Why you shouldn’t be colorblind at Race in the Workplace - how diversity, race and racism influence our working lives

Why you shouldn’t be colorblind

by Carmen Van Kerckhove

Chances are, you’ve heard a co-worker say something along the lines of:

“I didn’t even notice he was black. Everyone is the same to me. I don’t see color! He could be black, brown, purple, or polka-dotted, it wouldn’t make a difference to me!”

What’s wrong with the statement above?

Well, for one, it’s a big fat lie. All of us notice variations in skintone, facial features, hair texture, eye color, and the myriad of other phenotypic factors that cause us to draw conclusions as to what race a person is.

Then why do people insist on claiming that they don’t notice color? Often, it’s because they are scared to death of being labeled a racist.

But here’s the thing. Noticing a person’s race doesn’t make you racist. What does make you racist is if you make assumptions about that person’s intellectual, physical, or emotional characteristics based on the race you think the person is.

Yes, even if those assumptions you make are positive. Ideas about “strong black women” or “smart Asians” are still racist because they reduce human beings to two-dimensional caricatures and assume that race predetermines intellectual, physical, and emotional traits.

More importantly, when you proclaim that you’re colorblind, what you’re really implying is that race doesn’t matter in America. While it’s true that race is not a biological reality, it is a very real social construct that has a profound impact on our lives. Race still matters because racism is alive and well. Pretending otherwise negates the everyday experiences of millions of people of color in this country.

NAACP Chairman Julian Bond said it best when he stated that colorblindness means being “blind to the consequences of being the wrong color in America today.”

Also, when’s the last time you saw a purple person?

—

Here are posts from other blogs on the topic of colorblindness, if you’d like to do some more reading on the subject:

Race Relations 101 - Colorblindness
Colorblind Racism
Say what? Colorblind, Part II
Colorblind Racism vs. Old Fashioned Racism

Trackbacks & Pings

Life Links 8 (They’re New!) « My Sky ~ Multiracial Family Life on 08 Nov 2007 at 2:49 pm

[…] Colorblind by Carmen Van Kerckhove (my editor at Anti-Racist Parent) from Race in the Workplace […]
Feministe » Sex shouldn’t matter in politics. Let’s all be gender-blind! on 15 Nov 2007 at 1:08 pm

[…] bloggers have been trying to explain for some time now why the concept of racial “color-blindness” is both insulting and unhelpful. You know what I’m talking about — you’ve either heard others say, or have said […]
Here it is: Carnival of Human Resources #21 at Race in the Workplace - how diversity, race and racism influence our working lives on 29 Nov 2007 at 4:32 pm

[…] to respond to a racist joke Why you shouldn’t be colorblind Diversity training doesn’t work. Here’s why. If diversity training doesn’t work, why do […]

Comments

Ana Casian lakos wrote:

Thank you!

I think i’m going to forward this to all my peers, right now.

Posted 08 Nov 2007 at 10:26 am ¶
Seattle Slim wrote:

Oh so true! Very well said and absolutely on point. When people say that to me it irritates me because I know when I’m being lied to. I don’t care if you notice my race, just don’t assume anything about me based off of that.

Posted 08 Nov 2007 at 3:33 pm ¶
TheLostGirl wrote:

I wish I had the guts to show this to the people I work with! Keep up the great work… ery thought provoking

Posted 11 Nov 2007 at 8:59 am ¶
Anita wrote:

Oh, so true. To claim “colorblindness” is to just be blind to the parts of me that don’t conform to the white standard. To be honest, while growing up I knew I couldn’t change my brown skin, but I would do everything else to make white people forget I wasn’t white- didn’t talk about my immigrant parents, worked hard to not to talk with their accent, never dressed in “ethnic” clothing.

Posted 13 Nov 2007 at 2:24 pm ¶
Ina wrote:

The unfortunate of America inparticular is that it’s foundation is built on color. So no, you can not say you do not see color.

How about we do see human? Because unless everyone is seen as as part of the universe and yes God created us all equal there within lies the problem of our differences. Whether you understands a person’s enviornment or culture no matter how different from yours’, we all are human. Let’s try respecting that fact first.

Posted 13 Nov 2007 at 2:35 pm ¶
Naeemah wrote:

Thank you for this article! I’ve always despised this statement, particularly in “diversity” workshops. “Seeing” race does not mean that you accept the stereotypes associated with that race. In fact, if you don’t “see me” as an African-American woman then you don’t see ME, because being African-American is part of my identity.

Posted 13 Nov 2007 at 5:26 pm ¶
KT Lee wrote:

My initial reaction to the article — okay, so we shouldn’t be colorblind — then what should we be? This article does not address the solution.

I always thought of being colorblind as a positive thing. It’s not that you don’t notice a person’s race or physical characteristics, but that you don’t let society’s prejudices or preconceptions about race determine your judgment of a person. You accept them as a person regardless of skin color-they are just who they are to you. To me it also does not mean that one is unaware of or is insensitive to the racial issues in this country. And neither does it mean that I am lying when I say that I am colorblind. Aren’t you prejudging a person and their motivations when you accuse them of lying just because they use the term “colorblind”?

Like I said, I always viewed the term in a positive way, e.g., “colorblind casting”, meaning that you find the best person for an acting role, regardless of race. I understand that some find this term difficult or offensive because they take it to mean that the person saying it does not see the parts of them that are not of the mainstream White culture, even if they mean well. All I can say is that I agree with Ina, that we should just see human and love our neighbor as ourselves.

Maybe I view this term differently because I am note a typical White American, and I have lived overseas. Meanwhile, I believe that it will require a lot of patience, understanding and respect between all Americans to achieve a solution.

Posted 13 Nov 2007 at 5:32 pm ¶
Herb wrote:

Carmen,
I hope my Dr never claims “colorblindness”, there are very real differences between our races and we need preventative medicine as such. Sunscreen for a white bald head anyone? Anyway; Carmen, you mentioned 2 examples of racist assumptions appertaining to Black and Asian people. When do wide spread traits become attributes even though they do not relate to 100% of a race? If you think Asians are not “smart” as an attribute, don’t get involved with any international competitive contracts or the like. You will find out quickly how “dumb” white people are as they brag and divulge trade secrets just to look good to others. Just study how Japanese Honda and Toyota took over our automobile market by just showing up with cash, keeping their mouths shut, and recorded all the bragging by boastful whites. Soon afterwards, here come the rest of the workers from Japan and out go the whites. Asians, on the whole to include rich or poor spanning social-economic groups, earned the right to be considered “smart” by sacrificing everyday comforts and earning extra money to educate their children beyond the regular age appropriate schooling by tutors, music lessons, and going to school 6 days a week in school uniforms.
Carmen, be careful not to let only your own observations and current research be the “absolute” when it comes to explaining race relationships here in America. The book you referred to about biological “oneness”, although I only read the summary, may be suspect as a research source as it may be the only one so far with those views. Stereotypes are based in fact even if it is a very small percentage of a group. What you do with that information is what makes the difference…discriminate or promote.

White guy married to Korean woman.

Posted 14 Nov 2007 at 4:52 am ¶
Jonathan Richardson wrote:

I loved this article! As to what KT Lee wrote, it is commendable that you would like to see a colorblind society as to rid this country of bigotry, but when the overwhelmingly majority of people talk about not seeing color(and maybe you do so unknowingly yourself) they are detatching themselves from the reality of people of color who,(Because of their race) are treated or talked about differently regularly. When you come along and say that you do not see race, you seem to be like the ostrich which sticks his head in the ground unaware of his surroundings. There are too many issues facing people of color in this country to act as if race is of no significance(school admittance, hiring practices, racial profiling, home loan denials, incarceration disparities…ect.) While we can appreciate people like youself who desire to see people judged strictly by their character, you do us and yourself a disservice by not acknowledging race and all the relative factors that accompany it in this society.

Posted 14 Nov 2007 at 6:27 am ¶
adele wrote:

How can this argument be taken a stop further: For example, if we can agree that colorblindness does not exist, how would one de-program racist stereotypes described in the article, that for many, were ingrained at an early age?

Posted 14 Nov 2007 at 9:33 am ¶
pgnyc wrote:

It is possible that when a white person claims to be colorblind, she/he is trying to undo racism while struggling with having the identity of the group that is not targeted by racism. As seems evident in the article and in the comments, it’s not an effective strategy for undoing racism as it ends up being based in defensiveness. (Something along the lines of, “But I’m a GOOD white person”.) One of the things I appreciate about the article is it draws a clear picture of what constitutes racism (believing generalized “facts” about a racial constituency regardless of how complimentary they seem to be). As a “white” person committed to ending racism, I am grateful for such direct and succinct writing. Thanks for doing this valuable work.

Posted 14 Nov 2007 at 1:20 pm ¶
Ben wrote:

I’ve generally assumed that the term colorblind was intentionally created to end any honest discussion about race in the US. It’s a fairly common political tactic of the right which uses language as a tool to avoid real debate. Are there other historical uses of the term that imply an honest attempt at fighting racism?

I’ve always assumed that when someone uses the word “colorblind’ what they actually mean is “racist.” When they use the word “color” (in this context) they mean “racism.” So, “I’m colorblind, I don’t see color at all” translates fairly clearly.

Posted 14 Nov 2007 at 2:22 pm ¶
Bob Hibbs wrote:

Thanks. This was a most valuable positing. Racialiscious continues to be a daily learning. I’m grateful for it.

Posted 15 Nov 2007 at 11:35 am ¶
Magniloquence wrote:

Thank you so much for the link! I’m glad this message is getting out.

Posted 15 Nov 2007 at 2:28 pm ¶
Sara Garza wrote:

I completely agree, we shouldn’t say that we don’t see color, because that is not true. I mean I get where it comes from, meaning that color to you doesn’t make a difference. But we should appreciate that others are different just treat them the same. People mean well to say they are color blind because being racist is an awful thing, but we should embrace that everyone has different color skin, hair, heights.

Posted 15 Nov 2007 at 8:18 pm ¶
al carroll wrote:

I think the article is timely and right on target.Hopefully it will wake some people to the truth.

Posted 24 Nov 2007 at 9:42 pm ¶
Penelope Trunk wrote:

Caremen. I alawys learn something when I read your blog. I was thinking to myself today, Why don’t I read it more if I learn something every time? And I think the reason is that you almost always shake up my ideas about what is the “right reponse” in a given situation. So often I have to rework how I think about somethign after I read your blog. This post is no exception. Thank you for being a writer who takes so much energy for me to read.

Penelope

Posted 05 Jan 2008 at 10:38 am ¶
Eric Daniels wrote:

Reagan used the word “Colorblind” in a speech in the late 70’s as a response to claims of racism in his life and politcal speeches. “He said he did not see blacks as a race”. Conservatives have used this as their “Black Guilt ” to stop any discussion of issues pertaining to African- Americans. I also resent the other term “People of Color” because that assumes that P.O.C. have the same issues and that is not the case either.

Minority groups in the U.S. have concerns according to our historcial, politcal and economic realities and failure to realize those issues makes people use power politics as a weapon to gain the majority white elite politcal structure. It emboldens conservatives who oppose any rememdies for past discrimination and allows them to accuses progressives of playing “Idenitity Politics”. We should rally like Obama is saying on issues that affect us all, but let’s admit that no society can or will be colorblind. Failure to deal with that reality leads into situations like Rwanda when ethnic groups get played by a conquerer with tragic results.

Posted 13 Feb 2008 at 8:17 pm ¶
Barbara O. wrote:

Very insightful and worth sharing, gives depth to a blanket statement

Posted 17 Jul 2008 at 7:53 am ¶
Joe Steele wrote:

I totally agree with what you stated about the implications of someone saying that they are “color blind.” When I hear someone make this comment and depending on the level of trust and intimacy in our relationship, I either feel quite mad because you’re saying to me that you do not see me and/or don’t want to deal with the relevance of skin color; or I’m sad that our relationship is so shallow that you cannot relate to my day to day existence based on skin color.

Posted 18 Jul 2008 at 12:49 pm ¶
Liss wrote:

I’m torn by this article. It assumes that anyone who says such a statement IS lying and I hate to paint everyone with such a broad brush… I don’t think if you say you’re “colorblind” it necessarily means that you are automatically oblivious or detached from the knowledge and understanding that Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, Middle Easterners and others must live their lives under circumstances that Caucasians will never undergo.

I think when it applies to ones ACTIONS- being “colorblind” isn’t necessarily a bad thing. One SHOULD be colorblind when hiring a qualified applicant, when holding a door open for someone, helping someone across the street, or- in my profession- caring for someone who enters my hospital.

On a personal level- when I was younger went out to the clubs I didn’t base whether I would accept an offer to dance or a drink from someone based on their color. I based it on their charm, wit and intelligence. Were I to discount dating people of a different race because of the knowledge that I would never be able to relate to certain differences between us I would have missed out on some fantastic relationships (and some amazing sex!)

That being said, I believe that one can not and should not be “colorblind” when it comes to understanding the inherent differences among us. I know I will never be able to relate to those experiences, but I feel it is my responsibility as a compassionate and loving human being to attempt to at least understand those factors and their potential impact on a person’s perspective and life.

Posted 20 Jul 2008 at 9:30 pm ¶
jo wrote:

Hey,

Thought I’d share a similar situation in my own workplace. But before I get into my story, I would like to say hello to everyone as a ‘newbie’ member of this forum.
During our lunchbreak, one of the teachers made a comment referencing our A.A. students (I’m a teacher) as ‘monkeys we see every day…’ instead of accepting an invitation of traveling with us on a field trip that was planned for us to visit the local zoo. As I was sitting there, (the only A.A.teacher that was present) I replyed that it ‘was a very inappropriate thing to say’ esp. when her supervisor and an up and coming student teacher (both white) were sitting and laughing in response to her comments. I paused, gathered my lunch, and removed myself out of that ‘environment’. I retreated to the library where I could ‘blow off steam’ and think about what had happened instead of getting into an emotional confrontation with my coworkers had I stayed in the teacher’s lounge. I spoke to a staff member about it, and listened to her comments, thought about how she too was offended. (she was African Amer.). Knowing the kind of person I am, I reported this to my principal. She immediately took action against this teacher and we all had a meeting to discuss her fate. I spoke up and suggested that I was by no means driven to ‘jeopardize her job’, but in turn remind her, as well as other colleagues (who were witnesses to her remarks) that we work in an environment where these are ‘our children…our community’…and that she, as well as other white teachers should not take me, or any of our students of color for granted by even thinking that saying such comments belong in a school environment, or anywhere else, for that matter. I was strucked by how unprofessional she was to say that in the presence of a student teacher, it’s okay to have such disrespect and ’superiority’ to look down on the very community of people who we, as teachers are their most ardent advocates and supporters.’ It was resolved by alot of ‘I’m sorrys…and a lot of fact-checking questions concerning a discussion on racial slurs and racial misperceptions…’
Overall, no one should think that things like this should be taken for granted and while looking back, I made the right decision.

jo

Posted 22 Jul 2008 at 10:42 pm ¶
Anonymous wrote:

I don’t think such a statement is meant to be taken literally, so I don’t find fault with it. It is just an emphatic way of stating that one looks at the human being rather than the race & therefore doesn’t let the issue of race become a negative factor in dealing with a person. And, rather than being said because one is ’scared to death’ of being labeled a racist, one can also conclude it is being said as a positive affirmation that humanity is more important to the person in dealing with others than a more narrow description of race. That is not to say that race is totally ignored - it just doesn’t become the main focus through which the ‘other’ is viewed.

Posted 04 Aug 2008 at 10:09 am ¶
Becky wrote:

I don’t know Carmen….A co-worker asked me “Who was that Black woman you were with yesterday?” and I really did have to stop and think and compare names/people/color…I think in terms of Denice, Ali, Martha…not color. Yes I notice, but I had to shift. The co-worker who asked me that? Was Black….and I felt embarrassed because I really had to think about it…

I’m a blend - Cherokee/African American/White…but identify as White because my parents did and because I “look” White. I did become very offended when my managing editor told me the newspaper didn’t like to run front page articles on Blacks because White advertisers didn’t like it….but they told ME I was over reacting….that it wasn’t racist…yeah.

LONG way to go in media in the south….

Posted 07 Aug 2008 at 10:29 am ¶
Ann wrote:

I do agree that many in this society are extremely afraid of being labeled racist. I also think that the “colorblind” philosophy is doing far more harm than good in this society. The issue is so charged in this country that it is often hard for anyone to honestly discuss it. To comment on Becky’s comment, I have theard this before. Whenever you wnat to speak up, even in a nonconfrontational way, against a practice you are viewed as “angry”. Plus, in this country money trumps everything. That could truly be America’s undoing.

Posted 13 Aug 2008 at 11:16 am ¶
sonya wrote:

So true as a multi-cultural woman (i.e) What are you exactly ? I have heard all of those statements my whole life. Including why some of my best friends are—- insert race here. Please will there never be a time when it’s o.k just to be me ?!

Posted 14 Aug 2008 at 8:29 pm ¶
Heidi wrote:

I like your emails, because we have very few black people in the hospital in Munich/Germany - where I work in the library for the patients.
I think and I can see, that being black is hard in this environment. So you have to take care for this as well….

Thank you
Heidi

Posted 18 Aug 2008 at 9:24 am ¶
Brandy wrote:

It’s hard to be black on most days. People assume I’m mean and overbearing because of my size and skin tone. People get on the elevator with me and hold their purse close to them. When I enter an office for a meeting, the receptionist assumes I’m lost or delivering a package. I love my heritage and I love being black, but it isn’t always a self esteem booster. I just want to be Brandy- the fun, charming, outgoing and sometimes dramatic young woman that I am.

Posted 21 Aug 2008 at 10:06 am ¶
Wendy wrote:

This is great. I work at a high school with a very diverse population, racially, ethnically and economically. The students get along fabulously, but unfortunately it is a false sense of what the world is like. So many of them graduate and when in the workforce or at college comment on the prejudice and bigotry they encounter. One student attended a traditionally black college because and after the first semester transferred. When I asked him why, he replied, “Ms. W. they are all black! “. He is a young African American man whose grandmother was white. His mother and I were just at a Union conference and on the trip down we discussed politics, race, religion etc. One of the things we agreed upon was the need to continually discuss relationships in terms of race. It really is important to get all of our feelings out in the open and examine them closely. We need to look at our views and subtle thoughts about others in order to grow and change.

Posted 25 Aug 2008 at 10:37 am ¶
Melinda wrote:

I also think that there are many people who are afraid of saying anything for fear of being labeled as a racist. I left a job of almost 12 years last Fall after being in a very toxic environment, with one co-worker that I considered extremely racist, and attempted to talk with my former boss on several occasions. It was a small office and when they started a Diversity Committee, my boss came to me and said that he wanted me to serve as the staff liaison for this committee because I was the only one he could trust to be handled the right way. I was honored at first to do this because this is something that has always been of great interest to me, however, in the same breath, I thought how disgusting it was that he had to come to me and frame it that way.

Posted 25 Aug 2008 at 11:21 am ¶
Luis wrote:

Yes. Fundamental information.

Posted 25 Aug 2008 at 6:45 pm ¶
christian wrote:

i guess each of us has that capability of being a so called “color blind” or as if a racist. The most important is either of the two which we ought to be should not harm anyone. You maybe a racist or either way around but the mere thing is that you should have a conscience towards the people outside your human body and that is the people that around you.
You may belong to any of the two but for sure each one of us should respect one’s opinion so as not to have big quarrel on this matter.

Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 7:51 pm ¶
Cathi wrote:

I like what Wendy said about discussing race. I’m white and counsel with a lot of black women. It deepens our relationship when we can discuss race. Getting to that level of trust gets us across cultural boundaries. It is honest for me to acknowledge that they may need to explain some important factors in their lives as I don’t share their background. Talking about race-cultural-related-experiences has always been affirming. We find ourselves enriched by new understanding and appreciation of each other’s challenges and accomplishments!

Posted 30 Aug 2008 at 7:30 am ¶
Judy wrote:

I am legally Anglo-Chinese Canadian. But since I have been mixed with Chinese mothers for 5 generations, I don’t look one bit Caucasian. But my great-great-grandfather was English royal blue blood. And I always get people assuming I am pure Chinese. It is offensive to me because they deny my English ancestry.

Posted 03 Sep 2008 at 2:35 pm ¶
Harmony wrote:

This is a very interesting topic and I’m thankful I was referred to it. I’ve always thought that by referring to myself as “colorblind,” I was being respectful toward people of different races and consider all of us as equally capable of being successful and productive members of society. I look forward to learning more in these blogs.

Posted 06 Sep 2008 at 6:06 pm ¶
Nate wrote:

The ‘No, I’m colorblind. You are just another person to me!’ response has always been a problem for me because I am a Black woman and ignoring that does not change who I am. I want to say, “No! Don’t be colorblind. I am Black. I am a woman. I am a person. Now get to know me as you would any other individual, who brings her own unique life experiences and intelligent thoughts to the table.”

Posted 12 Sep 2008 at 11:41 am ¶
Anonymous wrote:

I always took the term ‘color blind’ to mean that one didn’t take race into account any more than any other factor in determining a person’s relationship with another person.

In that respect I consider myself ‘color blind’, more or less. I take all aspects of a person into considertion when interacting with them - race, gender, age group, etc. We all have many different things that define us. We can all grow from the sharing of those different things.

Posted 14 Sep 2008 at 9:16 pm ¶
Annie wrote:

Great!
I often feel that claiming “colour-blindness” prevents one from having a meaningful conversation about race and reality.
I had a great conversation with someone recently, who said to me that she was “colour-blind”. She was open to other interpretations of what that meant and we had a good conversation about it. Your email is clear and concise and very useful. Thank you!

Posted 17 Sep 2008 at 7:20 pm ¶
soonai wrote:

This essay is very insightful. I am a person of mixed heritage with a physical appearance that is ethnically ambiguous. Throughout my life people have asked me to explain “what” I am. So yes, I totally agree race matters in this culture and in the world. Besides gender and socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity is another lense through which we assess ourselves and others.

Posted 18 Sep 2008 at 1:08 pm ¶