"I don’t see color” is an expression meaning that the color of someone’s skin is not relevant to this person. A traffic light joke takes this expression literally. “‘I don’t see color.’-- people who’d be awful to be stuck behind at a traffic light” was posted on Twitter on September 17, 2015. “‘I don’t see color ‘, people worry me...Fucker how you know what to do at a traffic light?” was posted on Twitter on July 30, 2016. “‘I don’t see color,’ she said, as she ran the traffic light” was posted on Reddit—Oneliners on May 18, 2018.
Trevor Noah, host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, popularized the line when interviewing American conservative political commentator Tomi Lahren on November 30, 2016:
TOMI LAHREN: I don’t see color.
TREVOR NOAH: So what do you do at a traffic light?
Twitter
better off red
@bravenewgrrrl
“I don’t see color.”
-- people who’d be awful to be stuck behind at a traffic light
11:00 PM - 17 Sep 2015
Twitter
Junk Yard Green
@JunkYardGreen
“ I don’t see color “, people worry me…
Fucker how you know what to do at a traffic light?
9:33 PM - 30 Jul 2016
Twitter
Alyssa
@SOLONIALLRlSE
“I don’t see color.” “You don’t see color? So what do you do at a traffic light?”
11:25 PM - 30 Nov 2016
Twitter
walmart brand prince royce
@sebandretoma
@TomiLahren : I don’t see color.
@Trevornoah : So what do you do at a traffic light? 💀💀💀💀
11:26 PM - 30 Nov 2016
Twitter
Ric Brown
@RUINSNODE801
“@keithboykin: Tomi Lahren: “I don’t see color.”
Trevor Noah: “So what do you do at a traffic light?”
#TheDailyShow
1:30 PM - 2 Dec 2016
Reddit—The Donald
Tomi > I judge people by diversity of thought I don’t see color. Trevor > You don’t see color, so what do you do at a traffic light. *Crickets* Sargon > Legend has it, Trevor Noah is a comedian. LMAO. [Sargon of Akkad] (self.The_Donald)
submitted December 3, 2016 by CarlosDangrAnthropod
Reddit—Oneliners
“I don’t see color,” she said, as she ran the traffic light.
submitted May 18, 2018 by iamalmostlegend
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
Recent entries:
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“I am presently experiencing life at a rate of several WTFs per hour” (6/4)
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“When someone asks what my dream job is. Literally nothing. Who dreams to have a job…” (6/4)
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“I am currently experiencing life at a rate of several WTFs per hour” (6/4)
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“When the airplane door shuts & the seat next to you is open it feels like you just won the lottery” (6/4)
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“When the flight attendants close the cabin doors and the seat next to you is still empty” (6/4)
More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
This site is edited by Barry Popik.