Color-Blind Racism
The work by Bonilla-Silva is one of the most provocative and controversial perspectives on race to have come out in the 21st century. On this board...
Tell us a bit about what you think about this very important work. Begin by providing Bonilla-Silva's definition of color-blind racism from lecture slides. (2 points)
Then, relate his ideas to the concepts of equality of condition, equality of opportunity, and equality of outcome from Chapter 7 in YMAY. Which of these does
Bonilla-Silva seem to be most concerned about and why? (2 points)
Finally, have you ever heard anyone explain racial matters using any of the frames from Bonilla-Silva? (1 point)
Sample Solution
Bonilla-Silva defines color-blind racism as “racism that operates in an apparently race-neutral manner, but which preserves and maintains the racial hierarchy.” He argues that this racism uses individualistic explanations for disparities based on race and class (such as cultural values or genetic differences) to deflect blame away from societal structures, instead attributing the inequalities to personal responsibility.
He is most concerned about equality of opportunity; he believes that because of color-blind racism, certain groups are disadvantaged due to institutional discrimination – such as access to housing and employment opportunities – regardless of their efforts or qualifications. This has been especially true since the end of formal segregation in many places: while there may be no explicit laws preventing certain groups from achieving success, they still face obstacles due to entrenched systems of privilege.
Yes, I have heard people using some frames from Bonilla-Silva when discussing racial matters - namely blaming individuals' lack of "personal responsibility" for any inequalities they experience due to systemic disadvantages.