The Myth of Colorblindness

In many ways, I agree with the statement that “colorblindness is the new racism.” It is very easy for people to excuse their words, actions, and unexamined thoughts with the phrase, “I don’t see color.” Armstrong and Wildman explain that “racism does not exist to Whites who reason, ‘Racism is not my problem because I am not someone with a race, nor do I think badly about other races. I do not even usually think about race.’” This quote spoke volumes to me as someone who has worked in racially diverse communities for many years. I have witnessed how some white parents with children of color often disregard the realities of race and avoid considering how their children may be treated, viewed, and affected by the world around them as they grow older.

This is genuinely concerning because many people have never had to think about how their skin color allows them to move through the world without certain obstacles. However, their children may face challenges their parents have never experienced or even imagined. Colorblindness, in this sense, becomes harmful because it ignores the very real ways race continues to shape people’s lives.

In her TED Talk, Mellody Hobson states, “The first step to any form of action is awareness.” This connects closely with the concept of color insight, which is presented in the reading as an antidote to colorblindness. Armstrong and Wildman write, “Color insight requires its practitioners to observe, discuss, and analyze the operation of race and privilege in contemporary society.” Rather than avoiding conversations about race, color insight encourages individuals to actively engage with them. This includes recognizing intersectionality and understanding that people experience the world differently based on multiple aspects of their identity, including race, class, and gender. The reading also emphasizes that “both whites and people of color need to cognize their own and one another’s individualized privileges,” which highlights the importance of mutual awareness, not just self-reflection.

To better prepare both children of color and white children for the complexities of society, we must begin to open our eyes to reality. It is easier to ignore a check engine light when the car still runs and gets you where you need to go. In the same way, it is easier to remain blind to injustice when the system still benefits you. Choosing to acknowledge race and privilege requires discomfort, but it is necessary for real change to occur.

Although this reading focuses primarily on a law school setting, I believe these conversations must happen much earlier, especially with youth. As stated in the reading, “Until educators teach about the importance of analyzing how privilege operates, students will graduate ill-equipped to work effectively in a diverse environment.” When we avoid these discussions, we set students up to enter systems that either work against them or advantage them without their awareness. Exposure to the realities of society is essential for students of all backgrounds so they can better support others, advocate for equity, and navigate the future with greater understanding and responsibility.