Can you remember one of the things you would do when you were a child that made you smile and brought you inner peace? As a young boy, I loved using my imagination to create a new world that was full of love. Daydreaming was always fun, creating ideas in my head on ways to make things better in my neighbourhood, at school, and in the world. How naive I was at such a young age, believing all the stories told that we would all love each other and thrive together in a world without hatred and discrimination. Today, when walking or running errands, I like observing and listening to people who act like they are Gods, pretending to be perfect in every way. The truth is they are not perfect, no one is perfect.
Even today, I love daydreaming about ways we could make the world a better place to live without all the pain that many are facing every day. Often while sitting on a park bench or walking around doing daily tasks and errands, I often think of the question, "What If?"
In a world where change is often viewed as daunting, it's easy to forget the power of the simple question, What if? What if we approached our problems from a new angle, or made small, consistent efforts to improve things? Often, the most transformative shifts don’t come from grand revolutions but from the willingness to imagine different possibilities and act on them. When we ask What if?, we open ourselves up to the vast potential of creativity, hope, and progress. This blog is dedicated to exploring how we can embrace that mindset in our everyday lives to shape a better world.
Whether it's tackling social inequality, addressing climate change, or simply improving our communities, asking What if? reminds us that the world is constantly evolving, and so should our ideas. What if we all made a commitment to making small changes? What if we prioritized empathy over competition, or sustainability over convenience? By making these changes, we can inspire others, create ripples of positive impact, and collectively build a future where everyone thrives. This space is where we’ll imagine those possibilities and figure out how to turn them into reality. Sounds like I haven't lost all hope yet.
What if we were all the same colour? Would the world suddenly be free of hatred, prejudice, and division? At first glance, it’s tempting to think that uniformity in appearance might eliminate racism. After all, so much of racism stems from the visible differences that people use to categorize and discriminate against one another. But if history has taught us anything, it's that hatred and division often goes deeper than skin colour. Even in societies where people share the same ethnicity, religion, or background, divisions emerge along lines of class, culture, and ideology.
The roots of prejudice are complex and driven by fear, insecurity, and the need for power. If we were all the same colour, it’s possible that new forms of discrimination would arise based on other differences—like economic status, personal beliefs, or geographic origin. Human beings tend to use the term “other” for those who don’t fit into their specific group. The real challenge isn’t in erasing superficial differences but in cultivating empathy, understanding, and a shared sense of humanity that transcends the need to divide. True progress comes not from trying to make everyone the same, but from embracing our differences while dismantling the systems and mindsets that fuel hate.
I truly want to believe that if we all looked the same, communities and people would embrace each other. Deep down inside, I know that's not true. A couple of months ago I developed a blog about "Colourism" and how African Americans, Latinx, Asian-Pacific Islanders and other groups may develop hatred towards those in their community, especially if one's skin is lighter, or their hair is straighter. They may even discriminate against someone because of the colour of their eyes. Many thoughts roll around in my head on how jealousy plays a strong role encouraging backstabbing and deceit.
As a young boy, my parents taught us to love and protect each other from harm. It worked for a while and then people started receiving different lessons in life from television shows, their religious organisations, schools and other professional institutions that stood by their racist decisions to keep others out if they looked differently. I can remember family members trying to discourage my generation to stop hoping for miracles because people of colour were considered less than someone with white skin. The saddest part is that many communities of colour started to believe the lies preached to them every day and they strived to protect their young. As I study my history and read old books by great writers like James Baldwin, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and others, I am shocked at how so many things have remained the same or gotten worst for people of colour throughout the world, regardless of the struggles to create a safer environment for everyone.
If we were all carbon copies of each other—identical in appearance, thought, and ability—it's easy to wonder if the world would be more harmonious. Would sameness eliminate the conflicts, prejudices, racism, and misunderstandings that arise from our differences? On the surface, this idea might seem appealing, as much of the division in society is often tied to race, gender, religion, or culture. But true peace and progress doesn't come from uniformity; they come from learning to appreciate and respect differences. Without diversity, we would lose the richness of perspective, creativity, and innovation that arise from our unique experiences and backgrounds.
In a world of carbon copies, problems might persist, perhaps even more intensely. Human nature often seeks to create hierarchies, and without the diversity we currently recognize, we might invent new forms of division, whether based on wealth, physical attributes, or perceived status. Conflict might shift from one set of criteria to another. Moreover, sameness could lead to stagnation, with less room for creativity, growth, or the challenge of new ideas. Our diversity—of thoughts, abilities, and experiences—is what fuels progress and pushes humanity to adapt, evolve, and solve complex problems. Rather than seeking a world where everyone is the same, the key to a better world lies in fostering mutual understanding and celebrating what makes us different. To be honest, I don't expect to see this in my lifetime. Almost 10 decades ago, my mother and her siblings hoped for positive changes after living and surviving through the horrific Jim Crow era of racism and discrimination. Frankly, I don't know how they survived. Deep down inside, I know that we all have the resilience to survive.
If everyone in society were the same colour, it would remove one of the most visible markers of difference between people. This could potentially impact the way society perceives identity, belonging, and social division. However, this change would not automatically eliminate discrimination or inequality, since biases and societal structures go far beyond physical appearance. Here’s how such a scenario might unfold in different areas:
Impact on Racism and Prejudice
Reduction of racial bias: Physical appearance, particularly skin colour, has historically been a significant basis for racism. With the removal of this specific difference, the forms of racism that rely on visible features would likely be diminished.
Shift to other forms of discrimination: While skin colour-based prejudice might fade, society might find other ways to draw lines of division, such as cultural, religious, linguistic, or economic differences. Prejudices could shift to focus on behaviours, ideologies, or social classes.
New standards of beauty: Society would likely form new ideas of beauty, possibly based on features like body shape, facial features, or other less prominent physical characteristics.
Cultural Identity
Cultural diversity: Skin colour is often closely associated with cultural identities and histories. Even in a world where everyone looked similar, people would still belong to distinct ethnic, linguistic, and national groups. Cultural heritage, traditions, language, and shared histories would remain potent ways to define identity.
Less visible markers of identity: Other aspects of culture, such as clothing, hairstyles, or tattoos, might become more emphasized as a way of expressing identity or affiliation with certain groups.
Many of the same issues that discriminated against most people still exist today and have been written into law to keep certain people or races in their rightful place. I wonder if losing their lives because of the colour of their skin was worth dying for? Did it change anything or make a difference in society and the world today? The more I focus on finding an answer, the results are always the same. Watching old films and series on television makes me roll my eyes and shake my head in disgust in how people treat each other. During times of slavery, people of colour were treated as inhumane. They were beaten to death, sold to make money for plantation owners, women and young girls were raped and force to have children that the plantation owners or masters would sell as soon as they were big enough to work in the fields picking tobacco or cotton while in servitude. Since they were not regarded as human, there was no shame or feelings about any of them.
There are times when I am not sure if I am living in the 21st Century or if the world, especially America, is still in the 19th century. Gun violence is off the charts in terms of the number of people of colour that have been murdered by a neighbour or by heavily armed police officers who often use the excuse of being afraid for their lives, even though they are heavily armed with several guns, tasers, batons, tear gas, and other items to choose from when dealing with men, women, boys, and girls of colour. Most of the police murderers in America are never held accountable or serve any time in prison. Often, they will be placed on leave with full pay while the stories are lost or destroyed. Just like the old days they believe that "those" people are not human and should not be treated as an equal.
Redlining is a discriminatory practice where banks, insurers, and other institutions deny services, such as mortgages or insurance to people in specific neighbourhoods based on racial or ethnic demographics. The term originated from the red lines drawn on maps by lenders in the mid-20th century to indicate areas, usually predominantly Black or minority communities, where financial services would be withheld. Redlining resulted in disinvestment in these communities, leading to long-lasting economic disadvantages, diminished property values, and a lack of access to wealth-building opportunities for residents. The primary beneficiaries of redlining were the banks and real estate developers who could prioritise affluent, mostly white neighbourhoods, securing profits while systematically excluding minority groups from economic progress.
Discrimination in job applications, healthcare, housing, and access to higher education stems from systemic racism and implicit bias. Even when people of colour have the same qualifications or meet the required standards, they are often judged by stereotypes and prejudices that undermine their opportunities. In hiring, for instance, studies have shown that candidates with "ethnic sounding" names are less likely to be called back for interviews, despite equal qualifications. In healthcare, minorities frequently receive poorer treatment and have less access to high-quality care. Similarly, in housing, people of colour often face higher hurdles in securing loans or renting in certain areas, even when they can afford it. Despite good grades, students of colour can encounter additional challenges in gaining entry to prestigious colleges or universities due to a complex interplay of bias, legacy admissions, and unequal access to preparatory resources.
Ultimately, these forms of discrimination uphold systems of inequality that benefit those already in positions of privilege while keeping marginalised communities trapped in cycles of being disadvantaged. Addressing these systemic issues requires confronting both explicit policies and the unconscious biases that continue to perpetuate inequality across all aspects of life. Guidance counsellors in my high school tried to persuade all students of colour to choose a trade and not waste time or money trying to enter a college or university. Even at a young age, I resented being told what to do or allowing someone to decide for me.
Then there is the topic of religion that teaches hate to their followers who believe the lies and never ask the right questions for clarity. Religions throughout history have played complex roles in both promoting and combating discrimination, racism, and segregation. While many faiths espouse principles of love, compassion, and equality, they have also been used as tools of power to justify exclusion, oppression, and even violence. In some cases, religious texts and teachings have been interpreted (or misinterpreted) to support systems of racial hierarchy, colonialism, and social control. For example, European colonisers often used Christianity to justify the enslavement and subjugation of Indigenous peoples and Africans, claiming that these groups were “heathen” or “inferior” and needed to be “civilised” through the Christian faith.
Religions have also been involved in promoting segregation, as seen with the racial segregation policies upheld by some Christian churches in the U.S. during slavery and the Jim Crow era. For centuries, religious institutions and leaders in various parts of the world endorsed systems of apartheid, caste, or slavery, claiming divine sanction for racial and ethnic divisions. This often fostered an "us vs. them" mentality, where one group believed they were chosen or superior based on religious beliefs fuelling bigotry and discrimination against others.
As for the notion of promoting “stories" about a God, it reflects a growing scepticism among some about the historical accuracy and divine claims of religious texts. Many people today view certain religious narratives as myths or metaphors that were used to explain the world in ancient times or to maintain social order. From this perspective, religion can be seen as a tool for consolidating power and controlling populations, with stories about deities serving to legitimize the authority of religious leaders or institutions. However, it's important to recognize that for millions of people, these stories and beliefs are deeply meaningful and provide a sense of purpose, community, and ethical guidance, regardless of their historical or metaphysical accuracy. While religion has been misused to promote discrimination and segregation, it has also been a force for positive social change. Many religious figures and movements, from Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance to Martin Luther King Jr.'s civil rights activism, have drawn on faith to challenge injustice and promote equality. Ultimately, the role of religion in history is shaped by how it is interpreted and wielded by those in power.
I can remember as young boy being forced to go to church every Sunday to listen to pastors or ministers stand at the pulpit telling the audience not to worry about food, rent, or medical bills, but just to pray to God for the right answers. Then they would ask the congregation for money to support the church, pay the rent, or pay for their new Cadillac or Mercedes Benz. I would watch poor people with hardly enough food to feed their families dig into their purses and wallets to give money to God. Today, I still shake my head at the constant bullshit and lies told to control people. It's a great scheme that still works today around the world.
To make the world a fair and safe place to live in, we must actively engage in building systems of equity, justice, and compassion. The first step is fostering empathy and understanding across cultural, racial, and social divides. By embracing diversity and recognizing the value of different perspectives, we can work toward dismantling stereotypes, biases, and prejudices that often fuel discrimination and conflict. Education plays a key role in this process—teaching people not only about history and the structural inequalities that persist but also about the importance of compassion, collaboration, and the dignity of every human being.
In addition, we need to confront and reform the systems that perpetuate inequality. This means advocating for policies that address income inequality, healthcare access, housing justice, and educational opportunities for all, regardless of background. It requires accountability in how institutions like law enforcement, healthcare, housing, and education treat marginalized groups. Moreover, creating safe communities involves promoting nonviolent conflict resolution and restorative justice, shifting away from punitive systems that often perpetuate harm.
On a personal level, each of us can make a difference by practicing kindness and standing against injustice when we see it. We can support local and global initiatives that promote human rights, environmental sustainability, and social equity. By uniting our efforts—no matter how small—and pushing for change both locally and globally, we can move closer to a world where fairness and safety are realities for all. This is another reason why it's so important for each of us to stand up and vote like our lives depends on it. My ancestors worked diligently so that I could have the right to vote.
What are your thoughts and ideas about making our world a better place? What is your What If?
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