Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 11

Colorblind & Internalized

Racism & White Privilege


L AS 141, 11/3/15

Colorblind Racism
Despite living in a colorblind society, race/ethnicity still determines much about
our material and physical well-being.
With the notable exception of Asian-Americans, people of color lag far behind Whites
in income, wealth, education, and most other indicators of stability.
How, then, is it possible to have this tremendous level of racial/ethnic inequality
when most people believe we live in a colorblind society?
Eduardo Bonilla-Silva presents four concepts:
1. Abstract Liberalism
2. Naturalization
3. The Biologization of Culture
4. The Minimization of Racism

Abstract Liberalism
Traditionalism liberal humanism holds that we are all individuals with free will
and that society is a meritocracy.
Historically, these definitions of what it meant to be human were not
extended to people of color (Slaves definitely did not have free will)
But, we now use these concepts to explain and defend the status quo

Naturalization & the Bioligization of


Culture
We often defend the status quo by
stating thats just the way it is.

We no longer widely accept that we are genetically different or inferior/superior.


But, we often engage in the practice of claiming that cultural practices are
inherent and immutable.

Minimization of Racism & Internalized


Racism
As a nation, we are quick to dismiss
the concerns and challenges related
to racial conflict.
We are equally quick to claim that
systemic and organizational
discrimination is a fantasy or false
assumption

At the same time, people of color often internalize racism. This involves:
1.

Internalizing and acting upon racial expectations for behavior

2.

Having self-doubt when faced with discrimination

3.

This leads to feelings of inferiority and self-policing

White Privilege: Two Related Phenomena


1.The historical and very real advantages
afforded to working-class and impoverished
whites which enabled them to be aware of their
advantageous social position and whiteness.
2.Contemporary social experiences which whites
benefit from in their daily lives, oftentimes
subconsciously.

Historic White Privilege


Remember that prior to the 18th century, there was no clear-cut racial
distinction between Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans.
Through the 18th and 19th centuries racial logics became entrenched:
Africans and African-Americans were enslaved
Native Americans were depicted as inherently savage and pushed away from U.S.
settlements
Later, Asians were viewed as unassimilable others

In order to keep non-white laborers and working class whites from forming
class solidarity, it became useful to grant two kinds of privileges to white
workers. These historical privileges took two forms: legal privilege and
psychological privilege.

Historical Legal Privileges


Although their labor was taken advantage of, whites were afforded
certain material and legal privileges. These included:
Citizenship
The right to vote
The right to own property
The right to own guns
The right to travel and live where they wished
The right to join the church or social organization of their choice
The right to attend stable schools and colleges
Freedom from the worst political, legal, and social deprivations of segregation
and immigration laws

Historic Psychological Privileges


Additionally, these legal privileges worked alongside cultural
practices which gave whites the psychological privileges
associated with whiteness. These included:
The inflated sense of self worth which comes from having a group to look
down on
The comfort which comes from having more material ease than at least
one group of people
The sense of self worth which comes from seeing ones self reflected in
cultural and political elites.

White Privilege and Bigotry


Historically, bigotry has often been most aggressively held by marginalized
groups of people. Bigotrythe hatred of another groupprovides a form of
psychological release because frustration can be channeled into anger.
As historians, social scientists, and artists have noted, bigotry is oftentimes
self-defeating because it keeps marginalized groups from identifying,
addressing, and combatting the actual sources of their marginalization.

White Privilege Today


To some extent, the historical versions of white privilege still exist today.
There are some material and economic advantages and cultural/social pride
associated with whiteness.
But, in the present day we also contend with social advantages associated
with whiteness.

Вам также может понравиться