Racism without Racists Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America Fourth Edition Eduardo Bonilla-Silva * Boulder + NewYork» Trot Plgmout, UK Zot1 a The Strange Enigma of Race in Contemporary America ‘Thora sang kind feng soca withthe problem of {im No oe or imo 0 one shen tae ema a Alber Memmi Rao RACISM WITHOUT “RACISTS” wadays,encopt for members of white supremacist organizations fo whites in he United Sates claim tobe “ract” Mart we - ert they “dont see any colo, jus peoples that although the ugly face (of disermination i ll with uit sno longer the central fat dt ‘mining miosis’ be chances and, finaly, that, Ike De. Martin Luter King Je they air olive in a society swhere “people are ge {he content of thar character not by the colo of thir skin” Mare pot _gnanty, most whites isa that mine (epoca blacks) are he cris ‘esposible for whatever “race problem” we have i Ui country. They ‘ubiely denounce blacks for “playing the racecar for demanding the faintenance of unnscesary and diveiveracebasod programs, sich = ‘frmative acon and fr crying “ace” whenevet they are cicized by whites® Most whites believe that if lacks and other minorses would fst stp thinking abot he pst, work har, an compas Tes (particu Inny about racial itrimination), then American of ll hues could all getalongeEea_->" °° 2 cpr But regardless of whites “sncee fictions recialconslderatons shade moet cesything in Ameren, Backs ond daviclinned racal minorities fel bel whites in virally every area of soi ie they are about these dns more Hey tobe poor than whites eam about 4 percent iss ‘fon aftes and have about en sighth of the nt worth that whites awe? “ho recive an inferior edaton compared fo writes, even when {Boy attend integrated institutions’ In tems of housing, Black-owned Units comparable fo white-owred ones ee valued at 38 percent less! Blocks ae Latinos sls have ls acess to the entre housing market frente whites trough a varity of exclusionary practices by white ra: {orm and homevrers, have been succesful in effectively Hating hei ‘Stance ino mang neighbodhonds” Backs receive impolite restmert In ‘Soren nretaurants and in a host of oder commercial transection.” ‘Renarchers have als documented that blacks pay more for goods sich [Scar and houses than do oehites® Hall, blacks and darkeskinnes anos are the targets of tl praling by the police, which, combined Tepreceniation among thowe aested, prosecuted incarcerated, and if ‘Sitged for a pital crime, executed” Rac profi on the highways fhe Eovrne such «prevalent phenomenon tht a tem has emerged to Geacibe it dsving vile block In shor, blacks and most minorities are atthe blo ofthe wel.”™ How is it posible o have this tremendous degree of rca inequality ‘n'a county where ist white dai that race no Tonge: relewan? More important, how do wits explain the apparent contradiction be- tween ther proesed color blindness and te United States’ color-coded {hoqaly? inthis ook Tatempt to answer both ofthese questions. onto that whites have developed powrerfal explanations which have “Ultmately become jstifcatons™for contemporary racial inequality thot {rculpete them Form ay eesponsbist oe te status of people of calor. ‘The explanations emanate fom 3 ne raha elogy that I label clr. ‘id acm This tecogy, which soglred cohesiveness and dominance inthe ate 190," explain contemporary rac inequaliy asthe outcome ‘of nonracial dyamis Whereas i Coo racism explained blacks soi) Sanding ae the result of thei biological and moral neo, colorblind {acum avoids such fe argument. Instead, whites eatinalize mine ts contemporary sats a the product of market dynam naturally ‘Scruring Phenomena, and blacks” imputed lta limitations” For instance, wes can aibute Lainoy high povecty rate (0 o relaxed ‘work sic ("be Hispanics are mahana, mafana, mafana—tomorro, tomorrow tomonow "oF side 9 tha esl fat fEndencles among groupe (Dose clad» dog mix? Lea eet You ‘at dink lk an wch, Cvtln mixes don’t mi") ™ ‘he Sage io of ae in Cnty Anca s ctr ind cam bcame the dosnt al esog he mecha sis and recto keping ics oer al nore a he otom ofthe wei change fave anged ele ht enporary ‘Scio oped rah re cam rts Ste ‘Shue itt fd appventy nrc coo te in cow ra wre aca nuit wes clo ough ove mens Ces ying “No gg end ot tpn pay 1:2 bl ia cil prc opt ns an yo it now yu don fase. For empl renal sept whch i naan igh tad ar was nthe pan no lng scp Scough overeat pace tad cn Ba sh ‘Srotheing le eaabi tn torng minor nd whiten ‘tan phere aig phere pics minora ‘nm oa advertang mall warps die ota Spite conmuntin nthe scare lang enn SC at now, but plane cuca?) dering pring insti wie ens enc ewappey an Ay Sona plop of ctr poy rence ojos wk Tae opporunisormebity ae the new weet keeping minor ina scondary postin” Poly aloaph tec issues hve ip ene mary’ of thea rhe tr parton ‘propio oe “al perrandnng melnemer ep thay Sston rr amntsatono penny whe sey a age ‘i tos an night devices abaloeng oneeaing Sots inane fo candidat ints uo alr tons) ave ‘sn sada pcs to anc” fople calor Weer im tana eur sit admasonso hing wea te ‘aires wit privge ir Sne wy tht St ae aca ‘ating Hey emu florins Ae nw ‘ses ite el "Cn in Ci aca he of ne ee ike “acm Ie” naa frying ne alg (ager spon ‘nis enti aca tron sty (thse pepe haa {xr sa of prcaiming hat Cod paced ine in the word in mre odo, uggs they ae Behind tree thy 60 nak stchrd eg intod sewing nerscal mage song o0 {Stutgh racal fe eg a poomati” tense ofcocers Serle dalton keaton’ he crn places ope Tot ‘Tite teloy fs come «mde ptt ol rhe mae ‘oneal rd hs jun Crow fac sre th ie or ‘stings a ant an ofl ppt in ic sighs ec corbin acm Serves oy a0 Se elgialsmor for {Set an iautonled tyson ne pose ight er And| 4 hur the beauty of this new ieoogy is that ads the maintenance of the page wit fdr without naming those wo sues Pets reward Talons a present to ate things Suh as ST cenel spor very ofa Sunde inducing acl dveraty nig en” yeu the sane hrc te Uneraty UPBtcsgars fain scion program 2 awe” and “icin eae ahtcs® Ths wes enuncte pone tht separa {Pu abst icant without sounding rei” Shelded by color lade er ite can express meonenent tard inane tee thet ‘Mofa vloe and woot ei and ever dam tobe the vine of “eres oT the ton wl fed nus bok to expan thocamous enigma cf rca without ac" WHITES’ RACIAL ATTITUDES IN THE POST-CIVIL RIGHTS ERA, ‘Since the late 1960p surveys on aca sttudes have consent ound thot fewer whites subucrbe tothe views associated with im Crow. For trample wheres the majony of wes supported segregated neigh: Eerhuods, schol, ansporation, jobs and public accomadations in {he 15d fs than a quater indicated they di in the 19705 Similarly, [ewer whites than ever now soem to subscribe to stereotypical views of blacks Although the number stil igh (ranging from 20 pert to 50 percent, depending onde tercotype), the proportion of whites who “fate in surveys that lacks are ay, stupid esponsbe and violent has delne since the T9405 “These changes in ws” racial ates have een explained by dhe survey commen ti ctr nur yy Pare thy re Sprints Tis gap of analysts agrees with white” common sense on a mates ad btioves the changes symbolize» profound transition i {he United States. Ear representatives ofthis view were Herbert Hyman Snd Paul. Shetley, who woe widely naan aces on the mbt in'Scenific Ameon Ins tepin of thie eae work nthe nae llecioneited by Taeat Parse and Kenna Clark The Neg Amer fe, Shetley ated the changes in white titudes as “revolutionary” and ‘ondluded, ‘a mas of wie Americans have shown ia many ways ta hey wil ‘ot ow nt goverment ad Hn dey wil ot ll xt ender ater, hey we enpged ne pn uk fasting oo gd coy vine ty for ne, ato cant a ts ae de do {Seti omnes east thy ow hte Aenean Ne lenght The Sage i fri Contemporary Ameist 5 tn cet tes, Glenn Firebaugh and Kenneth Davis Seymour Lipset, sd Paul Siderman and hi conthors, imperial, awe envied the {orc for radal optimiss* Febaugh and Davis, for example, based on theie anys of sarvey results en 1972 to 1984, concluded thatthe trend Toward less anack projudice was across the boat Slderman fd is costhors, os well a Lipset, goa step frtor than Fscaugh and Davis because they have openly advocated colorblind polis a th way tose the United States racial lemmas, For instance, Seiderman ane Edward Carmines made this explicit appeal inthe Book Resch een Roce ‘Tosay thats commlment to acolo Hing pice wor underang to ‘nfo pele cnr onde soda ce mtn et oa {efor pls nwhihacs ovat bain avr fone neh ace {Ersevnt so far aera gaoge oma Abare lira eal fos pss Inch beast organi ron rl pnp hat sp repels ‘ley one oughta bear with pel fee a he oro ace ™ ‘The problems with di oplimitc interpretation ae Wool ist, 35 | ‘have argued elsewhere* lying en questions that were Famed nthe Jims Crow raf sues hits’ eacil Views today produces an tific {image of progres Since the central acl Gebstes andthe language wsed to debate those matters have changed, our analytical focus ought be Sedicated tothe analysis ofthe new rail issues. Ising on the ne torely on old questions 1 ksep longitudinal (rend) dats athe bass for analysis wll by default produces rosy picture of race vetions that ‘mises what Is going on onthe ground. Sacond. and more imporant ‘Bch ofthe change in the nerbutive climate in Ue poet-cl rs fra analats must exert extreme cation when interpreting tidal da, pavtcla'y when i comes from singlemethod seach designe ‘The roarch strategy that seme more approprnte for our times fs med esearch designs (surveys use in combination with interviews, ethos ‘ys et), Doone allows researcher to con-examine tel sult ‘Asscond, more merous group of analysts exhibit what Thave bod ckewher a the ral peoptinst positon” Racal pesoplimists attempt {osrke» “balanced” wow and suggest that whites fata attudes reflect progress and resistance. The clase example ofthis stance is Toward Shuman Schuman has argued for more than tity yeas that white’ racial tudes involve a mature of tolerance and intolerance, of seep tance ofthe princpln of racial eral (oqal opportu fr all, rd ‘Of segregation, tea a ejection ofthe polls that would make those rinple a realy (2om affrmaaive acon to busing) ™ Despite dhe obvious appeal ofthis view in the rsearch community ihe ‘appeerance of neutal the pondering of "two sds” and this View'saS °° ‘ hope anced” component), racial pesoptimists are just closet optimist ‘Sthaman (er eure has pointes out that although "White responses to quemonsof principle ae more complex than soften potayed (2a Siverthles do thow in sost every instance a pose movement (ee lme"™ Furtuermore iis his belt that the nocmnative change nthe {ate State ora and tha the uci hat whites are having» hard {ime tasting hove nou into personal proerenes. "A hrd group of analyte argues tha the changes in whites tudes represen he emergence of esymotic ci.» Ths tation is sociated sh the rok of David Sears and hs esos, Donald Kindee®* Thy ave deine symbole acim oa blend of ntblack affect nd the kind ‘iteatonal American moral vakies embodied in the Provestant Ethic ™ ‘Recording fo these authors symbolic ras as replaced biological re- Sms te pamary way whites express har racial eseniment toward trunceiges, mn Kinder and Sanden’ words, ‘zee for peutic as comet prone one ths peep ‘haters of tral chara fermed by Be vitae aca with {eteoitons of nian. Ati care rth eoetos that Bliss {Srotty hard enough fo oernme he dies tet a a ey {ahs what hey have ot eared. Toy, wea, pres express inthe Itnpune of meio loa Authors in this tration have buen crc for the sipperiness of the concept of “oymbotieracsta” fr claiming that the lena of antblack ‘Meet aed indvignalism bnew, and for not explaining wity symbolic {clam came about. The fist erigue, developed by Howard Schuman, {for the concep has Been “defined sad operatoralized in complex ad ‘oryng ways. Despite this conceptual lpperinesy indexes of symbolic acm fave ben fond oben fc ferent om thane of od-oshioned fac and to be stong predictors of white oppostion to affemative tion The two other ques, made forcefully By Lawrence Babo, have ‘eon patialynolrese by Kinder and Sanders her book, Died by Color Pst Kinder and Sones, a wells Sears, have made clear that their contention ct that this ete ist me in story that antilock ‘fet and elements ofthe American Cred Rave combine. Instead, he ‘Gaim is that this combination hs become cena othe new face of = En. Regarding the third etigue, Kinder and Sanders go at length to ‘explain the tranition fom oldfshioned fo symbole racism. Neverthe. fee, ther explanation Hanges on arguing that changes in lacs tactics (Grom evil deobecence to uban vilenee) led to an oelaught of new {oven of ral tentnen that Iter found more fel in controversies over ‘welfare crime drags family, and afiemative action. Whats missing i this explanation isa mately based explanation for why these changes ‘The Sige ia of Race Cover Aer ” occurred, Instead, their theory of peu f ected inthe “proce of ‘Saitzation and te operation of routine cognitive snd emotional py ‘alogal procesex™ "Yer despite Hs limitations, the symbele racism tration has brought attertion to key certs of hw wes explain rac ineqalty today Whether hs “rymbalic” of aniback affect or not sbi the po dard oases since asa fer student of mine quid, How does ‘netet forthe unconsciows”® “The fourth explanation of we contemporary rc aitdes iso sociated th how who cm that white rail Hews fepresent 9 sense ‘Ferny postin: Ths postion forcctllyadvocaled by Lawrence Bobo fri James Klvegel, Sma to Jim Sidanius's "socal dominance” and Mary Jecanan’s “group eres” argument. Th eseree he cae of Si hese author that white prj isan estoy to defend white Frivloge Bobo and his ascites have specially agente that be: ‘tse of socioeconomic changes that ranepire nthe an and 19605, 0 scsi rc emerge that was Biting ofthe United Slates “modem. ‘allo postndostal fre labor ecmomy and ply Lalsver fair ‘nck “encompases an idology that lames Back themseves fo heir Poorer relative economic standing seeing it asthe funcsonof perceived ral inferonty= ‘Some ofthe bs arguments of authors in the symbolic and moder sagen eta sa ary of he sera acim vw Ey compatible wit my color lind racer tnterpreation As thee futhors, Tague tat colori rac has reared elements of {Taclinaliberata (work et, rewards by ert esl opportunity, Individualism ete) fo ail ira goals Taso argue ike them that sites today rely more on clara rather than Bologcal topes to explain Tact’ pasion i hs country. Fnaly, I concur with mest anaes of ‘oscil ight matters in aging ta les do nok perce clade ‘itn to bes cntral factor shaping Bac Lie chances “Although rnst of my diferenes with authors nthe symbol acim and lasezaie tadtons are metbndoloial (ce bea) T have one ‘rial theoredal dsayreement with theme Theoretical, ost of these {thors are sil sasled inthe prejudice problematic ae hun irrpret Score racal views as idl puch dipostions. Although san is act hea coeur mi, Shey stl retain the noon of prejudice aod pychologia! baggage rooted ininferraal host tn const my model sot anchored Fn cow affective elsposion (although afecve capers may be traf or ae in the way many express her ail Views). Ita it ise on a rater ntepretaton of rca matter an thse he ewe of cos at comeponding fo the systemic locaton. Those at he5 ‘cuper ‘otto ofthe rai barel en to hak oppositional views ad those who ee he mnifold wages of whitenac tend to hold views in suppoct "ethersel stats quo heer actors express “resentment” of “howl yard ce leet aera for the mantenance of white eae je David Welnan pots ot in hs Portas of Wht Rac, FRcjudied people are aot the oly racts in America" [KEY TERMS: RACE, RACIAL ‘STRUCTURE, AND RACIAL IDEOLOGY ‘ne reson why, in gener tes, whites and people of colo cannot coe eal ate because tcy concen temo ach ra” re ly Wheres for mo wes rac pee fr est Heels secon ir yetomse or isunaiza. Ato tis Pry bets my eatinatien ofr ind oc ha etched in Teihdoin otofacegime ot tusbout how the wore orgie Fee fan hg my tececalsoumpuons sate them openly qe lichen of ears ar poi cic. "hy tr btn ofr aye mal ie agent noon seal stints in ceping the tha ae 0 {Sip mneted etepor® Mie ears dat rosa of aca liereee ‘Sihstan wonton ther han cea, ental ctor A ch ealcnepors have a ory and ae subject to change: And eres eaten among soon ct om as motor Thee are ot est Reet vada on ow sil scents apron is conto ‘uaa porpectve on ace Th rt spproach wei gating popula. ‘ange tol scents he de ht because race scaly ‘Beamon is not anime eaegory of aa and pasa Some Sat ours tought cause recs consiracted aegoy OUESSoot al end sol sli who ae the eategory are the ones Shemale neal” "mend approach yp of most soaagal wing ona es prone toca comtrusonis view ens edhe bei Migr thence Sook Wier in group then proce t ice Oe Guero aed acuevement cme and SAT sores 3 they were ly ra Ths he cand way in whic contemporary ‘Chote contre to the propagation of rat interpretaions of a ‘guaiy By lal to gait he oil dyna that pros se ‘Rc dfscnees tse colts ip nee the acl oder ™ "Th ied appa and the one sae nti ook acknowledges that act so Scalers ach spc an pnd, one ‘tisha thas se ely. Ths means tht afer aceon st The Sing igre in Contemporary Anes ° ‘oc gender rose, proes mal ets on the actor raised at SEG? or “white” Although race, a ther soc sosrctons i Sable thera "chnging ame quay aa core Tn order fo expan ow a sally coteucedclgory produces rel race eft feed Yo introduce» secon key term the fo of Fils. Wen race emerged in aman toy, fort aoa ‘ence asad soa pte hat waded jemi pring Exrpeue the peoples wo fears “whit) ovr nom Europeans foples who botame "nowhite’) "Raced sacl syste oe weit ‘iprmoy” for shor, bocme pat snd alld al socice where ‘ropes extend the seach 1 therfore conceive a sooty’ acl ‘iru sh lay ofthc retin nd practi hat ere ae rege Acorn, the ak of nays nerested in tpn aha Sacre to uncover the parol soi, economic pie seal ‘Soto and dclopcl necansms response for he reproduction ot pathy a a tons sep thy are rac sac tn the fist plac? Would not many ater dover he fly of ce thinking! werk to abotch {hora ctory swell as pracee? Rac str emai pace [brthe sume fesse thal eer sacred. Sine actors razed 35 ror as embers ofthe dominant race —reseve mater Bens tra he racer, hey sugge(r passively reve he mal seages of whiten) to maintain hr proves Im vont those de ned osbvonging tothe borne reo nes geo cng te ‘Spgs or eg thin ett ‘sca sacred world over They exit Benise {Bey boelt mambo of the dent race me Wd late ga! othe dominant rice 1 dnd i ealctve inert the ppustion yom wht prog) shoal Fie no one that hs group develo ratonaizsos fo sexu forthe atu ofthe various nc And ere ntoduce my Ud ky term, he Toten ol dey By ihe nan he aly aed rom ed Son tapn and py (ominat ete) ox eng borin race Ti) tera tats gu Although lhe race rained socal Space have te cart of developing ths ramet ihe ames cf nine webcam hae wan hich cal actors ground oe ora) hides! posts. Why? Bet Mar ue line Coon ose lg mera {Seve ety th ae ine ling htc rc Tides ‘Sa theo aight nf Ul show in chapter 7, {asses rl in alcye part. Eve in prods of hegemone ule Sicha the curentone subordinate rial groups develop topostonal ‘ews, However, R would be fois t Bele Wat those Who re 3= ® pert society dont have the power at st ole punted) the views cite ed ae ology an be anced for asl! porpse 2 compris ‘no hal Stow clnents common fesse, sna ral res ade eta Sas be found copes 3 and 5 The fame that (ee eset cereaar al slogy are ete inte proup-bsed sand eperenee ft ato ae at he symbol evel Stee sete deveope by ewe groupe eps ow te work BSEEig tote. and becuse the group leo he varios cally de fp blo rary srt, hg gy See Ee scomman sent inet oft dominant Fae, whe eeratonalestoges atten fo caer that common ae by ro Ele strnatve nes, Mosy snd tors based on te experiences ot ‘bowintd oes ‘ital stor employ thee elements at “bulding ick. for snauiacung verso on acon sf sf ool seacures” income nave statlonss he icomnesr the eeneats lows aes to me ‘rover wun varus content (op responding to rcerelated save, ‘cong raves with toy, or apuing about eiemative ation {nt legs casoom) and prozce vaio acorns and presets vissr spree emblvaert ean, orscong minded) This ame harasee chee te legmsing rl of ria logy tease Slows fx acommodaton of contadictons, excepto an new nr State. Ae Toman pos oat soot Weg in gener Tnded. he Tecngth of en ology ls In oor, ble aplication. An iy pola erument mat an rien poral ope consiteny ‘Beg, th only pragma ecto which to box esl n= ‘fore fem proceed ovo important caveats shoul be fered Fist athoogh wit beau other piveged postion le aca ode forms socal group (he conan ac) they are ecard og das, fever sul orion, and ee fore fall drovape:” Hen, Eo hive mule and chen contatctry net tha re not ey “dbtmangie and at prot «pron heir ob capecty (Do wie Stora have more enon with wi apts than wi lack Ton? However, becuse a odor awarded the dominant rec onion, eae ofr maple sacral oeton (menor women Jy or sent working cao fougeo) nc io what Mil cals {focal eqncac’" tint have srl ease he es that us ty tac sta qo. "ern anough nb every single member ofthe dominant oe defends the cal sats ov spots or ln! vaca mat do To expla this pot by analogy ao not every captain deans epiaon {Cetera Engel the cuter of Te Count Mnf, was a "he Srang Ens of Rac Conte Anos a ‘aplaist) and not every man defends pavrarchy (@g, Acie Hea is an English magazine published by feminist men) nos do in some fashion Ta the same ven although some whites Fight white supremacy and donot endorse white common sense, mist subscribe to substantial portions eit inacasal uncial fashion that help sustain he prevaling ral nde. HOW 70 STUDY COLORSLIND RACISM "rely mostly om ntervew dat to make my cate Thi choice Based fon important conceptvl nd methodological considerations. Concept tly, my focus x sxamining hier racial declogy, and ideology, asl fr not is produced and reproduced in cummuniatve interaction ene, lthough surveys are uel nsteument for gathering gener in formation on acters’ views they are severely limited tools for examining Thom people explain, ust, aoalize and atclate racial viewpoints People are les aly to expres thei postions and emetions about racial Issues By anewering “yer” and "no" or “strongly agree” and “strongly Ainge” to questions Despite the gallant ffor of some survey research trsto produce methodologialy core questonnaie, survey questions Sil src the fee Bow feat and unnccaecly constrain the ange of Pome arowers for eapondents®™ Methodologcally, Tague that because the normative climate inthe posts nights ra has mace illegkimate the public expression of ray ised feoing and viewpoints" surveys on acl astudes have become like lip choice exams In whic espondents work hard to choose the right” answers be, those tat it abe rom) For instance, ldbough ‘aie of dats suggest ail considerations are central to Whit! eigen "alchoies, more than 90 person! of whites statein surveys thathey have no problem withthe idew of Macks moving int thelr elghborhoods” Similarly. eventhough about 8) percent of whites caim they would not havea pace ia member of thei family owt aback person home for dinney, research shows tat (1) very few wes ewer than 10 por ‘ent cat lepitmately claim the proverbial "some of my bast iends are ‘lacks and (2 whites rarely fntersze with lacks (Of more impor yet the insistence by mainstream survey researchers! on wing question developed Inthe 1980s and 6 o asses changes a ‘lal oleae, Ths step i peated onthe assompton tht "ac. fem (what label here “rad ideology”) dows noe changeover ime. IF Instead! ono regards rail iSology tin ac changing he lance on ‘jrstione developed to tackle snes rom the im Crow era vl produce Sart mage of progress and miss mos of whites” contemporary ‘al nightmares