The Problem With Color Blindness
Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes
On the surface, it sounds so unifying and full of camaraderie, however, the color blind ideology is anything but. Why is talking about race the exact thing we must do in the face of racism? And secondly, why are we (white Americans) so afraid to talk about race?
People of color are aware of their own color, especially when in a community where most people don’t look like them. They notice the glances, the avoided eye contact and the lack of community within the community. If we don’t talk about race, we are just avoiding it. Do we avoid talking about it for the sake of those who don’t look like us, or is it because we are uncomfortable with it?
Everyone wants to be seen for who they are. The color of your skin IS a part of who you are. The way I like to think about it, is your skin color is the filter in which you see and are seen in the world. If we aren’t talking about race, we are not seeing people or inviting them to share their experiences. We are holding those who don’t look like us at arm’s length, and not recognizing nor embracing them as a whole. Ignoring race is an “ism,” and it’s embedded in racism.
It starts with the concept that “individuality” is all that matters. The concept of self over others, individualism is both a hallmark and the Achilles heel of America. Individualism is based on the ideal that racism, sexism, homophobia and other types of discrimination do not exist. It elevates the white male heterosexual American position by dismissing the realities of being a female, person of color or anything BUT a white heterosexual male.
“But ironically, this focus on individualism is itself a function of group position. Whites, by and large, enjoy the luxury of promoting the importance of the individual, because they benefit from living in a racially stratified society where whiteness is normalized. In most social interactions, whites get to be seen as individuals. Racial minorities, by contrast, become aware from a young age that people will often judge them as members of their group, and treat them in accordance with the (usually negative) stereotypes attached to that group.” - Adia Harvey Wingfield Ph.D.
So what happens if we talk about race? Race becomes a central part of our dialogue in the community. We would recognize race more often, notice BIPOC people in our presence and note how isolating it must feel to be a minority in a majority white area. It would increase our ability to take the perspectives of others and crack the door for a dialogue with BIPOC neighbors. We may learn that the African-American businessman who lives down the street, has made the decision to blend in by driving a more mainstream car instead of the luxury brand that he can afford, but was tired of being pulled over when driving it. Or your daughter’s friend who gets her hair chemically straightened to tamper down her ethnicity in a predominantly white community where most of her peers wear their hair long and straight.
Don’t be misinformed or fall for the illusion that the “fine folks over at FAIR” are truly wanting a united nation based on character. The misrepresentation of an American Baptist minister, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words on their website should be your first sign that FAIR is not acting in good character. Dr. King’s own daughter, Bernice, is shocked at how her father’s words have been taken out of context to support a racist agenda.
"Immutable characteristics make us who we are. They are the filters from which we see and experience the world by allowing us to share diverse experiences, views and considerations others may not share. It’s encouraging women in STEM programs, where they have been discouraged for decades, it's assuring a person in a wheelchair can easily access an upstairs office suite, and it’s calling out racism when oppression and vitriol exist. If we cannot even name the vice, we cannot protect against it. “
"The need for color blindness implies there is something shameful about the way God made me and the culture I was born into that we shouldn't talk about. Thus, color blindness has helped make race into a taboo topic that polite people cannot openly discuss. And if you can't talk about it, you can't understand it, much less fix the racial problems that plague our society.” - Monica T Williams Ph.D.
No one wants to believe that they are racially biased. Admitting bias takes maturity and vulnerability. Acknowledging that, although well-intentioned, we may in fact, be part of the problem. It feels crappy, but that crappy feeling can be what teaches us empathy and how to do better and be better.
When there are cross-comparisons of education achievement across all racial groups, sometimes there are barriers in place that need to be removed. It is important to reference immutable characteristics to see where we can provide better opportunities to students. The DCSD Educational Equity Policy encourages this thinking and provides a lens for us to view student experiences and successes.
