Claiming to be “colorblind” has always struck me as a way some people avoid facing the realities of race. As a young Black woman, I’ve had countless interactions with people who say they don’t see color, as if that somehow makes the world fairer. In those moments, it often feels like my experiences, my challenges, and the biases I navigate every day are being dismissed. Mellody Hobson speaks directly to this in her TED Talk “Colorblind or Colorbrave?” She argues that pretending not to see race does not make inequality go away. It allows it to persist. Her call to be colorbrave is about courage, having honest, sometimes uncomfortable conversations about race, whether in schools, workplaces, or everyday life. It made me reflect on how often colorblindness is used to avoid guilt or responsibility and how damaging that can be.
Armstrong and Wildman, in “Colorblindness is the New Racism,” reinforce this point. They argue that claiming to be colorblind is not neutral or harmless. When organizations ignore race, they often maintain structures that favor dominant groups, even unintentionally. I have seen this in workplaces I have been part of, where discussions about race were avoided in the name of fairness, yet policies and practices continued to benefit others disproportionately. Colorblindness, they explain, prevents honest recognition of systemic racism and blocks meaningful action toward equity. Reading their work made me realize that pretending race does not exist often creates more harm than good.
True equity requires acknowledging racial differences, not pretending they do not exist. For me, being colorbrave means speaking up when my experiences are minimized, questioning assumptions, and pushing others to confront their own biases. It means creating spaces where people of all backgrounds can be seen and heard. Moving beyond colorblindness is not easy, but it is necessary. By facing these realities head-on, we can work toward a society that is genuinely just, inclusive, and equitable.
Symone, I really felt this. As a Black woman, the way you named how “colorblindness” can feel like erasure rather than progress resonated deeply with me. You articulated something so real. When people say they do not see color, it often translates into not seeing the lived realities, barriers, and emotional labor that come with being Black in predominantly white spaces.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how you connected Mellody Hobson’s call for being colorbrave to everyday experiences in schools and workplaces. That courage she talks about is not abstract. It is practical, relational, and often uncomfortable, especially for those who benefit from not having to think about race. Your reflection makes it clear that avoiding race talk does not create fairness, it preserves imbalance.
Your connection to Armstrong and Wildman was especially strong. Naming how institutions hide behind “neutrality” while maintaining systems that favor dominant groups is powerful and honest. I also appreciated how you centered your own experiences without over explaining them. That in itself is an act of colorbravery.
Your closing about equity requiring acknowledgment rather than denial ties everything together beautifully. This post does not just critique colorblindness, it models what it looks like to speak from truth, clarity, and self awareness. Thank you for putting language to something so many of us feel but are often pressured to soften or silence.
I really appreciated reading your post. The way you described how “colorblind” statements can feel dismissive of your lived experiences really stood out to me. It helped me better understand why those comments, even when people think they’re being well-intentioned, can actually cause harm.
ReplyDeleteI also liked how you connected Mellody Hobson’s idea of being color-brave to real situations in schools and workplaces. It made the concept feel very real and practical, not just theoretical. Your point about organizations avoiding conversations about race in the name of fairness, while still maintaining unequal systems, really resonated with me and made me reflect on spaces I’ve been part of as well.
The way you framed color-bravery as speaking up, questioning assumptions, and creating space for others to be seen felt especially powerful. Your post clearly shows why acknowledging race is necessary for real equity, not something that should be avoided. Thank you for sharing your perspective—it gave me a lot to think about.
Hi Symone,
ReplyDeleteYour reflection on Hobson's words really resonated with me. Too often people pretend that race does not exist and ignore racial inequalities, pretending that it will eliminate all problems. However, being able to ignore your own and others' race is a clear sign of privilege and colorblindness, and it allows inequalities to continue.
Your conclusion tied up your blog wonderfully and highlights the importance of becoming more aware and comfortable with the truth as well as your own biases. I continuously wonder what a society would look like if everyone faced the truths instead of ignoring what's going on around us. Armstrong and Wildman's vision of color insight feels like a necessary first step toward that kind of society.
Ps- I love your blog name!
Haha thank you! This is my third semester using a blog and I'm running out of options. I used "Symone Says" and "Symone Speaks" in prior classes.
DeleteLove that short reel. It really captures it all so well! Great points.
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