Colorblindness is the New Racism, Armstrong & Wildman

 

Colorblindness is the New Racism:  Armstrong & Wildman

Argument:  These authors, Armstrong and Wildman argue that the practice of seeing the world through a lens of colorblindness, a concept first adopted by the courts, fosters a “head in the sand” mentality with regard to the role race has in our modern society.  Instead, they suggest an approach of “color insight” which allows for vocabulary and methods to communicate about the role of race and whiteness in educational and legal settings.  Armstrong and Wildman not only discuss this approach, but provide useful steps toward attaining color insight in the classroom which as a reader I appreciate.  It is nice to discuss ideas, theory and semantics, but I want concrete strategies to employ!  Thank you Armstrong and Wildman….

Quote(s):  “With whiteness as the default assumption, Whites can claim they do not discriminate because they often do not think in racial terms.   Whites may observe the discriminatory treatment of non-whites and consider only the disadvantages that flow from being non-White without having to consider any of the benefits of appearing to be White…. Racism does not exist to Whites who reason “Racism is not my problem because I am not someone with a race or do I think badly about other races.  I do not even usually think about race.”

Response:This is an interesting and enlightening statement made by the authors.  I would have to agree that whiteness is the “default” assumption or the norm so to speak by which other races are measured.  Because whiteness is the default norm, whites do not see themselves as a race category.  Whites view race as other groups of people with skin tones different from their own.  Whites tend to be segregated in communities, schools and the workplace and therefore do not regularly interact with non-whites .  This seclusion provides blinders, so to speak, or a shelter of whiteness that does not present opportunities for interaction with others.  Racial issues and experiences happen to non-whites usually in other neighborhoods. 

 The opportunities for thoughts about race may only come from the news or social media for example, which is fleeting and momentary.  These encounters or stories about people of other races that present issues for discussion or contemplation are purely optional and are quickly replaced with the next story.   

The authors go on to say that whites only contemplate the negative effects of race when they hear of a story in which race discrimination happened to someone else.  In these moments, when a news story is broadcast over the TV or radio, the White person would naturally consider and sympathize with how difficult it might be to be of another race.  However the authors state this is not enough.  They must also consider the benefits of being white.  This is the part that I need to spend time contemplating.   The authors suggest that whites who do not acknowledge the privileges enjoyed by virtue of their whiteness are culpable in racism.  

It is true that whites don’t see themselves in terms of race and often don’t even think about race because it doesn’t enter their world.   I am not sure that I agree with the statement that the white person can “claim they do not discriminate” because they don’t often think in racial terms.   There is a difference between whites who overtly discriminate and harbor racist views in their hearts and whites who do not, but are guilty of living in their own little (white) bubbles.  Yes, they could be described as ignorant or colorblind even, but does that rise to the level of being racist and conscious discrimination against others?  I think not.  Could Whites stand to be enlightened as I have by reading these articles and taking a master’s level course in social issues in education and become more self-aware of the concept of white privilege?  Yes of course, and it is needed.  The challenge I have is first becoming more aware of and recognizing white privilege in all it's forms, and then figuring out what to do about it.