When It Hurts.............................
Colorblindness is a disability, It must be horrible to confuse or not be able to identify certain colors. I cannot imagine how difficult life must be for someone who suffers from this unfair physical disadvantage.
It is my belief when most think of colorblindness, initial thoughts surround the physical ailment or disability. This week’s reading shed light on several other ailments associated with colorblindness. The colorblindness referenced this week had no association with blues, or grays but all association with whites.
Colorblindness is a term used to make white people in America feel safe and yielding protection from ills associated with the innate privileges garnered simply for being white. Many white people associate being a good or decent person with being colorblind. That notion is laughable to me. It was stated (This is my interpretation) white people often do not think of race because they don’t have to. They are in a sense nose blind to the fact that simply being born affords them luxuries others do not dare think of possessing.
To be colorblind gives the ultimate excuse not to examine whiteness! Whiteness un-examined perpetuates racism does it not? If this is fact, why do those who consider themselves allies choose to identify as colorblind? There is direct conflict in what is said and action taken. It is my opinion a white person in America cannot be a brother or sister and be colorblind or identify as such. Think long and hard on that one and ask yourself, do you agree with my stance or not? If you do not, what does that say about me or you?
I wonder, If one does not see color in America, what do they see? I personally have never experienced colorblindness in my personal life. White people always react to my black skin in both positive and negative ways. I would wager however some of those same people would identify or align themselves with being colorblind.
We Learn.............................
Gamble,
ReplyDeleteYour opening metaphor really landed for me, especially how you flipped “colorblindness” from a harmless sounding word into something that can actually function as protection for whiteness. The point you make about white people not having to think about race because they don’t have to is real. That “nose blind” line captures how privilege can feel invisible to the people who benefit from it.
I also agree with your central question: if whiteness goes unexamined, the default stays in place. And in schools especially, that can show up as “neutral” policies that are only neutral for some people. When race is ignored, the systems that already advantage whiteness keep operating without interruption. So calling yourself colorblind can become a way to avoid accountability while still claiming moral goodness.
Your question “If one does not see color in America, what do they see?” is the one that stays with me. Because the reality is, people do see something. They see behavior, language, hair, names, neighborhoods, tone, “attitude,” and they attach meaning to it. Colorblindness doesn’t erase bias, it just makes it harder to name and challenge.
If I could add one layer, I think a better alternative than “colorblind” is something like “color conscious” or “race aware.” Not in a performative way, but in a way that says: I see you fully, I recognize how race shapes experience in this country, and I’m willing to adjust my actions and the systems I participate in.
I’m with you on the contradiction you named. You can’t claim solidarity while refusing to see what someone is carrying.
Strong points and I also love what Andrea raises in return.
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