Current Events > "I don't see skin color"

(+) Yeah! (+)

"I think I am not personally prejudiced, but I do not understand racial discrimination as a societal problem"
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the 'color blind' approach seems to exacerbate biases based on what I've seen

e.g.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/24366968_Is_Multiculturalism_or_Color_Blindness_Better_for_Minorities

http://socialpsychonline.com/2017/05/approaches-to-diversity-colorblindness-vs-multiculturalism/

Although color-blindness is a widely embrace principle of diversity, its not without its problems. By masking group differences, it can create a culture of ignoring real group disparities. In some ways, it seems like a convenient bandage that covers up a problem instead of addressing it. Indeed, some research has shown that the more people endorse color-blindness, the more they actually harbor intergroup prejudices.

Consider a study with 4th and 5th grade students. Researchers gave these students a story about a teacher promotion equality, but the teacher used either a color-blind or a multicultural mentality. In the color-blind version, for example, the teacher made statements about how we should focus on the similarities between us and our neighbors. In the multicultural version, on the other hand, the teacher would instead emphasize that we should appreciate differences between people.

Then those kids all heard about various incidents. One incident was totally neutral with no indication of prejudice. Another incident, though, hinted at potential discrimination. It wasnt clear, but it sure seemed like maybe someone discriminated against a child because of his race. The final incident was a clear-cut case of racial bias in which race was used as justification for different treatment.

The question is: did the kids see those stories has having race-based bias in them? For the totally neutral story, all of the kids agreed that there wasnt any discrimination going on.

But what about the ambiguous story? In this case, 43% of students who heard about a multicultural approach to diversity saw discrimination in the story, but only 10% of kids in the color-blindness condition saw discrimination.

To me, though, the most compelling finding was that when it came to a clear-cut case of discrimination, 77% of kids who heard a multicultural approach to diversity saw discrimination in the story. But only 50% of kids who heard about a color-blind approach to diversity saw discrimination in the clear case of discriminatory behavior.
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Can I add a personal anecdote to this?

When I was 6 years old I lived in Nigeria. My father was stationed as a diplomat there. We'd often have these big parties and a lot of the staff would bring their kids along and I'd play with them.

I was telling my parents a story about one of the kids once and they couldn't work out who I meant. So I described this friend of mine: his laugh, what kind of shirt he was wearing, what games he liked playing, etc.

Everything except that this kid was a black Nigerian boy. Until my parents figured that part out, they couldn't understand who I was talking about. It hadn't even occured to them that it could be one of the staff's kids.

So technically at that age, I was colour blind. But so what? That doesn't mean that the racism didn't exist, that my parents weren't discriminating, that power dynamics between different races weren't present. It just means that me, personally, had not learned about those things. There was an entire set of dynamics present that didn't simply relate to my interactions with that kid and vice versa.
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I am a massive fence-sitter who refuses to acknowledge that racial discrimination is an issue in society.

or

I am a racist in denial because I refuse to acknowledge that someone is racially and culturally different from me.
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As a Republican, and a Trump Supporter. And someone who has been in an interracial relationship for the past three years. It's meant as a way of saying, "Everyone is equal." if it's taken as more than that by someone than they are either really hung up on race issues or moronic and want to start some bullshit. I don't speak for every Republican or Trump Supporter, but I don't doubt that things that people of different races have experienced some form of prejudice in today's lifetime. But racism? No. racism is a different animal. I feel that people should be judged on their characters, not their race or color.

Iwin2013 posted...

As a Republican, and a Trump Supporter. And someone who has been in an interracial relationship for the past three years. It's meant as a way of saying, "Everyone is equal." if it's taken as more than that by someone than they are either really hung up on race issues or moronic and want to start some bullshit. I don't speak for every Republican or Trump Supporter, but I don't doubt that things that people of different races have experienced some form of prejudice in today's lifetime. But racism? No. racism is a different animal. I feel that people should be judged on their characters, not their race or color.

SailorGoon posted...

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Veggeta_MAX posted...

IMO, the best way of saying you're not a racist is to show it.

Kinda curious what this entails tbh.
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Americans obsession with race is pathological. Once had a well intentioned lady ask me if it's appropriate to call me Chinese American or if that's offensive. I'm thinking lady call me whatever you want I honestly don't care
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SailorGoon posted...

*Clap Clap Clap*

Balrog0 posted...

To me, though, the most compelling finding was that when it came to a clear-cut case of discrimination, 77% of kids who heard a multicultural approach to diversity saw discrimination in the story. But only 50% of kids who heard about a color-blind approach to diversity saw discrimination in the clear case of discriminatory behavior.

That makes perfect sense, really.

Maybe half the kids in a "colorblind" approach who see "I can't hire you, Martian" may figure out that martian-ness is the reason, while the other group has been primed to look for it.

Iwin2013 posted...

SailorGoon posted...

*Clap Clap Clap*

Haha
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Iwin2013 posted...

SailorGoon posted...


*Clap Clap Clap*

who do you think you are
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PleaseClap posted...

Iwin2013 posted...

SailorGoon posted...

*Clap Clap Clap*

who do you think you are

Well he did clap
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