This image for an anti-racism ad campaign featuring babies created by the French agency LICRA has really struck a chord with me. The image is part of a set of three images from 2010, but I only came across them recently and they don't feel in the least bit dated to me. I'll show you the other two images in a second because together they really pack a visual and guttural punch. I find it amazing that even if you don't read the caption "Your skin color shouldn't dictate your future," you still know exactly what these ads are about.
Now, for those of you who don't think racism exists nowadays and don't think people, including children, are judged by the color of their skin by certain people or in certain situations, then move along. There is nothing for you to see here. For the rest of us, let's examine this for a minute.
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Imagine being in the hospital, giving birth to a baby, waiting to hear the sound of her cry and to have the doctor to tell you she's perfect and then having the doctor say, "Congratulations, you have a healthy little girl and by the color of her skin I predict that she will be a maid!" I don't know about you, but I'd be like, "Say what?!" Thankfully that doesn't happen. Doctors and nurses at the hospital don't say those kinds of things to new parents, but that doesn't mean that our beautiful babies don't get limitations projected on them because of stereotypes.
I've read comments where some people are really offended by these ads and feel that it is somehow a form of reverse discrimination toward the white babies and all I can say to that is REALLY?! How so?! The point of the campaign is that the white babies don't have all this crap thrust upon them because of the color of their skin. No one is limiting their options just by looking at them and that's great. No one wants to take that away from white babies. It's what we want for all babies. ¿Entiendes, Mendez?
Oh and no, there is nothing wrong with being a maid, or a road worker or a construction worker–and that'a not the point either. The point is that all babies should be looked at that way. All people should be looked at that way and assumptions shouldn't be made because of the color of someone's skin. That's it. One love! That's it!
Images via LICRA
