Shades of Understanding

 “Colorblindness Is the New Racism”

Margalynne J.  Armstrong and Stephanie M. Wildman

“Color Blind or Color Brave”

 Mellody Hobson

Argument:  

The authors Armstrong and Wildman argue that “the dominant norm of colorblindness obscures and maintains that status quo of white privilege.” They propose the concept of having “color insight’ by acknowledging racial differences rather than ignoring them.  Mellody Hobson explains how color blindness can be dangerous and challenges us to show courage, be bold and  become “color brave.”

Talking Points:

According to Mellody Hobson, “It’s time to be comfortable with the uncomfortable conversation about race.  If we truly believe in equal rights and equal opportunity in America, we need to have conversations about this issue. We can’t be color blind, we have to be color brave.”   She argues that doing so is not the “right thing”, rather the “smart thing” and that having these open, honest conversations about race may be uncomfortable but is necessary for real change and to ensure a better future for the next generation.   Something I find to be a challenge is the language.  There have been many changes and terminology shifts throughout the years which cause me to feel unsure of myself and whether I am using the correct terms.  To quote Alan Johnson-  “We can’t talk about it if we can’t use the words” -I don’t know how to even begin to talk about race when I don’t know the words. If I am to have these conversations, I fear saying the wrong thing and somehow being unintentionally disrespectful.  Something that seems so simple, really isn’t.  I remember when the term Black was no longer acceptable or polite and instead we used the term African American, which I never really understood.  Truthfully, it never felt comfortable to me, especially when speaking of someone from Haiti or Cape Verde.  “Person of color” also felt awkward…and in order to acknowledge an individual as biracial or multiracial, you really have to know them.  I stayed up very late last night after responding to Andrea’s blog, which took an incredibly long time for me to do.  I acknowledged that I had never really had a conversation with someone about race- and how it impacted them-  sharing this makes me feel vulnerable and uncomfortable.  Early this morning, I texted my cousin, who is biracial and raised by my white aunt, asking if we could talk this evening.  I’ve always considered him to be the son I never had but yet, I worried all day about how to even begin this conversation.  It was a good conversation and definitely a starting point for me.  It was interesting to consider different perspectives and how we shared some of the same feelings, despite our generation gap.   Before saying good night, we came to the conclusion that we may both be a bit color blind because neither of us saw our differences, only the fact that we are family.     

Examining Systems of Privilege:  The Power Line Exercise

“Systems of privilege based on identity categories, such as gender, heterosexual orientation, economic wealth, language or accent, physical appearance and ability, education, and religion, in addition to race, continue as impediments to equality”.  This power line exercise serves as a tool to identify and discuss privilege by privileged and non-privileged categories.  I completed this exercise first considering my twenty year old self, a single mom on public assistance, struggling to get through nursing school to ensure a better life for my daughter.  I wasn’t too surprised to discover I fell below the line, indicating my lack of privilege at that time.  The struggle was real.  I faced many barriers despite being white. I was pregnant when I was accepted into the nursing program- an extremely competitive program with a limited number of available spots. I remember meeting with the Dean, who upon noticing my “delicate condition” strongly advised that I withdraw from the program so that someone more deserving could have that spot since there was no doubt in her mind I would fail.  After completing the first semester, I decided to end my marriage to my first husband- my high school sweet heart who had become an abusive alcoholic.  My daughter was only months old, I had very limited resources and applied for public assistance.  It was a very humbling experience to say the least.  I remember explaining how I had three semesters remaining and would only need help for seventeen months only to be met with a condescending smirk and told “ Sure, that’s what they all say”.   I had watched people abuse the system for years…that was not my plan. I had already been working and paying taxes since I was fifteen years old.  When I turned sixteen, I became a nursing assistant- working thirty hours a week as a high school student.  My friends were all flipping burgers and scooping ice cream.  My job was not nearly as fun!  My mom, who had only a GED and worked in a curtain factor,y struggled to make ends meet. She was finally able to return to school the year I graduated.   We were far from being privileged.  It took a lot of determination and hard work and despite being told I would never succeed and having my own self-doubts, I did….and so did my mom!  She also said many prayers, often stopping in to light candles at St. Anne’s church.   I am sharing my experience not to minimize or dismiss the experiences of others but to show how things aren’t always as they appear.   The choices and sacrifices I made shifted my “categories” and the results of the Power Line exercise look very different today….that privilege was well earned and there is no one that will ever convince me otherwise.  Intersectionality is the framework for understanding how an individual’s various identities can overlap resulting in the unique experience of having both privilege and discrimination simultaneously. So while I benefited from the privilege of being white, I experienced disadvantages related to gender and class.  I watched a TED talk featuring Coleman Hughs, a biracial male of African American and Puerto Rican descent. He makes a case for Color Blindness sharing why he thinks the key to reducing inequality and easing racial tension is to make policy class-based. After listening to his perspective, I considered how it identifies with this intersectionality. It also makes me wonder if looking at each category separately might actually result in missing those individuals who do not fall within that certain group. For instance, in my role as a school nurse, I consider each student as individuals with different needs without regard to their assigned groups. If I were to focus my greatest attention on identifying the needs of my students based on race alone, I would not be recognizing those students in other groups who experience disadvantages based on class. Some of my black students actually have greater access to basic needs than some of my white students. If I am to regard my student population based on the groups they fall under, am I really seeing them as children with their own individual identities having their own individual barriers and their own individual needs? Shouldn't they all matter? I find this all so complex with no real right answer.

https://youtu.be/QxB3b7fxMEA?si=gN6ky_LH5LRERZwP

As a child, I was taught to treat everyone equally with kindness and respect. I wasn’t witness to any prejudiced opinions within my family.  I raised my children the same way, always telling my daughter  “We are all equal.  You are not better than anyone and no one is better than you.” because that’s how I feel. I remember watching Alex Haley’s Roots mini series on TV.  It aired in 1977 which meant I was only eight years old.  That was very heavy, graphic and disturbing content for a child that young to view and process.  Maybe it was then that I decided how very wrong it was and that we SHOULD all be equal.  

 When I read the title “Colorblindness is the New Racism”, it bothers me.  I don’t feel defensive but I do feel sad.  I’m still trying to decide if I am color blind.  I’m not sure that I fully understand what it means, despite the readings and Mellody Hobbson’s inspirational talk.  When I say “We are all equal” it is because in my heart that’s the way I feel. When I say we are all the same, it doesn’t mean that I think we all face the same barriers or that I am oblivious to racial inequity.  Am I aware of the unfair systemic structure? Am I aware that we are not all treated equally?  Absolutely!  

Merriam-Webster defines racism as" racial prejudice/discrimination and, importantly, the systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another." While I may not be sure if I am color blind or color brave, the one thing I do know is that I am not racist- of this I am most certain.  

Years ago, American Girl dolls were very popular and my daughter, like so many others, wanted one. 

I thought for sure she would want Molly who looked similar to her.  But no, she wanted Josefina!

                             

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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My youngest loved Tiana, so of course she had a Tiana doll.  She also had a Naturalistas fashion doll noted to be a "high priority" on her Amazon Christmas wishlist one year and was thrilled when she received it.  These dolls were chosen for no specific reason other than being “beautiful”...the same reason they chose other dolls.  We also have books that share the stories of important women in history.  These books include women of diversity.  They are not specific to one race or culture. Do they need to be?

 

In my health office,  I have “Colors of the World” crayons for my students to draw with.  They don’t always choose the crayons that correspond to their own skin tone- and that’s okay-  but it is a choice that is available to them.  I also have books celebrating differences. I was wondering if these books promote being color brave or color blind, so I asked AI!   One titled  “All Different and Beautiful: A Children’s Book about Diversity, Kindness and Friendships”  is considered color brave.  The Sesame Street book  “We’re Different, We’re the Same and We're Wonderful ” is not!  According to AI, the message in this book is that  “everyone is the same on the inside and it’s our differences that make this a wonderful world, which is home to us all, an interesting-and special place.”  I don’t understand how this is wrong to teach children.  

My husband was sitting close by while I was playing the TED Talk and I noticed he was listening intently- Mellody Hobson is such a powerful and dynamic speaker.  Afterward, we discussed the difference between being color blind and color brave.  He asked this question: 

If everyone in the world was color blind, would racism even exist?