I am an invisible man…. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me. … That invisibility to which I refer occurs because of a peculiar disposition of the eyes of those with whom I come in contact.
[Invisible Man (Epigraph + Prologue) Ralph Ellison]
I think we can all agree that everyone wants to be seen, to be heard, and ultimately to be understood. Even so, we all feel invisible or unseen by the masses on some level. And then there are those whom we refer to as marginalized, vulnerable, or minorities that are the most invisible or UNSEEN. Although every person has definite value and redeeming qualities they are often ignored or rejected because of social factors like race, gender, socioeconomic status, education, or neighborhood and physical environment. Such a practice is like a disease that continues to compromise the ideals that create a strong and progressive community. Therefore, our communities are in need of healing.
Healing our communities requires identifying systems which perpetuate vulnerability and then establishing new systems and programs that confirm need and affirm merit. All of this begins
with changing the way we “see” others and helping them to “see” themselves as vital and
valuable members of our communities. So, I ask, do you see what I see?