“She was a rainbow but he was colorblind” – Author Unknown***
Would the world be better off if we were colorblind? Is being colorblind really bad for inclusion?
On March 22, 2022, during the historic confirmation hearing of the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson for Supreme Court, Senator Ted Cruz referenced a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King which said “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.”
Cruz asked Judge Jackson if she agreed with this. He then proceeded to reference a past speech Judge Jackson had given in which she agreed with a statement made in an article written by an African American journalist who said that the decision to gain independence from England was based upon the desire to protect slavery. He then asked Judge Jackson if she was in agreement with the journalist’s viewpoint on race and critical race theory.
He also stated that a book the journalist referenced indicated that the act of not seeing color or being color blind is not the answer to eliminating racism in our society. He had surmised that this was the opposite of what Dr. King had said in his “I Have a Dream” speech. He, like many others, missed Dr. King’s point and is “blindly” disconnected from the reality of race and ethnicity in America and other parts of the world.
Though Senator Cruz misstated and distorted a number of truths while clearly badgering the judge. I only choose to address one distortion that could potentially impact reeducation efforts for those who have been mis-educated. Such distortions are what confuse people and prevent the elimination of racist thinking and discriminatory practices in U. S. Institutions.
The idea of a colorblind society is counterproductive to say the least. When people who are most affected by something you do, let you know that your idea to help them live better, do better and be better is not effective but offensive, you have no choice but to listen. When a man tells a woman how she ought to feel and that his method of ignoring her needs is what benefits her that man is quite likely to end up alone. He cannot tell her what she needs. She tells him what she needs. So when disenfranchised or marginalized populations say they don’t want to be ignored by a colorblind society, then a color blind society is not the answer. Here’s more to think about….
Why Being Colorblind is Bad for Inclusion
In print and broadcast journalism, we are trained and advised to abstain from writing or delivering anything that we cannot prove to be true unless it is actually fiction that we are writing or entertainment we are attempting to deliver. That’s journalistic integrity. It is important because it would only take a few unethical journalists to cast a shadow on all journalists thus undermining the powerful messages that people need to receive.
In other professions, some may utilize distortions or partial truths in order to succeed or win at whatever it is they are doing. I am often amazed at how often such violations of integrity go unchecked… in the corporate world, court rooms and of course politics. If it weren’t for watch dog groups and others who keep track of written, digital and other documented evidence, we would be completely lost as a society.
We Have to Stay in Our Lane
One cannot and should not attempt to challenge or present content, theory or truths if they have not done the necessary work required for learning about that content, theory or truth. Again, that work includes building awareness, knowledge and skill (wisdom).
No one who embraces diversity and inclusion or equality in America should make statements supporting a colorblind society as the remedy for racism. I have never met one who would, by the way. This assertion could only be made by someone who is not learned or trained in the realities of racism and are clearly lacking in diversity, equity and inclusion (D, E &I) competencies. Individuals in institutional leadership, corporate management or public office should learn the basics and mind their mouths when it comes to wielding discussions on such matters. It’s not a reputable look and it’s an insult to those who know better.
I cannot speak for every diversity practitioner in the world but I can confidently defend our reputations by saying any such professional would not dare suggest that anyone’s race or ethnicity be ignored and that anyone could or should be blind to another person’s appearance or identity. Where’s the inclusion in that?!
What’s Makes the Colorblind Society Counterproductive?
Generally speaking, children of color are taught about race and ethnicity as are White children. They learn from family, friends, neighbors, school and society as a whole. The difference, however is in the messaging. Outside of those who vocally state their hatred or distrust of people of color, many White parents tend to avoid conversations about race and ethnicity, downplaying its value in the process. They mistakenly think this passive approach is an honorable thing, and they often believe they are embracing diversity and inclusion by avoiding the conversations. It’s kind of an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality mixed with the idea that if we speak no evil, we will see no evil. It’s part of their colorblind approach. Realistically, race and ethnicity are not evil. How we manage these differences or mismanage them is what becomes evil.
Supporting Colorblindness Creates Invisibility
We’ve talked in past posts of how some are uncomfortable and thus avoid addressing race and ethnicity (See “Destroying the Controversy: Ethnic Pride is Not Ethnocentrism). This leads to children learning more, not less from people outside of the home, including the media and social media. This learning may or may not line up with their parents views or values, but if there is no discussion, erred thinking is inevitable. If parents don’t teach the right messages, society will teach the wrong messages.
You wonder how I came to that deduction? Well… most children go to school where most of the teachers are White, they receive history lessons that only include people who are White then during Black History Month, they hear about the most widely known Black people, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Barack Obama and the cafeteria offers soul food. During the course of a school year there may be a surface level lesson or mention on slavery and minimal mention of Indigenous Americans with no mention of Asian culture and history in America nor those of Hispanic descent. There is also no insight offered on the fact that within Asian, African, Hispanic and yes European American cultures, there are a multitude of ethnicities that exist and they come from different places. The messages, the lessons, the people they see in authority the people they see in magazines and on television have historically been White so for White children that message is one that quietly and sometimes loudly teaches privilege, value and entitlement. For children of color it teaches that they are not there, they are invisible.
Invisibility leads to the devaluing of others. When I as an African American female, look in the mirror, I see someone looking back at me. She is an African American woman with brown skin. I also see everything I stand for and every road I have traveled. For someone to say they don’t see my color, or they don’t see that I’m a woman, it begs the question, why don’t you see me? Again, the message is that I’m invisible.
Acknowledging Color Adds Value
Parents of color, find it necessary to face the issues of race and ethnicity head on in order to help their children develop a strong sense of self-esteem and to help them proudly maintain their cultural heritage. Their conversations also include “The talk,” which is teaching them how to avoid or survive the hatred and violence of discrimination they are bound to encounter.
Megan R. Underhill, wrote about this in a 2018 Washington Post Article after having conversations with 52 parents on the subject of identity. In her article, “White parents teach their children to be colorblind. Here’s why that’s bad for everyone,” Underhill said “The goal of these discussions is to instill in their children a sense of racial pride because parents of color understand that their children will seldom be presented with positive or celebratory imagery of their racial group growing up. Instead they will be confronted with images that position African Americans as criminals, Asians as perpetual foreigners and Latinos as illegal immigrants.”
The way to raise non-racist children is not to create a society based on making others disappear through a self-imposed blindness, but it is to speak openly and honestly about the value people bring, the accomplishments they’ve made and how to stand beside one another to defend equality and uphold justice so those accomplishments and that value increases for all. We don’t teach any subject by not talking about it. We simply teach it correctly and with honesty.
Closing Thoughts
Colorblindness is a form of bias. It turns the other way and refuses to see more than just the color of another’s skin. It also refuses to deal with realities that impact all of us. It ignores race. It ignores racism. And it ignores systemic racism that is deeply imbedded in our society. That’s not anyone’s goal. Everyone wants to be seen. Everyone wants to be heard. If we are blind to an aspect of who another is, we are shutting our eyes and ears to that part of that person’s existence and the problems we need to help solve.
Acknowledging differences naturally and without bias enables us to learn about others and their experiences. Their experiences add to their rich histories. I have learned so much about various cultures and it enlightened me on some of their behaviors, mannerisms, work habits, food prohibitions and more. Our relationships got better not worse.
Acknowledging race and racism by “seeing” it can also begin to eradicate the gaslighting that takes place during covert (hidden) acts of racism and discrimination towards others. The more we call it out and show a united lack of acceptance for it, the more we can begin to make much needed progress in a country, a world that belongs to all of us.
Let’s just try to move the needle… that includes making public officials just as aware and just as accountable!