouldn't see someone for the color of their skin but for their value as an actual human being. This encourages to judge someone based off of their character rather than their skin color. However, it doesn't exactly help the community of colored people. Does colorblindness come at a cost?

Even if you mean no harm from being racially colorblind, it can actually contribute to racial inequalities. The Atlantic states, "By claiming that they do not see race, they also can avert their eyes from the ways in which well-meaning people engage in practices that reproduce neighborhood and school segregation, rely on 'soft skills' in ways that disadvantage racial minorities in the job market and hoard opportunities in ways that reserve access to better jobs for white peers."

So not being racially conscious can actually prevent people of color from opportunities because you're continuing the process of segregation. It can also cause you to ignore patterns of racial bias and become ignorant of how race affects the American society. So, instead of being blind, let's open our eyes to what's actually happening so that we can find a solution together.

Although Ivanka Trump meant to compliment her father up by saying he's "colorblind," I would rather have a president who can see the racial inequalities that are still being taught here in America and find an answer to this national problem. I appreciate those who are trying to make an effort by saying that they are colorblind and will not judge me because I am a person of color, but please understand that just because you're not trying to hurt the colored community, that doesn't mean you're helping it either.