I was on the subway yesterday coming home from a weekend festival at the Toronto Harbourfront. At the next stop after I boarded, two black women got on, pushing a stroller in front of them. The conveyance was occupied by a little guy who looked to be between one and two years of age. The two women found a seat and began their conversation, leaving the little guy to amuse himself by looking around. At the next stop, a young white woman boarded the train. She remained standing, holding a pole for support as the train moved on. In short order, her eyes fell on the wee chap in his stroller. She smiled at him and waved and got a big, beautiful smile in response. She waved again and again, and sent one sweet smile after another in his direction. He responded with delight, and for a little time the two dwelt in their own little universe of warm friendship. The only cloud that threatened to block out the sun smiling down on them was the two women with the toddler. They watched the white woman carefully but never once did a smile cross either of their faces. They seemed always on the edge of disapproval, as though they were just awaiting a move from her that would make them pull the stroller away and end the exchange of happiness.
I have seen this kind of scene multiple times before, when a woman makes friendly overtues to a baby with someone else. Most generally, the adult(s) with the baby smile at the goings-on, at the attention being given to the centre of their universe. Most generally, they appreciate someone else acknowledging how special thier baby is. They are happy that someone else sees the obvious beauty of their child. Certainly, the babies never make any difference between the people smiling at them simply because they are a different colour. Babies don't see colour. They only see smiles.
Why do we adults lose the ability to ignore colour? Why do we lose the ability to respond in like manner to a smile? Why do we insist on teaching our children to view the world through our eyes until they too lose the ability to see past colour?
Why didn't those two women smile, even just once, at the other woman who thought their baby was so wonderful?