Devon Perdue

ddperdue@svsu.edu
Colorblindness in the United States: An Ideological Criticism
Devon Perdue is a Communication student and graduating senior at Saginaw
Valley State University. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to receive
a Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Abstract

Colorblindness is the racial ideology that some describe the best way to end
discrimination. The claim is that treating individuals as equally as possible, without
regard to race, culture, or ethnicity is the ideal way to overcome racial differences.
Conservative colorblindness ignores the ways in which race continues to handicap a
persons chances of success. In a colorblind society, Whites, who are highly unlikely to
experience the many social disadvantages that minorities may experience, can
effectively ignore racism. The inevitability of White privilege allows them to comfortably
accept the current social order and the injustices that are the result of that order.
Colorblindness creates a society that denies the existence of negative racial
experiences, rejects cultural heritage. It is believed that we are now living in a society
that does not consider race to be as important to the operation of our nation as it once
was, but this imposed idea of being blind to color and racial differences could prove to
be more harmful than helpful. Two discursive artifacts Angela Y. Davis and Michael

Eric Dyson examine and critiques race relations in the United States and decide the true
intentions of the colorblind ideal.