Module 5: Responses to Race
   Part 2: Colorblindness

One response to race is the statement, "I don't see color." When we look at people, we may not want color to influence our response, but we cannot address racial systems in society if we do not acknowledge different experiences due to color. This part looks at the idea of "colorblindness" when applied to race and its racial impacts.

Suggested Goals:
1. To understand the idea of racial colorblindness and how this could maintain racial systems.
2. To apply the concept of racial colorblindness as a tool for evaluating classroom practices and necessary changes.
3. To consider actions that move beyond colorblindness to antiracism.

&1: Colorblindness

​Being “colorblind” and not seeing or judging other people based on race may have been taught as a virtuous or civil approach to living in a “post-racial” society. However, from explorations of race, we can see racism alive in many societal systems. In order to address racism, we need to acknowledge race, the diversity of experiences based on race, and the inequitable policies that discriminate and oppress. Instead of being color blind, we need to see differences, listen to and value experiences of people of color, and commit to action that is antiracist. The resources below will help to explore color blindness and the impacts of being racially color blind.

Watch:
Color Blindness Does Not Achieve Equality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k0UXTGRAKE

Read:
Colorblindness: the New Racism?
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/fall-2009/colorblindness-the-new-racism

Colorblind Ideology Is a Form of Racism
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/culturally-speaking/201112/colorblind-ideology-is-form-racism

Why Color-blindness Is a Counterproductive Ideology
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/color-blindness-is-counterproductive/405037/

White parents teach their children to be colorblind. Here’s why that’s bad for everyone.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/10/05/white-parents-teach-their-children-be-colorblind-heres-why-thats-bad-everyone/

Reflect:
  • Have you ever used a color blind approach to race, especially as it applies to education policy and practice?
  • How could you check yourself to avoid practicing a color blind approach in your work and in your life?
  • How could you respond to someone with a color blind approach?

Mellody Hobson discusses how awareness is necessary to overcome racism. Color blindness stymies this awareness and can become racist as it prevents action that is antiracist.

Watch:
Color Blind or Color Brave?
https://www.ted.com/talks/mellody_hobson_color_blind_or_color_brave/discussion?language=en

Color blindness comes with costs. The Harvard Business Review builds on some of the ideas from Mellody Hobson’s TED Talk. While these conversations may have a business focus, connections can be made to the classroom and to life in general. Think about being antiracist in your life and classroom as you read and watch the information from The Harvard Business Review.

Read & Watch:
The Costs of Racial “Color Blindness”
Read: https://hbr.org/2013/07/the-costs-of-racial-color-blindness
Watch: https://hbr.org/video/2515962123001/the-costs-of-racial-color-blindness

Reflect:
  • What does it mean to be “color brave”?
  • What are the costs of colorblindness?
  • How is awareness of race (and not colorblindness) necessary for overcoming racism and being antiracist?
  • What are two steps you can take to avoid colorblindness and to be antiracist?

The next part will explore white guilt and how it can inhibit racial progress.