Colorblindness or Racism?

 

The readings for this assignment were difficult because they made me realize that by not addressing racial issues head on and by thinking that “All Lives Matter” was an adequate replacement for “Black Lives Matter,” I have been part of the problem and therefore not part of the solution. By claiming colorblindness, I have been perpetuating racism, not helping to abolish it.

In “Why you should stop saying ‘all lives matter,’ explained in 9 different ways,” German Lopez uses relatable examples to illustrate how “Black Lives Matter” is not insinuating in any way that all lives don’t matter or that black lives should matter more. The author argues that black lives also matter and draws attention to the fact that there is inequity that needs to be addressed. I am guilty of saying "all lives matter." My argument was that we all should matter. We all deserve life, food, water, safety, shelter, etc. I did not think about it in terms of the proportion of Blacks that do not have the power that I have as a white, American, heterosexual, middle-class woman. I didn’t think about statistics or equity, but simply wishing everyone is equal and everyone matters is not going to make it happen.

Armstrong and Wildman argue in “Colorblindness is the New Racism” that white people often claim colorblindness, much like I did. "Whites can claim they do not discriminate because they often do not think in racial terms." (Armstrong and Wildman, p. 63) If the topic is not approached, racism does not exist. I am quickly learning that this philosophy is flawed. 

Decoded - Season 3, Ep. 7 gives examples of how racism affects housing, job searches and even preschoolers and explains that colorblindness will not solve any of these issues. As Delpit and Johnson both pointed out, we will not make any progress with inequities of race and power in society until we find the right words and discuss the issues. Armstrong and Wildman point out that color insight is a better alternative to colorblindness (p.68.) There are racial differences which should be noticed and embraced. People should be educated on these differences and use them to better understand others rather than discriminate against them. 

So how do we help? How do we combat the issues of race inequity and unfair division of power in our culture? As everyone witnessed in our discussion after playing Five Tricks in class on Monday, I have an innate need to help people. My interpretation of the situation was that a peer was unable to recall or follow the directions of the game and as such, she was repeatedly losing. In reality, she did not want to learn the game. The rules were not important to her, and she was enjoying her time playing, even stating it was relaxing. Afterwards, she made a point to thank me for my concern and even apologized. This interaction was an “ah-ha” moment for me. I completely misread the situation, assuming because the rules were important to me, they must also have been important to her, and she must have been struggling. I don’t have the answer to how we can rid the world of racism and create a society where equality prevails, but I am learning that before we get to that point, we need to listen, and we need to speak up. We need to acknowledge that not everyone needs or wants the same thing. We can’t assume our culture, our opinions, or our beliefs are right any more than we can assume that someone is playing a game with the same intentions as ourselves. 

"The Silenced Dialogue" - Delpit

 One of the points that stood out to me the most was the fifth aspect of power, explained on page 26. "Those with power are frequently less aware of - or at least willing to acknowledge - its existence. Those with less power are often more aware of its existence." Before starting this course, I hadn't thought of myself as possessing power. In reading Delpit's writing, I can see that I was just ignorant to the power I held. 

On page 29, Delpit quotes a parent, "My kids know how to be black - you all teach them how to be successful in the white man's world." Teaching black students to write and speak in their everyday accepted style could be doing them a disservice. They need to know how to interact with those with in power once they enter the real world, which is most often white males. 

"I further believe that to act as if power does not exist is to ensure that the power status quo remains the same." (Delpit, p39) It is not that I did not believe there was power, but instead had not acknowledged its existence at all. 

Delpit argues that by refusing to acknowledge and discuss the culture power and how it effects the education of multicultural children, we are perpetuating the underlying issues. 

Privilege, Power, and Difference - Johnson (2001)

 In reading this article, I became very defensive. In the introduction, Johnson states, "All of us are part of the problem. There is no way to avoid that as long as we live in the world." I felt like Johnson was accusing me of taking advantage of power that I may have. While continuing to read, I began to agree that if we are not the solution, then we are indeed perpetuating the problem. 

One of the lines of this text that stood out to me was on page 10. "This means privilege is always a problem for people who don't have it and for people who do, because privilege is always in relation to others. Privilege is always at someone else's expense and always exacts a cost." Even those who are underprivileged, may still be considered privilege to those who have even less of it. 

Johnson also states, "But although belonging to a privileged category costs them something that may feel oppressive, to call it oppression distorts the nature of what is happening and why." (p40) I disagree with this point. Oppression is defined as "mental pressure or distress." Does it matter where the pressure is coming from? Wouldn't it still be considered oppression even as a white, heterosexual. male if someone were feeling pressured or distress? 

Johnson argues that in order to find a solution to a world divided by privilege and oppression, everyone must acknowledge and accept that they are part of the problem and be willing to actively work towards finding a solution. 

Intro to Me

My Little Family

If I had to describe myself using only one word, it would be "Mama." There are a lot of things I am proud of in my life, but my children are what makes me the happiest (and sometimes the craziest.) I am a single mom by choice of a very energetic 4 year-old, named Oliver, and a 10 week-old snuggle bug, named Atticus. 

When I told Oliver I was pregnant, he was beyond excited.
"Mama, it's going to be a girl and we can name her Panda."
Clearly, he is not a girl, but we do still call him Panda.

I am a School Nurse Teacher at an Elementary School in Warwick. 

 

In my free time, which I really don't get much of, I love crafting and baking. I have been decorating cakes for friends and family over 20 years.