'disclaimer': anywhere black/white is mentioned, please do not take it to mean ALL of either,, as I know no statements that apply to EVERYONE all the time,,,



But claims of colorblindness really are modern-day bigotry, according to Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, a sociology professor at Duke University. In his book White Supremacy and Racism in the Post-Civil Rights Era, Bonilla-Silva argues that racism has become more subtle since the end of segregation. He considers colorblindness the common manifestation of the “new racism.”

“Whites believed that the Sixties was the end of racism,” says Bonilla-Silva, who is a Puerto Rican of African descent. “In truth, we have to admit that struggles of the Sixties and Seventies produced an alteration of the order.”

That alteration upended the rhetoric of the civil rights struggle, Bonilla-Silva said, so that historically oppressed groups would seem to be the perpetrators of discrimination, not its victims. As an example, he points to the way affirmative action foes buttressed their position with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s quote from the 1963 March on Washington.

“They say ‘like Martin Luther King, I believe that people should be judged by the content of their character.’ People eliminate the history and contemporary practice of discrimination and play the morality tale,” Bonilla-Silva says.

Building a bridge to another culture can be difficult, but rewarding, as Aileen Moffitt has seen during her 20 years at Prescott Elementary School in Oakland, Calif.

http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-36-fall-2009/feature/colorblindness-new-racism



Don’t be colorblind or even try to be. Don’t hide racist ideas with disclaimers. Talk about race. Deal with race. See race.

http://www.sociologyinfocus.com/2012/01/30/im-not-racist-im-colorblind/

Sadly this rhetoric leads people to believe racism in itself is purely a white issue. It also reinforces what I believe in that oppressed people become the oppressors and the cycle is perpetuated!

I agree with that!

I thought this thread was about the eyes.

I do have green-blue color blindness.

Whites believed that the Sixties was the end of racism,” says


up til the sixties 'racism' , pretty much WAS purely a white issue,,,,in terms of political and social impact

the oppressors still oppress, although more attention is drawn to it then in the past, and it has been replaced with the idea that the oppression is merely based on money,,,,


and yes,, racism can exist in any person on a personal level, and within races as well as between races

colorblindness also can, although its most harsh impact would not be upon the majority or 'founding' race (White)

The best way to influence someone's perception of me is based not necessarily on my words but my actions. How do I fit in society? How do I contribute or improve it? What good deeds do I perform? Am I burden or an asset? The problem with racial mentality stems from RESISTANCE by certain groups or individuals to ASSIMILATE, as if that will make them lose their heritage or ethnic identity, and hating on their brothers of similar races for becoming successful, as if that's seen as selling out. As if holding on to grudges and resentment for past ills done to them and staying impoverished and defiant is far more noble. They are only cutting off their nose to spite their face. They need to heal and let the crap of the past die. Burn all that already. Stop that wound from festering. Heal!!!

to a degree, I can concur

but the issue is how much 'assimilation' is necessary or reasonable
remembering that assimilation requires not just a party wishing to fit , so to speak, but parties wishing to receive that party into the fold

up until the sixties, african americans were not welcome to 'assimilate', nor were many of those of slave heritage capable of feeling their own ethnic identity because of being stripped of that knowledge by the institution of slavery which made them mere property

I think one of the issues is the idea that people have to 'assimilate',, which is easy for those in the receiving group to preach because it hasnt been required of them,,,because they defined what the environment and culture were to be in the first place

much like the womens movement screwed the pooch trying to assimilate by BECOMING the same as men, instead of demanding that men viewed their value AS THEY WERE,,,women

similarly, I believe many groups wish to be able to be who they are, hold on to their own culture, and still be just as valued as those around them calling the shots and trying to force their own culture upon them,,,,


we can be 'americans', without having to give up scottish, irish, german, jewish, catholic,, or any other traditions and values of our ancestral culture,,,,,,but many african americans dont have a way to truly know what their ancestral culture was or to feel that same connection as those whose ancesters arrived consentually and because of starting out and remaining 'outsiders' for so long,, mere 'assimilation' will not be enough of an answer as it may be for those who arrived here consentually and were able to physically and asthetically be seen and ACCEPTED as part of the fold,,,,,

but , back to the op

my point is that just as it is possible for me to be a WOMAN and equal to other women AND MEN, without people being genderblind

it is also possible for me to be an african american, and equal to people of other races, without people being colorblind

I think it may be the case that a rare person can have vision and not notice that someone is african american, or even rarer for them not to notice that someone is a female

but I just find it suspect when people claim they dont SEE what is so clearly visible to anyone with vision,,,,its a fear of the reality of race in our western culture,of discussing its political/social/financial impact, that I think is the newest version of racism,,,,personally,,

its cool people, I am female, and I am african american, and I have no problem if you have the vision to be able to see that,,,,,

to a degree, I can concur

but the issue is how much 'assimilation' is necessary or reasonable
remembering that assimilation requires not just a party wishing to fit , so to speak, but parties wishing to receive that party into the fold

up until the sixties, african americans were not welcome to 'assimilate', nor were many of those of slave heritage capable of feeling their own ethnic identity because of being stripped of that knowledge by the institution of slavery which made them mere property

I think one of the issues is the idea that people have to 'assimilate',, which is easy for those in the receiving group to preach because it hasnt been required of them,,,because they defined what the environment and culture were to be in the first place

much like the womens movement screwed the pooch trying to assimilate by BECOMING the same as men, instead of demanding that men viewed their value AS THEY WERE,,,women

similarly, I believe many groups wish to be able to be who they are, hold on to their own culture, and still be just as valued as those around them calling the shots and trying to force their own culture upon them,,,,


we can be 'americans', without having to give up scottish, irish, german, jewish, catholic,, or any other traditions and values of our ancestral culture,,,,,,but many african americans dont have a way to truly know what their ancestral culture was or to feel that same connection as those whose ancesters arrived consentually and because of starting out and remaining 'outsiders' for so long,, mere 'assimilation' will not be enough of an answer as it may be for those who arrived here consentually and were able to physically and asthetically be seen and ACCEPTED as part of the fold,,,,,

but , back to the op

my point is that just as it is possible for me to be a WOMAN and equal to other women AND MEN, without people being genderblind

it is also possible for me to be an african american, and equal to people of other races, without people being colorblind

I think it may be the case that a rare person can have vision and not notice that someone is african american, or even rarer for them not to notice that someone is a female

but I just find it suspect when people claim they dont SEE what is so clearly visible to anyone with vision,,,,its a fear of the reality of race in our western culture, that I think is the newest version of racism,,,,personally,,

its cool people, I am female, and I am african american, and I have no problem if you have the vision to be able to see that,,,,,

Hi - white, lower-middle-class, male here.

Everyone is a racist.

'Society' exists for boring people who can't manage to sustain a self-identity, and what isn't agreed with should be met with Molotov cocktails, not wine spritzers.

Also, my European culture is pretty boring too. I'm not fighting any wars for Ireland unless they stop blowing themselves up first, and then, secondly, pay me.

Socio-economic boundaries have become more important to the most recent adult generations than race.

I somehow feel that, even though you've probably always had it so it doesn't matter to you, that's awesome.

Seeing people through a prism of race is what keeps racism alive.

I agree with this. Racism will be here on earth for as long as there are People on it.

Color-blindness is not the new racism no matter what Eduardo Bonilla-Silva says. Color-blindness is an aversion to racism. People who claim to be color-blind are not being racists. Instead, they are fighting against racism.

Racists see people through a prism of "race", and they insist that everyone else do the same thing.

If we are going to talk about racism, then examples of racism should be presented.

A man is being a racist if he claims that a woman is his sister because she has the same outward "racial" features that he has.

A woman is being a racist if she claims that a man is her brother because he has the same outward "racial" features that she has.

Such aforementioned racists are partially responsible for keeping racism alive. Yet, when you confront them about their racism, they insist that their racism should be accepted. When you talk to them about the evil of their racism, they will claim that racism isn't absolutely wrong. If racism is absolutely wrong, then those racists are doing something wrong. Thus, such racists will claim that racism isn't absolutely wrong, because it is easier for them to deny the wrongness of their thinking than it is for them to admit to the wrongness.

The irony is that some of the same racists complain about racism that they perceive to exist in other people and in institutions. Such racists fail to see their hypocrisy.

I agree that there will always be racism as long as there are people. That fact doesn't mean that some kinds of racism are acceptable.

There's different kinds of racism and sexism; overt and covert.

Someone who is overt will if you ask him say, "yes I am. and damn proud of it".

Someone who is covert will answer, "no! of course not. That's just wrong". Then he will go home and have the same thoughts and feelings as the overt person does. He will hire someone of color to work at his company but only in the lowest most menial jobs. Then he will say
"look I give "them" jobs". He will move out of a neighborhood he has lived in for fifty years because, "well it was getting a little too
"urban" there, and the schools are much better here".

The overt person has to be much easier to deal with. At least you know where he stands on the issue.

That said, I do believe there are some people, a very limited amount sure, who are truly color and sex blind.

English is my second language and unfortunately I started learning it in school after such things as the words for colours (and how to tell time, which I can do in German) and so anything from orange to violet I still call red. Outside of that I know racism exists, although I believe it is really a class issue. And outside of that viva la differnce

I have been fighting against racism my entire adult life. So, it irks me when a racist tries to project that person's racism onto me.

It looks to me as if projection is a common ego defense mechanism used by racists. Apparently, they think that you won't mind their racism if they can get you to believe that everyone is a racist.

I have been fighting against racism my entire adult life. So, it irks me when a racist tries to project that person's racism onto me.

It looks to me as if projection is a common ego defense mechanism used by racists. Apparently, they think that you won't mind their racism if they can get you to believe that everyone is a racist.

This is true, I dont think any racism should be acceptable. But try telling some people that. Many people have respect of persons, so that should not be that amongst people either. Some men like tall, slim, attractive women with long hair when they search photos on date sites and else where. People are different and along with that comes difference of opinions period. IMO

this is not true

colorblindness tries to erase peoples histories under the guise of being 'non racial'

there is a difference between seeing things through a 'prism' of race and being able to appreciate that people have REAL ancestral, and historically DIFFERENT backgrounds

I dont see things through a 'prism' of gender, but I Definitely realize and see that there are men and women, I realize that biologically men are generally stronger, and historically men have generally been the providers

I realize that biologically, women are child bearers and generally nurturing is a 'built in' quality in women because of that unique place they have within the history of mankind

it would be wrong to DENY that african americans were enslaved and dehumanized for GENERATIONS from americas founding

it would be wrong to DENY that african americans were only in the last half century permitted to be fully 'american' throughout this country

to have a history like that , based on RACE, and then suddenly tell these people that they are 'racist' for feeling a comradery and common struggle,,, is the most passive aggressive type of bullying and racism there is

imho

I dont feel threatened at all when scots hang on to their culture, or consider themself part of the 'scot' klan

I dont feel threatened at all when irish hang on to their culture or consider themself part of the 'irish' klan

most people in western cultures dont feel threatened when AMERICANS Hang on to 'american culture' and consider themself fellow countrymen

,,none of that is harmful to anyone UNLESS it precludes an opinion that someone is better or worse than the next

so, if considering african americans my brothers and sisters, because of our common history and common struggles, or if considering women my sisters because of our common history or struggles, or considering my church fellows my brothers and sisters because of our common dreams and goals

is a form of bigotry,,,than I guess its a form people have to live with,, and possibly should consider themself lucky to live in a world where we are not all one big BORG style group of individuals just ASSIMILATING to the 'culture' chosen by others for us to ASSIMILATE To....