Persuasive Essay On Color Blindness

According to the United States Department of Labor(2016), the unemployment rates among black americans was a staggering 8.6, compared to 4.1 with white americans as of October of 2016. This gap, although much smaller compared to thirty five years ago, shows no trend of changing. Unemployment rates among the minority citizens of america has been consistently about double that of white america for an extremely long amount of time, six decades to be exact, according to Pew Research Center (2013). This is not only an issue in the United States, in the UK nearly half of young black males looking for a job are unemployed. This shows that discrimination is not just a factor in today’s labor force in the United States, but throughout the world as

Racism is a word that sparks a nerve in many individuals today. As hard as it is to believe, racism is still a big factor in what we as a society know as a unified America. Although, it is not as obvious as it was in the past, it still goes on, just in ways that are less noticeable. We ask the question, is the emphasis on a color-blind society an answer to racism. Ward Connerly claims it is a way to stop the segregation and make America a whole as it has been striving to be for the longest. Eduardo Bonilla-Silva believes color-blind racism is the new racial ideology and still brings about racial inequality. As the solution to the question progresses, we ask ourselves, will a

The election of Barack Obama as the 56th president of the United States raised many hopes that the “Black struggles” was finally over. For conservatives, Obama victory reassured their beliefs that there was no longer such thing as racism and that every American had equal rights and opportunity to pursue the American dream. While many people have come to believe that all races have equal rights in America, Tim Wise argues in his documentary “White Like Me” that not only does racism and unconscious racial bias still exist, but that also White Americans are unable to simply relate to the variety of forms racism and inequality Blacks experience. This is mainly because of the privileges they get as the “default.” While Wise explores the variety forms of racism and inequality today such as unconscious racism, Black poverty, unemployment, inadequate education system, and prison system, the articles by the New York Times Editorial Board, the Human Rights Watch (HRW), and Adam Liptak further explore some the disparities in the criminal justice system. Ana Swanson points out in her article, “The Stubborn Persistence of Black-White Inequality, 50 Years after Selma” that while the “U.S. has made big strides towards equal rights,” significant gaps still remains between the two races. With the Supreme Court striking down a “portion of the Voting Rights Act that stopped discriminatory voting laws from going into effect in areas of the country with histories of disenfranchisement,” civil

The idea of racism has evolved and has become less prevalent throughout the last century. Schools and public areas are unsegregated, voting rights, racial slurs being considered as unacceptable behavior etc. American sociologist and race theorist, Howard Winant states that’s “The ensuing approaches increased recognition of racial injustice and inequality, but did not overcome the discriminatory processes” (Winant,2000)Although the United states has come a long way to try to end racism, one cannot ignore the fact that it still exists. It is something that may seem invisible in society, but everybody knows that it still thrives and that it’s racial attitudes affect the way our society functions. One of these invisible forms of

This paper is a group discussion project that will look at the different viewpoints associated with whether or not America is close to being a post-racial society. In addition, this paper will discuss my opinion on this question which is that I do not think America is close to being a post-racial society because we are still racially divided. Racial economic issues are still an issue along with many other problems that still exist such as job opportunities and incarceration to name a few examples. Furthermore, the United States has come a long way compared to the past, however, we are nowhere near close to being a post-racial society because to many injustices and disparities exist.

The concept of “Post Racial” America is certainly a preposterous idea that does not exist. Different degrees of racism is seen throughout the U.S, however regardless of the intensity, racism has and will always exist. Americans belief that we live in a society where racism no longer exist is a serious impediment on the progression of America. The first problem with modern racism is living in a color blinded society where people believe in post racial America. The second is our humanistic nature to be predominant primates and finally, our unconscious bias towards racism as a result of racial stereotypes. As much as people would like to believe we are a nation where is not an issue, where race does not compete for supremacy, where the color of you skin or what your last name may be is the reason you don 't get hired, then we are obviously living in a color blinded society. Everyday, someone is faced with racial discrimination and racial prejudice. Statistically speaking, the biggest motive for hate crime is because of race. Racism comes in all kinds of form but racism is within all of us. Thus, everyone is a racist simply because we are human beings.

In his documentary Tim Wise explains; how it is easy for whites to assume that they are not racist, that they are "post-racial." White Like Me also shows how these "colorblind" racial attitudes should not be the end goal or embraced. Instead, we as a society need to be “color conscious.” The goal of the video is to help individuals understand that racism is an issue faced by our whole society, not just by people of color, he also makes point that while many whites remain oblivious to racism, others have courageously challenged it.

Justin Simien once said, "Unfortunately 'post racism ' is also a myth, like unicorns and black people who survives to the end of horror movies." In other words post racism doesn't exist when white people and those of privilege can sit on the backs of hard working Americans especially of color. Where microaggressions such as micro-insult and microinvalidation still occurs at extreme rates especially in educational settings. Young children of color are exposed to high rates of microinvalidation without seeing any forms of it slowing down or stopping. Whether their teacher doesn't think they are smart enough or kids picking at the child because the color of their skin or accent. Students who have never dealt with the "other" tend to pick up their prejudice behavior from their parents and teachers surrounding them, creating a cycle for each generation. Microaggressions has unfortunately shaped my everyday life through the systemic educational system that reinforces white privilege, as well as, male dominance.

Every day, race is discussed and criticized in news articles, magazines, television, and various other parts of the media. Although we seem to be past segregation, race is still a polarizing issue. Many people today still assert the idea that certain races are of a lower class or are to be feared, when people are nothing more than products of their own environments. If all minorities were given the same opportunities, these misconceptions and stereotypes would disappear. A post-racial America is not possible because the past of racism will continue to linger throughout generations, people are born as judgemental, and there will always be that one person whose ignorance outweighs all else.

Many people in the United States society believe that people of all cultures, races, and ethnicities are now on an even playing field. People with this belief support their logic with the argument that since equal rights for people of color and women have been required by law for some time now, we are all inherently as equal as claimed in the Declaration of Independence. Many believe that race is no longer an issue, a viewpoint frequently referred to as color-blindness. National polling data indicated that a majority of whites now believe discrimination against racial minorities no longer exists. (Gallagher, 96) Color-blindness allows a white person to define himself or herself as politically and racially tolerant and then proclaim their

“Some employers used tests for hiring or promotion that screened out African American at a higher rate than white applicants, making it nearly impossible for them to be hired in any substantial numbers” (Vertreace, 2010). In many cases white supervisors or managers would make sure they interview just enough minorities so they want to appear not to be bias toward other races. They even pretend to follow company’s rules, but instead they make their own rules and dare someone to cross them. Nevertheless, there are not enough opportunities for black people to advance. If the only available jobs are low-income jobs, then the chance of living in poverty will continue for minorities.

Although it is the 21st century and we are aware of what racism is but when it is the topic of the discussion, it always seems to be ignored. Americans ignore the little issues that can be solved which can enhance our happiness but since they’re ignored or we are unaware of these issues, it won’t help. While​ ​everyone​ ​gets​ ​to​ ​pursue​ ​happiness,​ ​many​ ​people​ ​never​ ​achieve​ ​it,​ ​partly​ ​because​ ​the standards​ ​of​ ​our​ ​society’s​ ​expectations​ ​are​ ​too​ ​high​ ​and​ ​unrealistic.

As many minorities seek to attain wealth and status in America they are strained to leave any cultural or traditional ways behind closed doors when they enter into the workplace. Many do this to avoid being excluded, and as an attempt to become more equal to other fellow work colleagues, also many feel that white "supremacy" still exists- even in a subtle way. Nonetheless, once one accomplishes such a difficult task, the obstacle of earning a substantial income to maintain a decent standard of living is still a grueling task. According to Professor Harris, a teacher of political science at San Jose State University, approximately 60% of jobs in America are obtained through personal relationships and associations. This notion demonstrates that because many non-minority groups own businesses, and they tend to hire relatives and the like -many minorities are often excluded from attaining the "better" position within a company, and because many minority families we not able to leave a legacy for their family members to carry on, many minorities often miss out on opportunities to also be able to create a legacy that can continue to thrive- and the cycle continues.

Minorities have a higher rate of unemployment than whites in America. Black unemployment in America rose “from 15.3 to 15.5 percent“ in March 2011, while only “7.9 percent of white workers were jobless” (Ross). The factors causing this lack of employment among minorities are explained as having to deal with education, age, ethnic-sounding names on job applications,

The world is such a crazy, bizzare, and terrible place I tell myslef on the small patch of roof outside my bedroom window while I gaze up at the twinkling lights in the dim lit sky. There is always something happening whether I like it or not, I just have to accept it. The government is awful and controls just about everything and anything anyone does around here. I am the small unfortunate minority of the population that has blue eyes. Around here, if you're born with blue eyes, once you turn seventeen you are killed. It's as simple as that. There's no negotiating if you can live or not it's just the way the government works unless you have heterochromia iridis in which you can attempt to change the government's decision if you’re lucky.