"Colorblind" Word Twists Good Intentions

WORD! "Colorblind" Word Twists Good Intentions,
with Tammy Johnson.

People who claim to be colorblind must lead a charmed life. Constantly numbing their senses with a self-congratulatory grey blob of vagueness, ignorance and neglect, the colorblind have it made. Turning a blind eye to the racism that people experience everyday may salve their conscience, but it wont end racism.

about the WORD! series:
Words. You cant escape them. They headline the evening news, buzz around the water cooler and blow up your cell. They invoke powerful images that convey values, beliefs and an understanding of how the world works. And when repeated, words shape how problems are defined and which solutions are pursued. Words. They whitewash. They blindside. They leave you seeing red. In this series, ColorLines Magazine looks at what we talk about when we talk about race.

As posted to RaceWire: http://racewire.org

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• colorlines
• racewire
• arc
• tammy
• johnson
• colorblind
• discrimination
• race
• racism
• light
• rail
• intentions
• outcomes

[Lostagain70]

How about getting a job to afford the rent of a place near a train stop. Then you can move out of the ghetto and next door to a family of a different race, helping dilute racism instead of reinforcing it.

[racialjustice]

That's an excellent argument for the creation of living-wage jobs, and for the fighting of discriminatory hiring practices.

[epilepticpower]

thanks for making a great video in this word series, yet again. the one thing i have problem with is the ableist message at the end of the video, implying that blind people are unable to "move forward," lack knowledge, or that being blind is an undesirable state to be in to begin with is pretty ableist and offended me as a disabled person. I felt like it compromised the otherwise very strong message of the video.

[racialjustice]

Thanks for the feedback -- you're right, and a video on language should be mindful of the words it uses. Keep watching, and we'll keep making them better.

[andrewc2768]

, how about buy a house closer to the train station if that's what you want, I like the bike trail, but I don't wait for one to be built to my front door, I move closer to one that already exists. Some people like to live closer to their crack dealer or baby daddy, and that's not usually close to the local light rail system. If you don't like all the liquor stores in your neighborhood, move to one that has a Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. But then that wouldn't be keepin it real, now.

[andrewc2768]

African Americans will always complain about how sensitive coworkers are about racial issues. If we seem to say cliche, meaningless phrases, it's because you will fly off at the slightest perceived racism. Stop complaining at how people react or relate to you and just try to be the best you can and overcome obstacles. treat others well, and eventually they will trust you and tell you their real feelings. it's like "notice I'm black, don't notice, look at me I'm black, but don't mention it but ..

[deeden76]

oh sorry they can't build the train to fit just your needs. Jesus. Not all whites are rich, you know.

[jacobi2393]

The failed assumption in this country is that racism is everywhere and minorities have to worry about discrimiation everywhere they go. Its not the 1960's anymore, if youre well qualified you can get a job no matter what color you are

[towdow3]

@epilepticpower in some cases being blind IS an undesireable state. I dont think it compromised anything. Being colorblind in my opinion is limiting yourself. Why not embrace the colors. Even the great painters of civilization used multiple colors and shade.

[towdow3]

@Lostagain70 moving next door to someone wont necesarily dilute racism, and getting a job with no car, and no transportation is easier said than done.

[MultiSmartass1]

@dutytocareforothers I don't know. People don't need to say they are "colorblind" to treat you as if you are invisible and hold zero value to society. This gets done all the time regardless of the use of verbiage.

I guess its its different for me.

I have been a writer for over a decade and I have gotten my own freelance jobs based on my own skill and talent.

Having influential friends would help but its not what I have relied upon.

That has been my experience.

[dutytocareforothers]

@PrezAlex When white people say they are "colorblind" it usually means they plan on treating you as if you are invisible and hold zero value to society. They also plan to exclude you from their network of friends and social information that could help you attain jobs or resources. That has been my experience.

[CrixMakin]

I'd love to be colourblind, but until racism is totally extinguished, I can't be. That's the most painful thing.