X

“Flesh color crayon: now “peach.” Hope.

U-Tapao-Race-Relations-Jan-1973-May-74-001John Calvin Miller,
Fairfield, IA.

“Flesh” color crayon: institutionalized racism revealed

These both relate to an incident at U-Tapao Thailand where I served as Race Relations OIC during the Vietnam war. I helped design an embroidered Brotherhood patch for sale to airmen. When it was first being made, I went to the tailor shop to give approval for it. The Caucasian hand on it was too white. I said to the Thai tailor (with tan-colored skin), “Make it more flesh colored.” Hmm…what color is that?

Peach crayon never worked for us.

Maya PS
Boston, MA

Growing up in a color-challenged yet friendly midwest suburb, we were one of 3 families of color in our local school. Even though it was not an issue for most of our childhood, sometimes the desire to squelch our culture reared its ugly head. We did try to assimilate as much as possible – to the point where it’s sometimes difficult to explain to people that we do have a culture that is different from others. Our mixed background family is now mixed even further, and I wonder and worry what will trickle down to my children.

Join the Newsletter

Subscription to our newsletter open soon.

Indulge in timeless elegance with our hand-curated collection of luxury vintage men’s fashion. From classic suits to iconic accessories, our online store offers a premium shopping experience for the modern gentleman who appreciates quality and style. Shop now and elevate your wardrobe with our carefully selected pieces that celebrate the art of craftsmanship and heritage fashion.