Concept of Color-Blind Racism

Journal 5

In Section Six, we will explore and discuss Bonilla-Silva’s (2022) concept of color-blind racism, a powerful racial ideology that has emerged as a way for white people to justify contemporary racial inequalities. This new racial ideology allows them to avoid taking responsibility for the systemic disadvantages faced by people of color. Bonilla-Silva (2022) argues that color-blind racism is subtle, institutional and often appears nonracial, yet it operates through four central frames: abstract liberalism, naturalization, cultural racism, and minimization of racism. These frames work in a “now you see it, now you don’t” fashion, making it difficult to recognize and challenge racial inequalities. For Bonilla-Silva (2022) the concept of color-blind racism is a central framework for understanding how racism operates in societies that claim to be post-racial, where racial inequality is often minimized or denied. Contending, that instead of overtly racist ideologies or practices, racism has evolved, often disguised through the denial of racial privilege, the depoliticization of race, and the emphasis on individualism.

For Journal 5 reflect on and discus Bonilla-Silva’s (2022) concept of color-blind racism and how it differs from more overt forms of racism. What role does race-neutral language and ideologies play in perpetuating systemic inequalities? Examine 2-3 central frames of color-blind racism and how they operate in contemporary society. Consider how this form of racism manifests in areas like education, criminal justice, housing, employment, and media. How do color-blind polices or practices maintain racial hierarchies despite the claim of racial equality? In what ways does the ideology of meritocracy reinforce color-blind racism? Discuss how the belief in individual achievement, rather than structural inequality, obscures the continuing impact of race and racism on people’s lives. Finally, how does the refusal to acknowledge race or racial disparities perpetuate inequality? What are some strategies for challenging and dismantling color-blind racism at individual, institutional, and societal levels?

While you don’t need to answer all these questions in your journal entry, be sure to engage with two-three central frames of color-blind racism.

Please submit a PDF or word document on Canvas under Assignments, “Journal 5.” All papers should be 400 words, double-spaced, with 12pt Times New Roman Font. In-text citations should follow the ASA format. Bibliography/reference page is not needed.