Color Blind or Color Brave? WHY RACE MATTERS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXow7olFyIM

“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.” -Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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What do we mean by color blind? the belief that racism is no longer a problem and that we all have equal opportunities not seeing (minimizing) the importance of race

Pros of a Colorblind Society Social etiquette Eliminates groups Focus on character and personality Prevents government intervention Prevents resentment Proponents of a color blind society believe that ignoring race will naturally lead to a more equal society. The mentality is, ''If we ignore race, won't we end up treating everyone the same?'' Advocates of a color blind society believe: It is a form of social etiquette. They believe that not addressing race is a polite way to relate with minorities. It eliminates the need for classifying people into groups People are heeded as individuals rather than someone who is white or black, for instance. Promotes a world where people are distinguished by character and personality When race is left off the table, people are given opportunities and establish relationships based on their character and personality rather than their race. Prevents government intervention in public school admissions and employment Many supporters of a color blind society do not agree with giving preferential treatment to minorities in public college admissions or public education. They argue that if society is truly color blind, then everyone should be treated fairly, and nobody should be given special treatment. Prevents whites from resenting other minorities Black Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas argued that when minorities get preferential treatment in things like college admissions or employment, they often fall into a ''cult of victimization.'' Whites can end up resenting them for this, and even discredit their success because of the special treatment they received.

Cons of a Colorblind Society Ignorance can lead to misunderstanding Discredits identity Eradicating affirmative action Lack of awareness of white privilege Unresolved problems Opponents of a color blind society believe it is not realistic nor possible for people to just ''not see'' race. Some opponents of a color blind society believe that not discussing and educating people on race will lead to ignorance and more racism. Here are some arguments against a color blind society: Ignorance of race can lead to misunderstanding In a color blind society, people don't speak about or acknowledge race. Therefore they are not learning about it either. This can lead people to create stereotypes, generalizations, and misunderstandings against people of color. It can discredit one's identity Not acknowledging race of others may dishonor an identity of which they may be very proud. For example, a Jamaican-born black woman who is being treated for depression may take great pride in her upbringing, socialization, ethnicity and race. If her counselor were to ignore her race during therapy, it could do a disservice to her self-esteem and identity. It is an argument for eradicating affirmative action Some opponents of a color blind society believe it is important to give preferential treatment to minorities in college admissions or public employment to help compensate for the years of discrimination that minorities have suffered throughout United States history. It can create a lack of awareness of white privilege Opponents believe that many whites are unaware to the some advantages they have. For example, despite the fact that employers are not supposed to discriminate based on race in hiring new employees, many still secretly do. Not addressing issues like race, racism, and white privilege discredits the legacy of struggles of many minority groups. Lack of dialogue about race can leave problems unresolved Opponents to a color blind society believe that keeping a dialogue and conversation about race, and how it affects people, is a way to move towards peaceful race relations.

Color Blind or Color Brave? https://www.ted.com/talks/mellody_hobson_color_blind_or_color_brave