In
the United States the primary problem is racism. In the 1960’s, White Americans
believed that separate but equal was best. What they didn’t care about was the
fact that no one was ever treated equally. As years passed, many Americans
believed that racism was over. There was no more boycotts, police brutality,
separate bathrooms etc, but racism never left it was just disguised. In today’s
society we call that Color-Blind Racism. Bonilla-Silva in chapters one through
five spoke on the topic of color-blindness.
According to Silva, “I analyze the
central “semantic moves” whites use as verbal parachutes to avoid dangerous
discussions or to save face.” In chapter three Bonilla Silva speaks about the
forms of Color Blindness. As an African American woman I see these forms
everywhere. Many African Americans that are not educated about this topic will
not understand these forms when presented to them. Phrases, humor, and playing
the victim are some forms of color blindness. In this world, history is eliminated
every day. White people sit around and truly believe that racism is no longer,
especially when they throw Affirmative Action around.
Affirmative Action is used all the time
as a means to why certain white people cannot gain employment or get admitted
into institutions. Bonilla Silva summarized story lines that were based on why
whites were not being admitted into college and not gaining employment against
a minority. In this chapter, Silva stated friend of friends have experienced,
but not the person that was interviewed. “When whites use this story line,
precise information need to be included. And because this story line is built
upon a personal moral tale, many whites vent personal frustrations or
resentment toward minorities while using it” (Silva 84). Honestly, looking at
this quote it pisses me off, because white people have NEVER been treated unfairly.
Since a couple of white people are not
gaining employment or not getting into their first college choices its turned around
on minorities. At the end of the day, no one knows what the next candidate
holds as far as qualifications, so to assume that it’s because of their race is
unethical.
White people say “I have black friends”,
“I’m not racist, I was just making a joke”, and my favorite “I’m not black, so
I don’t know”. These phrases are color blindness at its finest. What I don’t seem
to understand is why disguise the racism. Oh! because you don’t want to look
bad or you don’t want to be labeled a racist. To be a racist means to have
power, the one thing white people don’t ever want to give a minority.
Another factor I find extremely
interesting is Blaming the victim. I have never understood why white people
would blame the ones they have ALWAYS put down and dehumanized. “A student
answered a question on whether or not blacks self-segregate, I think they
segregate themselves…..I think they’ve just got into their heads that they are
different and, as a result, they’re pulling themselves away” (Silva 64).
Looking at this statement makes me angry, because its racism within her answer.
What makes you think African Americans or any other minority will think they
are different. The only way to be different is to not be “normal”, but who
stated that white people were normal. We are all the same just different skin
color, so WHY even make a statement such as this one.
Overall, these chapters shined a light
on what the primary problem there is in the world. Question is Will people
start doing something about it? I look at this book and thank Bonilla Silva for
making this a resource for educating minorities. The one thing I want is for
white people to read this, analyze themselves and if they need to make changes
then make them. It’s not too late, but to stay ignorant and not doing anything about
it is what will always label you as a racist.
I
hope you understand.
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