Pink
By: Jasmin G. Bayquen
Like most girls, I had a fondness for pink growing up. It was such an attractive happy color that I would choose anything pink over others. As an adult, I chose pink and gray as my wedding colors. Long before pink became political in our country, I was already a fan.
In the 90s, whenever I heard Shiny Happy People (1991) by REM, I always imagined those shiny happy people in pink. It seemed to match the lyrics and the upbeat melody. To this day, I feel like a happy shiny person when I have something pink. It could just be my water bottle, a watch strap, or even a mask, and I feel cheerier somehow.
During my pregnancy, my ultrasounds were inconclusive though I felt I was going to have a boy. I tried to get neutral colors for my baby, but I found myself buying pink items. I thought that my baby would not care if he had pink towels or clothes. All he’d care about would be feeling warm, full, and loved. He was all three while sometimes dressed in pink. Today, he does not mind wearing pink.
“The color pink is the color of universal love of oneself and of others” writes Jennifer Bourn in her webpage. If this is true, then I’ve been broadcasting my love for myself and others my entire life! In a democratic country such as ours, I am glad we have the freedom to express fully our support for politicians we admire and the colors they sport.
May 1 is Labor Day. As it was a Sunday, I spent the day baking pink mini cupcakes for a rally happening the next day. This was to show my support for the candidates and a chance to indulge in some pretty and edible goodies. I looked for what I thought were perfect liners which would serve as containers for the pink velvet batter I found online. I melted white chocolate and tinted it pink to act as glue for the one pink flower I would put on top of my cupcake. The results were truly eye candy. They didn’t taste bad either.
Armed with my two hundred cupcakes and suited in my pink hoodie, I joined what was called the Solidarity Walk from the campus to Melvin Jones. The sun was out in full force, but so were supporters of the rally. I was not carrying the cupcakes while walking of course. I gave the baked goodies to student volunteers willing to give them away, along with 500 pink cake pops another faculty prepared.
May 2 was the day I understood how euphoric peaceful activism could be. I walked next to a woman I admired and asked her if during her youth, she felt how I felt at that time. She said yes, but it was wilder during her day. I can only imagine how it was to protest or to rally during the 70s. Believing in people, having hope for the future, proclaiming to the world my belief and optimism, these made me understand why so many are willing to put their voices together just to be heard a little louder, a little clearer as election day comes closer.
Pink is inspiring. Pink is also the color of awareness. I do not think it was an accident that the ribbon for breast cancer awareness is pink. It is a color of strength and beauty. It will remain as one of my favorite colors no matter the results on May 9th.