The article relates to the discriminatory culture that was pervasive in the American society and the newly founded way of life that seeks to overlook racial facets. The author ably argues that the perceived more civilized culture has somehow succeeded in eradicating discriminative tendencies based on ethnicity. However the article appreciates the fact that although through the not long adapted c culture the American society has managed to progress by achieving considerable equality in most spheres of life, the same has also advantaged the white. The foregoing further denotes the author’s main thesis.
In trying to authenticate his argument, the author focuses on various societal aspects such as social and racial inequity, media perceptions, urban sociology, the construct of popular culture, immigration, and disseminates ideas of race. With regard to the media, the article provides that the color blind perception has mostly been advocated through the media. The article further takes into consideration data which has previously been compiled relating to the white perception of the non-prejudicial propensity. According to the article, such inclination makes a majority of whites to deem that racism against the minorities is no longer in existence.
With regard to the foregoing, the author further notes that according to the surveys previously carried out, about 58% of the whites supposed that African Americans had better opportunities of finding employment that them. Consequently, majority of whites believed that blacks as well as whites have equal prospects in most spheres of life such as obtaining housing, achieving middle class standing and employment. The blacks however perceive the opportunities rather inconsistent. This, according to the author has been necessitated by the differences in discernment with regard to affirmative action efforts, the supposed impartiality of the criminal justice system, and the capacity to realize the ‘American Dream.’
The article further look at the political as well as the social ideas that color blindness provides relating to whites. The author uses interviews in a bid to understand the perception of whites on this issue and concludes that the color blindness culture has served to preserve white privilege through what he refers to as negating racial inequality. This is basically advanced due to the psychological boost that the whites have received in terms of political mirage since they perceive themselves as morally superior as compared to the ‘previous’ oppressive white generations.
Through the opinion provided by the author in this article, I have learnt the different perceptions held by the whites as well as the African Americans. Further I have learnt that the discrimination tendencies have not been eradicated and that most of the seeming eradicated prejudices have only been camouflaged. Subsequently, the disguise has mostly been facilitated through legal means. This is apparent from the author’s argument that the color blindness as supposed in the contemporary whites thinking has only enabled them to believe that biased affinities such as racial isolation are no longer a concern. This thinking has been shaped by the illegality connotations in legal provisions.
With regard to the to the author’s arguments, I beg to differ somewhat with his argument that discredits the use of media to appeal to a more equality based society. The author’s assertion that the use of media serves to conceal a more disquieting truth is correct. I tend to be inclined to the fact that the culture of color blindness is driven by utmost good faith. Consequently, the culture was not tailored to serve some partisan political, social and philosophical purposes. To a certain extent however, the good faith has been eroded by some partisan interests but this is not a case that warrants generalization.
Consequently, the author can make his argument more enlightening by also arguing passionately as he has with reference to the advantages that the color blindness culture has benefited the minorities. An argument that encompasses the pro and cons of a particular topic is more informing and would help in eradicating apparent bias as to the information provided. This would help in shaping informed opinions of readers pertaining to color blindness especially in academic research and connected purposes.
Gallagher, A. (2012). Color-Blind Privilege: The Social and Political Functions of Erasing the Color Line in Post Race America. Rethinking the Color Line: Readings in Race and Ethnicity. p. 92-100. New York. McGraw Hill.
