Being colour-blind will not end racism. It sounds like a good idea but in practice it does not work out that way.
We know that because most White Americans who are now alive were brought up in a colour-blind way and yet studies show that most of them are still racist – even if their racism is no longer the cross-burning, n-word-using sort of Jim Crow days, but a less open, more subtle kind.
Martin Luther King, Jr said:
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
But he also said:
When we view the negative experiences of life, the Negro has a double share. There are twice as many unemployed. The rate of infant mortality among Negroes is double that of whites…
Fortysomething years later little has changed: the black unemployment rate is 1.96 times the white one (2011) while black babies die at 2.36 times the rate of white babies (2005).
So what went wrong?
The trouble with being colour-blind is that it blinds you. Most white people are so blind to racism that they think it is dead or no longer a big deal. Which leaves racism unexamined, unfought and unopposed. And stuck somewhere in the forever of 1974.
American society was built in a racist way. Being colour-blind does little to change that. It does not, for example, help poor, black children get a better education. Or help more black babies to live. Or keep most Lakota Indians from dying before age 60.
If you are colour-blind you have no way to see and fight the racist lies that America is built on. It is like having a broken radar.
Noticing race is not the same thing as being racist. Dr King is a good example of that. Racism is the belief that one race is naturally better than another. Seeing people’s race does not by itself lead to that conclusion. What does is the idea that being different is somehow bad, that there is something wrong with it. Dr King did not talk about “seeing” colour but rather judging people by it instead of their character.
Not noticing race, on the other hand, means not seeing racism. Because you do not see all the ways race plays out in American society.
If you are a person of colour that means you do not understand how racism affects you, it means you see the racist lies of white people as the truth. And that can lead to doubt, confusion, wasted years, bad marriages, drink, drugs, even self-destruction. It is called internalized racism.
Racism is a disease. Shutting your eyes to it, not noticing its operation, will not make it go away or lessen its effects.
Yes, if in a hundred years racism truly does die then people will be colour-blind because colour will no longer matter. But to be colour-blind now means colour will continue to matter.
See also:
Nothing is going to end racism on a societal scale
LikeLike
“And that can lead to doubt, confusion, wasted years, bad marriages, drink, drugs, even self-destruction.” It is called internalized racism.
Abagond,
This statement gave me a good chuckle, it’s a little strong…
“path towards drink, drugs, and destruction”….this sounds similar to what my mother said would happen to my life if I kept hanging around “those badass white youths who lived down the street” 🙂
I don’t think black people have the ability to be colour-blind…self delusional maybe.
Colour-blindness is a theory that never or will ever get a chance to be practiced; human beings are “us” versus “them” by nature and the dominant group gets to dictate the terms of acceptance.
LikeLike
Should Herman Cain get affirmative action?
I am part North-African. North-Africans are part West-African. I have dark hair and piercing dark eyes. Under American rules, that makes me Black. Should I get affirmative action?
LikeLike
Abagond, only blind people can’t notice differences in skin colors, as is called different “races”. As I, and multiple other people said multiple times in your last post addressing this subject, being color-blind actually means that you’re well aware of other people’s physical differences, just as everyone else is, but it doesn’t matter to you. You’re not judgmental of another based upon their race, or in other words, racist. As racism can be defined as race-based prejudice, the idea that one who is truly color-blind can still be racist, is illogical. The two terms are at complete odds with each other.
I think you cannot accept the idea of color blindness, because you cannot even fathom the idea of a person not being inherently racist. So you only see those who claim to be color blind as hypocrites. I’m not saying that everyone who claims to be color blind is TRULY color blind. for example, going to church every Sunday doesn’t necessarily make one a good christian. but by only acknowledging the people who feign to be colorblind, your argument is flawed, as you don’t address the people who truly are. but then again, since you believe everyone is racist, I don’t think you can.
tell me, if every single person in this world suddenly stopped hating each other, judging each other, and etc. just for being “black”, “white”, etc. what wrong would ensue? with there being no racism, in a competent society the structural racism of the past would be acknowledged, and then abolished.
by the way, white people aren’t the only ones that get raised to be color blind, despite you constantly only referring to them. I’m black, and know of many other non-whites that also share my philosophy. but at the same time, do I truly know every others’ intentions? no. does anyone else? no. we can only truly vouch for ourselves. therefore, you can call me racist 1,000 times, but it doesn’t change anything, for I know deep down that I’m really not. And if this topic wasn’t something of much importance to me, I wouldn’t be here, writing lengthy paragraphs about it.
LikeLike
The thing is not to play color-blind but to get rid of the meanings given to the different colors. If a guy is green skinned, you’d notice that but given that there is no racial connotations to his color you would be just perplexed. But if you saw green skinned people all the time all around you AND nobody had given any negative meanings to that color, you would be able to say “Oh, Steve? Yeah, he’s my neighbour, the green guy.” Or; “Yeah, the green guys over there.” Nothing negative there. But say “Yeah, the black guys over there.” Get it?
Unfortunately there has been few hundred years of racism and at least 250 years of very active racism in the west so this requiers a lot of work. Just pretending does not do the thing. We have to work with our own thoughts and cultural learnings. We have to Un Do the racism which we all have been exposed. That is what I think.
LikeLike
@columnist
I am part North-African. North-Africans are part West-African. I have dark hair and piercing dark eyes. Under American rules, that makes me Black. Should I get affirmative action?
Do you think you should? Out of interest, how are you ‘viewed’ in other parts of the world? Maybe I am misunderstanding the tone of your comment but it sounds as though being labelled as ‘Black’ does not fit comfortably with you.
LikeLike
Unless it’s changed in recent years (and I’m sure someone will be quick to let us all know if there has been any changes to the contrary), the ‘American rule’ for individuals of Middle Eastern and North African descent is that they are white/’Caucasian’.
There is a least on case on record of an Egyptian immigrant of discernible Black African descent who demamded to be re-classified as Black, as he was NOT qualified for Affirmative Action due to the automatic white status the US afforded him as a North African. Mixed-race Latinos and Middle Easterners, regardless of visible sub-Saharan admixture, aren’t, as a rule of thumb, regarded as being Black in the US.
LikeLike
@Parfum Bleu
Thanks for your interpretation. Its interesting that the U.S are quite specific about labelling people in this way. Thats not to say that it doesnt happen in other parts of the world but where I am from, most ignoramouses would have a stab in the dark and anyone who has a swarthy look to them is lumped in as ‘p*ki’ or some equally inane nonsense.
I used to go to school with a guy who’s complexion belied the fact that he was known as ‘white’ and his dislike of Asian people was indeed unpleasant and purposefully agressive. That is until one day, one of his peers for a joke believe it or not, said that with his skin colour and features, he closely resembled the said Asian and called him the same derogatory word. It was the first and only time I ever saw him cry. In fact, he was inconsolable but he was never again vocal about his disdain of Asian people that I witnessed.
Over the years, it has become apparent that he is from a long line of Romany Gypsies who settled – many of these individuals have Asian roots. What a shame that he wasnt taught to embrace and come to terms with this or made to feel ashamed about it.
LikeLike
Abagond:
Colorblindness is a false concept, It’s not rooted in reality. As far as black folk are concerned, we’ll never be colorblind. In order for us to stay black, we have to maintain a “Black Conscious” at all times. When we start to see ourselves as non-black, that’s when we get into a pickle. People of other races will never understand this about black folk. They mistake our passion for being black as excluding them, Not So! We just love being who we are…Bottomline
Tyrone
Black Eros Movement
LikeLike
I call it “The Ostrich Mentality”.
http://brothawolf.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/the-ostrich-mentality/
LikeLike
” in a competent society the structural racism of the past would be acknowledged, and then abolished.”
The structural racism of the past, Really? If racism is gone, where’d it go? What have you done to “structurally” remove it? Besides go blind.
LikeLike
Columnist said:
“Under American rules, that makes me Black. Should I get affirmative action?”
The practice of affirmative action is meant to be affirming. Affirmation that one is valued as part of a whole. Affirmative action was designed as way for white people to address the inherent racism, institutionalized throughout american societal systems, without ever having to admit how they or their offspring personally benefit from the maintenance of said system.
Affirmative action was merely a refined way for white people to continue practicing racism and maintain control. So yes columnist, you should get affirmative action.
LikeLike
@ dee
I do know there are people of colour who are colour-blind – or try to be. In America they tend to be under 30 and have immigrant backgrounds and a good education. Most are Asian though some are black. This part of the post was written especially for them:
If you have money and education then it probably will not get as far as drugs and drink. But you will have the white brainwashing in your head and that will bite you in one form or other.
LikeLike
@ dee
This post takes colour-blindness at face value. It does not suppose that it is hypocritical.
Colour-blind people only see the extreme forms of racism. Like Don Imus but not CNN. Or the Klan but not the writers of their high school history book. Such people are ill-suited to seeing, much less fighting, the racist thought patterns and set-up of American society.
Most colour-blind people in America think there is something profoundly wrong with Black Americans. By trying not to see race they do not closely observe how race works.
LikeLike
@ thordaddy
Please try to stay at least somewhat on topic. If you want to rant about black liberationists, the Open Thread awaits.
LikeLike
@Abagond:
You are too kindhearted in your responses!
LikeLike
Abagond,
How can anyone know what you’re really saying when they don’t know what you really are?
LikeLike
@thordaddy:
He’s from Sweden by way of the Bronx by way of Mars! Why do you care?
LikeLike
Abagond, you’re a racist.
LikeLike
And? Here’s something to ponder when making such assertions;
LikeLike
I’m sure he’s sobbing uncontrollably right now whilst reading some of these posts such as yours! Tears of laughter that is, at least I hope he is!
LikeLike
LOL
LikeLike
@ thordaddy:
Please go to the Open Thread with your black liberationist stuff.
LikeLike
And so it goes with those attempting to be “colorblind.” The only true meaning derived from such radically liberal acts is that one is radically liberal. This is all we can conclusiving assert about those that claim “colorblindness.”
So where does that put a black liberationist like Abagond and his advice to NOT BE colorblind?
He agrees wholeheartedly that RACE means nothing. In fact, he believes “race” doesn’t actually exist. He is in full compliance with mainstream liberal ideology.
But he DOES NOT LIVE in a manner that is consistent with his “beliefs.” Or, actually he does. A radical liberationist need not live in any manner that may give others an understanding of one’s nature.
So we see that he is able to turn a “colorblind” white liberal and a “colorblind” black liberal into a “white Supremacist” and a self-loathing self-hater, respectively.
But how is he really able to attribute these “meanings” when all three (abagond, white and black liberal) share the same fundamental belief, ie., belief that “race” doesn’t exist nor does it “matter?”
LikeLike
Abagond,
I’m most definitely on topic.
LikeLike
Abagonds pretty much right on this one; often color-blind people aren’t racist in the hardcore KKK kind of way or even the good ol’ boy way.
But they are racist even so, I remember they did some kind of test on racism once as it was developed in children.
And when they asked the children where they got their ideas from, they said their parents which totally blew their minds, because the parents (at least claimed this) that they raised them to try and be non-racist as possible.
Your basic liberal PC types……the problem is, children pick up on things at incredible and subtle rates, how you physically react to the presence of black people when you hold them, how many POC their are in your social circles etc….things the color-blind people weren’t even aware of.
Thats the problem with racism; its not just conscious its subconscious.
Even if your consciously color-blind that doesn’t mean you aren’t racist subconsciously.
LikeLike
@ thordaddy
Race is a social fiction – like paper money. It is made up and yet if you live in a racist society extremely real.
More:
LikeLike
So where does that put a black liberationist like Abagond and his advice to NOT BE colorblind?
I thought he was a woman liberationist. Where does it put him? In the dog house if suppers late!
He is in full compliance with mainstream liberal ideology.
At least he’s compliant. I bet you are one of those lazy slobs who make their wives do everything, hence your animus towards Abagond.
But he DOES NOT LIVE in a manner that is consistent with his “beliefs.” Or, actually he does.
He is an anarchist to the bone! Sacco and Vanzetti are his idols!
A radical liberationist need not live in any manner that may give others an understanding of one’s nature.
This is nothing new as most men are like this. What you are describing sir, are manly virtues. Do you not possess them? Perhaps you should take lessons from Abagond. Maybe you should move out of Mom’s basement! Do something more useful with the palm sisters!
But how is he really able to attribute these “meanings” when all three (abagond, white and black liberal) share the same fundamental belief, ie., belief that “race” doesn’t exist nor does it “matter?”
When you are from Mars the lowly humans don’t really concern you! What concerns you is acquiring tarpoopian crystals for your land ships.
I’m most definitely on topic.
No you most definitely aint!
LikeLike
@Tyrone we’ll never be colorblind. In order for us to stay black, we have to maintain a “Black Conscious” at all times. When we start to see ourselves as non-black, that’s when we get into a pickle. People of other races will never understand this about black folk.
I have to disagree. Maybe you’re speaking in an American context, but there are many people in the world, .e.g Africa, who have NO awareness of being black. Yet, there are considered such. Abagond did a post on Dinka/Sudanese model Alek Wek who didn’t know she was black until she emigrated to Europe.
Most “black” people (Africans in Africa) identify as tribe/clan/ethnicity FIRST before they’ll ever identify as black.
You cannot, because it’s absurd, tell a black African they are not black because they identify as Dinka first and foremost and DON’T share your American slave history.
LikeLike
@V-4:
Is this the article you’re referring to? I thought it was pretty interesting, and yet, not surprising.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/09/04/see-baby-discriminate.html
LikeLike
“I thought it was pretty interesting, and yet, not surprising.”
@ Leigh
Also Interesting to note is the comment section at the end of the article is turned off. Of course that’s not surprising either, given the current climate of non harmonious racial relations in America’s “editorial replies.”.
LikeLike
Your post reminds me of basic military training back in the 80’s. I was not sure what being racist meant because I lived in the north and only knew a few families who were not white.
By the time that block of training was over, I did not like some of the people in my group for no other reason than my eyes had been opened to the idea some people thought they were better than others via the color of their skin.
Many years later to present, I often find myself an outsider and shunned by people around me. I do not speak their language, am not from their country, and might be a government official. If they are lucky, they meet my spouse, or see me with her. Suddenly, I am OK for a white guy.
Racism can not be to tightly defined as a black/white issue which it reads to me you are coming from. What about the Japanese who were incarcerated in WWII. Native American peoples who were almost brought to extinction by governement policy? Or the tens of thousands of peoples who started the American journey in New York, and were despised and down trodden by the people of a different nationality which arrived before them?
Although you are making valid points, most of the largest cities in America are also the most integrated racially. How does a White/Black/Asian/Chicano be racist, seriously? Until the racist children of the racist children of those before them leave the earth, there will always be pockets of racism.
I am of the opinion whether we are color blind or color conscious makes little difference in what is. Racism is a learned behavior, and until it is unlearned it will be present in all our lives.
LikeLike
Ah, so I have to consider of being made fun of.
Yeah, I should expect that from racists, shouldn’t I?
Dispite that, Abagond is still a racist
LikeLike
When abagond says that “being colour-blind will not end racism,” what he is REALLY saying is that white liberals CANNOT defeat white Supremacists.
But abagond also asserts that colorblind white liberals are actually “racists,” i.e., white Supremacists.
His first statement is a self-evident truism. No genuine liberal can defeat a genuine white Supremacist.
His second assertion is self-evidently false. A genuine white liberal is antithetical to a genuine white Supremacist.
What abagond doesn’t understand is that white Supremacy may be “bad” for black liberationists, but that is not a substantive argument against the white man striving towards Supremacy in collective fashion.
LikeLike
Who can argue with someone who thinks “striving for supremacy” is not a bad thing? One can only imagine the kind of fear and insecurity that induces that kind of cancerous, locust like mentality.
LikeLike
^^^ The degenerate liberal mindset in a nutshell.
LikeLike
^^^ The degenerate liberal mindset in a nutshell.
I am striving for supremacy! What kind? Who cares as long as I am supreme!
LikeLike
@Whosoever is not colorblind, would you consider this leader of a Free Baptist Mega Church as a black man?
LikeLike
Recommended reading for those who are interested in this topic by one of my favorite social scientists:
Eduardo Bonilla-Silva. “Racism without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America” 3rd (Ed.)
An excellent and insightful piece of scholarship I think most readers of this blog will truly enjoy whether in agreement or disagreement w/ Bonilla-Silva’s thesis. You can easily check Dr.B-Silva out on YT, Sociology Duke University, and Racism Review.
If you’ve been viewing the so-called Post-Civil Rights racial progress in Amerikka through rose-colored glasses, regardless of ‘race’ or ethnicity, than you need this book more than anybody.
LikeLike
I have that book by Bonilla-Silva. It is excellent. It gives the lie to white idea that racism is just a matter of a few skinheads. This post was based on one of his chapters:
LikeLike
@ Aba, I devoured it!!! Thanks for the link =)
LikeLike
i personally believe that there’s only one race(biologically speaking, but there are many different ethncities though).racism is the belief that in adition of multiple races being in existance,and that the other races in existance are inferior to ones on, so therefore a racist thinks it’s ok to murder,enslave, abuse, and exploit them in many ways as possible. unfortunately, even after the civil rights, racism has not completely gone away. non-white people still suffer from bad medical care, poverty, and other problems due to racism. contrary to what some democrats believe, constantly handing welfare checks won’t end this problem(they only help people out barely), they are just a short term solution. like one wise man said “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” A good,well-rounded education and job opportunties, will be more helpful in the long run.
following that advice will help reduce poverty amongst minorities. it may not solve all other problems they face, but it counts as stepping stone towards equality.
it would also help if the country would get rid of bad/incompitent teachers more quickly and replace them with better ones.
LikeLike
Deleted comment by Oogenhand for using a racial slur.
LikeLike
In response to this article: Isn’t the problem with Colorblindness simply that it isn’t true Colorblindness?
Because I don’t see any problem with people of all races being given the exact same treatment both legally and socially. The problem here is that these so called Colorblind people are typically anything but.
LikeLike
^ “Because I don’t see any problem with people of all races being given the exact same treatment both legally and socially. ”
I don’t think anyone saw any problem with that per se.
The problem is
– People are not give the exact same treatment now, nowhere near
– People are the result today of centuries of unequal treatment until now.
Being colour-blind does not solve either of these problems. Race then becomes the elephant in the room that everyone senses is there but no one talks about. Abagond summed it up in his last paragraph.
LikeLike
@jefe
Well then the problem is that people aren’t being colorblind but rather just being full of shit on that matter.
LikeLike
@ Insert Name
Even if Martians zapped the brain of every white person and made them truly colour-blind it would still leave past inequities unaddressed. American society would remain structurally racist – whites would still be living in the best neighbourhoods, going to the best schools, have 23 times more household wealth, etc.
LikeLike
yeah ok dude. trust and believe it aint like that no more
LikeLike
drive around, i assume you can, look at all the cars parked at home. nobody got work except extreme hustlers. nobody.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on The Racist and Unoriginal Anglo-American Entertainment Industry.
LikeLike