During week three of lecture we discussed the topics of whiteness and how America has become blind to the colorism with in society. American society has now taken upon the belief that race no longer shapes ones mobility in life and that all have an equal opportunity. We also went into detail about how hierarchies and certain privileges have developed out of America’s color blindness. One can go on to think about how our perception of race in the U.S. enables us, but also how it constrains us in political, social, and personal aspects.
I think that society’s color blindness in some ways, however very little, enables individuals in regards to overcoming America’s long history of racism and discrimination. I think that for many people it is a way to comfort themselves into justifying that what happened in the past is being made up for in the present with allowing equal opportunities for all races. That many allow themselves to think equality has been achieved to make up for the mistakes of that past. Along with emphasizing that the society we now live in is less stressful and more pleasurable social environment. Although it is evident that color blindness constrains society more than enables this sense of comfort in my eyes is a positive. I say this solely due to that America has to get over the past and I’m not saying forget the past, but live and learn. There is a false sense of equality that is providing this comfort, but personal growth and progress has to start somewhere.
I think that society’s color blindness mostly constrains us on both political and personal levels with in America. I think that Leslie Carr couldn’t have said it better than she did by stating, “Color blindness is not the opposite of racism; it is another form of racism” (Gallagher 108). Although some may see it contradictory to what I said above, on a personal level I also think that allowing oneself to believe that society now is on an equal playing field is just running from the fact that racism still exists. That one's comfort from believing equality has been achieved cannot, in no way, overshadow the reality that society is running from the problem of racism. Not only thinking that equality has been achieved, but many also allow themselves to bring about reverse racism. One can see this in the example from the reading when it talks about how blacks have their own Miss America Pageant. Many speaking out that it is racist for blacks to have their own pageant when they are already allowed to participate in the “white” people’s Miss America Pageant. This scenario just supports that we as a society are hiding from the reality that racism still exists.
On a political level I think as we continue to hide behind our color blindness we as a society are increasing the gap between achieving true equality. Color blindness masks any discussion of public white supremacy and has allowed society to think of themselves as racially tolerant. I think that as whites of society continue to think that equality has been achieved then in return it allows them to perceive themselves as being politically progressive. Essentially the white individuals of society are growing in political power due to their fairy tale advancements in racial equality, but when in reality minorities are losing the very little power they have left. I think this can be seen in how many have this idea that since white individuals are willing to allow racial equality that minorities have to abide under whites terms of achieving it. I think that this idea is prevalent in society in that racial minorities are expected to mirror the cultural and social routines of a white society. While just simply ignoring the experiences of racism that have brought racial minorities to the status they currently reside at today.
Essentially I think that America’s color blindness gives many a false sense of reality that allows for many to be content with the way society is. Meanwhile this content attitude masks the underlying reality of prevalent racism and society’s regression from achieving true equality for all.
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