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Colorblinded in the Workplace

by Edward Gilbreath 04-14-2009 | 2:00pm
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"Is colorblindness or multiculturalism better for minorities?" I missed this post by Dawn Turner Trice when it first appeared a couple weeks ago. Trice hosts an ongoing, and always lively, forum at the Exploring Race blog at ChicagoTribune.com. In the blog post, she talks about a recent University of Georgia study on "colorblindness" in the workplace. Anyone out there familiar with it? The study's findings suggest that pursuing a colorblind culture may not be the best approach in a work environment---or in life. From the post:

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The study found that "contrary to popular beliefs, workplaces that downplay racial and ethnic differences actually make minority employees feel less engaged with their work," said [Victoria] Plaut, the study's lead author. "Minority employees sense more bias against them in these allegedly colorblind settings."

Plaut said it's not clear whether the bias is correctly sensed, but research has shown that there's a correlation between whites who profess colorblindness and racial bias.

"For a long time whites have been told they should not pay attention to race," she said. "It's best if we all assume people are all the same, right? But this type of colorblindness often is based on assimilation."

That means, in some cases, it's easier for a white person to be colorblind if the person of color acts white, or fits almost seamlessly into the white norm.

Whoa, that last line is the zinger. I've actually been talking about the whole "integration vs. assimilation" issue at Christian colleges and conferences over the past couple years, so it's interesting to see a report that adds a little academic heft to my anecdotal musings. On the one hand, colorblindness seems like the only way to have a fair and equitable workplace or educational system or insurance coverage or mortgage lending, etc. But when you think about the real-life relationships that go into making a job or a school what they are, it would seem odd and a little unnatural not to acknowledge the reality of race and different cultures. Indeed, I've often found some of the most fulfilling aspects of work or school to be chances to rub shoulders with and really get to know people who have cultural backgrounds and life experiences that are different from my own. To wear racial or cultural "color-blinders" would have deprived me of a lot of those rich interactions.

Though I see the wisdom of a colorblind approach on some levels, when it comes to getting along with a coworker or classmate or neighbor, I think we have much to lose by denying the reality of seeing each other as God has made us and, when possible, celebrating our unique gifts and attributes. In fact, I wonder if this is at the heart of the notion of loving your neighbor? It's a lot easier to "love" people -- or get along with them, at least -- when we can fit them into our own neat little preconceived categories. And often, it's just simpler to exclude race or religion or other cultural differences from the equation. But then are we really taking the time to know that other person, to value them, to see them?

Over the years, I've had white friends say to me at different times something like this (or its equivalent): "Ed, I don't even see you as a black person; when I look at you, I just see a person." On the one hand, that's a very thoughtful and heartfelt sentiment to express -- and I appreciate and receive the spirit in which it was shared. However, on the other hand, such a comment could suggest that there might be something inherently wrong with the fact of my blackness. What's more, it's a flagrant denial of a very real aspect of my personhood.

I have a white friend whose family traces its lineage back to Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy during the Civil War. One day, my friend shared with me a long story about these family connections. Though he apologetically acknowledged the fact that, well, Davis was a Confederate and that there's some awkward history there for a person of my complexion, my friend was nonetheless proud (on some level) of his family history. As he shared, my first impulse was to say something like, "Come on, man! Do you think I really want to hear that?" But I didn't. He was my friend, after all, and I could tell this was important stuff to him. Only later did I realize that my listening to his story, and trying to understand his complicated relationship to his family roots, was part of seeing my friend and knowing him in full.

This Tribune blog post on colorblindness actually was brought to my attention by one of my white coworkers yesterday. We chatted for at least a half-hour about issues of race and culture. He shared honestly with me about some of his experiences with people of other races and how one of his older relatives, a child of a more racially segregated era, had built relationships across racial lines even as he struggled with prejudiced thinking. The fact that my white colleague felt comfortable talking with me about race and culture in the workplace was a positive thing. I believe we both gained a deeper insight about the other person. This would not have been possible in a "colorblind" environment.

So how would you answer Dawn Turner Trice's question? Which is better, colorblindness or multiculturalism? Or, is that the wrong question to ask?

portrait-edward-gilbreathEdward Gilbreath is director of editorial for Urban Ministries Inc., editor of UrbanFaith.com, and the author of Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical's Inside View of White Christianity. He blogs at Reconciliation Blog.

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by: khasseler

04-20-2009 @ 12:58pm

Dear Mr. Gilbreath:
As a white male, I think the notion of color blindness is more myth than reality. A lot of verbiage with limited reality to back it up. Nor is it desirable in a world that has yet to be fully anti-racist and culturally, racially reconciled. We(whites) have yet to confess and repent of our internalized superiority which is and has been revealed in our construction of systems that support our powerful, privileged position from the day of our birth for generations.("the sins of the fathers [and mothers] visited on the third and the fourth generations"). We (whites) have become impoverished by this generational deviation from God's will.

As you know the concept of race has almost no biological credence. Race is primarily a social cultural construct which exists for the benefit of those with power and privilege to identify the in group(s) and out group(s). Culture and cultural differences include race but also many other factors and we(white, northern Europeans) have a long way to go before we can hope to be multicultural in our perspectives and practices.

All this leads me to disagree with your careful, possibly ingratiating analysis of your friends comments the you are o.k. for a black person - " 'Ed, I don't even see you as a black person; when I look at you, I just see a person.' On the one hand, that's a very thoughtful and heartfelt sentiment to express - and I appreciate and receive the spirit in which it was shared." To say that this comment is "thoughtful" is not helpful. It is actually a thoughtless ignorant comment though probably "heartfelt" as you say. Have any of them ever listened thoughtfully and with interest when you talk about the challenges of being a black man in the U.S.? Have they been able to hear and quietly accept whatever anger and hurt you might bear from your daily experience of racism? Have any of them ever confessed their responsibility for racism and their need to broker their white power and privilege in a more careful, thoughtful manner in their effort to systematically dismantle racist practices at all levels in our society?

Your condescension to us by saying we(whites) are thoughtful when we make ignorant, hurtful comments like the one you mentioned in the blog is not helpful. Our condescension to you as a black person when we say such things as your friends is exponentially more damaging. It hinders the necessary transformation of our culture. This transformation needs to include our(whites) ability to embrace, celebrate and enjoy our cultural and racial differences in the context of our shared humanity. This transformation means we must learn to see people of color and from different cultures than ours as likely to bear scars of these differences in a fallen world where for all time there have been and probably will continue to be an in group(s) - the oppressor and out group(s) - the oppressed. Even if and when we can transform this world into a multiculturally, racially reconciled place, I do not hope to be color blind. In that transformed world, I hope we can see color and cultural differences, embrace color and cultural differences and learn to enjoy color and cultural differences. And we(whites) must always work to counterbalance the scars of color and cultural differences by practicing and pursuing equitable and just hiring policies and practices, business policies and practices, educational policies and practices, and social policies and practices. This vision is a lofty calling, but if those of us who believe in God cannot embrace and practice this calling - who can and who will? The question is, "How will we embrace and celebrate our color and cultural differences more equitably and justly as believers in God?"

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-14-2009 @ 2:04pm

Part of the problem is the rhetoric -- I can't help but wonder if conservatives haven't painted themselves in a bit of a linguistic corner by embracing "colorblindness" -- not because there isn't a lot of merit to the idea, but because the term is confusing.

In a literal sense nobody is colorblind -- in most cases an individual's racial background is hard not to see -- what distinguishes the fair-minded person from the bigot is not what he is blind to but what he sees in others: character and ability or sometimes the lack of either. This allows him to give credit where it is due to people of different races, and when necessary to be critical of those of his own race. He can do this not because he is blind (he isn't and as a practical matter he can't be) but because he isn't so distracted by race that he is unable to see other things that matter more.

The essence of the conservative response to civil rights is not that races don't exist, but that individuals do exist, and that individuals should at some point be treated as individuals. To do so requires the ability to see beyond race; actual ignorance of race is not required.

LV

by: nuclearferret

04-14-2009 @ 2:13pm

Are you attempting to approach the subject as what works best for people? Or from the perspective of what keeps you out of court?

Most workplaces and courts are governed by norms established by a "white" world in the US. An employer seeks to be colorblind because the system, legally, is not set up to promote diversity and difference, but to avoid lawsuits and complaints about discrimination. The employer, and individual employees, that identify people by race and work with that diversity engage in a large reward/risk game: The reward is that employees may feel more personally and individually engaged and appreciated; the risk is that they were singled out because of being different. So the employer's safe course is to treat everyone the same (and typically, the system the employer is most comfortable with). Little reward, but little risk. Depending on the individual and workplace, the discussions you cited about Jefferson Davis could have as easily led to complaints that someone was bragging about the Confederacy (and thus implicitly slavery) to a black employee.

by: khasseler

04-20-2009 @ 12:58pm

Dear Mr. Gilbreath:
As a white male, I think the notion of color blindness is more myth than reality. A lot of verbiage with limited reality to back it up. Nor is it desirable in a world that has yet to be fully anti-racist and culturally, racially reconciled. We(whites) have yet to confess and repent of our internalized superiority which is and has been revealed in our construction of systems that support our powerful, privileged position from the day of our birth for generations.("the sins of the fathers [and mothers] visited on the third and the fourth generations"). We (whites) have become impoverished by this generational deviation from God's will.

As you know the concept of race has almost no biological credence. Race is primarily a social cultural construct which exists for the benefit of those with power and privilege to identify the in group(s) and out group(s). Culture and cultural differences include race but also many other factors and we(white, northern Europeans) have a long way to go before we can hope to be multicultural in our perspectives and practices.

All this leads me to disagree with your careful, possibly ingratiating analysis of your friends comments the you are o.k. for a black person - " 'Ed, I don't even see you as a black person; when I look at you, I just see a person.' On the one hand, that's a very thoughtful and heartfelt sentiment to express - and I appreciate and receive the spirit in which it was shared." To say that this comment is "thoughtful" is not helpful. It is actually a thoughtless ignorant comment though probably "heartfelt" as you say. Have any of them ever listened thoughtfully and with interest when you talk about the challenges of being a black man in the U.S.? Have they been able to hear and quietly accept whatever anger and hurt you might bear from your daily experience of racism? Have any of them ever confessed their responsibility for racism and their need to broker their white power and privilege in a more careful, thoughtful manner in their effort to systematically dismantle racist practices at all levels in our society?

Your condescension to us by saying we(whites) are thoughtful when we make ignorant, hurtful comments like the one you mentioned in the blog is not helpful. Our condescension to you as a black person when we say such things as your friends is exponentially more damaging. It hinders the necessary transformation of our culture. This transformation needs to include our(whites) ability to embrace, celebrate and enjoy our cultural and racial differences in the context of our shared humanity. This transformation means we must learn to see people of color and from different cultures than ours as likely to bear scars of these differences in a fallen world where for all time there have been and probably will continue to be an in group(s) - the oppressor and out group(s) - the oppressed. Even if and when we can transform this world into a multiculturally, racially reconciled place, I do not hope to be color blind. In that transformed world, I hope we can see color and cultural differences, embrace color and cultural differences and learn to enjoy color and cultural differences. And we(whites) must always work to counterbalance the scars of color and cultural differences by practicing and pursuing equitable and just hiring policies and practices, business policies and practices, educational policies and practices, and social policies and practices. This vision is a lofty calling, but if those of us who believe in God cannot embrace and practice this calling - who can and who will? The question is, "How will we embrace and celebrate our color and cultural differences more equitably and justly as believers in God?"

by: BlueDeacon

04-14-2009 @ 5:58pm

The essence of the conservative response to civil rights is not that races don't exist, but that individuals do exist, and that individuals should at some point be treated as individuals. To do so requires the ability to see beyond race; actual ignorance of race is not required.

The problem with that argument is that, in many cases, we don't socialize with people from other races outside of the workplace (even at my job, which is probably one of the more liberal institutions in my city where that's concerned). We don't live in the same neighborhoods, attend the same churches etc., so we often don't understand how the other side lives. And you best believe that has a little bit do with the "quality" of work that someone does; if someone does a job the way you would do it you would be likely to say that such a person does a "good job."

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-14-2009 @ 9:58pm

"if someone does a job the way you would do it you would be likely to say that such a person does a 'good job.'"

Yes, and if a manager with years of experience says I'm doing my job the wrong way, and should learn to do it the way he did it, there's a distinct possibility he's right, even if he doesn't fully appreciate all the nuances of my ethnic background. I'll admit in some fields there is some subjectivity involved, but not always. That's especially true in heavy industry, where it doesn't matter what race you are, if you don't watch yourself around the metal stamper you're liable to have your arm crushed to a pulp. That's also true in scientific fields like engineering, where a twelve-inch steel I-beam will bear a certain load and no more regardless of the ancestry of the architect.

LV

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-14-2009 @ 2:04pm

Part of the problem is the rhetoric -- I can't help but wonder if conservatives haven't painted themselves in a bit of a linguistic corner by embracing "colorblindness" -- not because there isn't a lot of merit to the idea, but because the term is confusing.

In a literal sense nobody is colorblind -- in most cases an individual's racial background is hard not to see -- what distinguishes the fair-minded person from the bigot is not what he is blind to but what he sees in others: character and ability or sometimes the lack of either. This allows him to give credit where it is due to people of different races, and when necessary to be critical of those of his own race. He can do this not because he is blind (he isn't and as a practical matter he can't be) but because he isn't so distracted by race that he is unable to see other things that matter more.

The essence of the conservative response to civil rights is not that races don't exist, but that individuals do exist, and that individuals should at some point be treated as individuals. To do so requires the ability to see beyond race; actual ignorance of race is not required.

LV

by: extremist4love

04-17-2009 @ 1:41pm

As someone who is white and is working hard to continue to develop a healthy racial identity, I often find myself very critical of the language we use when speaking to whites who do not have a commitment to Anti-Racism or who aren't persuing reconciliation. I think, personally, colorblindness is one of the most detrimental phrases and ideas that we are perpetuating in today's society. This idea was something that my parents taught to me. What I have now come to realize is that "colorblindness" allowed me to continue to participate and perpetuate racism. To be honest, colorblindness along with politically correctness and tolerance, are extremely detrimental in my opinion, because the focus of these ideas is to not appear racist. The intent is not to be Anti-Racist. We seem to be fine with having ideas and lifestyles that could perpetuate racism, we just don't want anyone to hear what we really think or don't completely understand and God forbid anyone be called a racist. No one wants that. What all of these terms have done is further isolate us from one another. Until we can realize the interconnectedness of My big thing is that we have a ridiculously huge God who made us in his image. He is SO big that he needed every person that ever lived and ever person that could ever live to fully display himself to the world. We won't ever be able to meet everyone, but each time we meet someone different than ourselves our image of God can come just a little bit bigger. I think what I've learned as I've tried to deconstruct my colorblind ideologies is that God has become so much larger. We aren't all the same, Praise the Lord. My life and theology and relationship with Jesus has been transformed through learning and being changed by getting to know people of different races and cultures than myself. Truly, my humanity and liberation are bound up in the humanity of all of my neighbors.

by: nuclearferret

04-14-2009 @ 2:13pm

Are you attempting to approach the subject as what works best for people? Or from the perspective of what keeps you out of court?

Most workplaces and courts are governed by norms established by a "white" world in the US. An employer seeks to be colorblind because the system, legally, is not set up to promote diversity and difference, but to avoid lawsuits and complaints about discrimination. The employer, and individual employees, that identify people by race and work with that diversity engage in a large reward/risk game: The reward is that employees may feel more personally and individually engaged and appreciated; the risk is that they were singled out because of being different. So the employer's safe course is to treat everyone the same (and typically, the system the employer is most comfortable with). Little reward, but little risk. Depending on the individual and workplace, the discussions you cited about Jefferson Davis could have as easily led to complaints that someone was bragging about the Confederacy (and thus implicitly slavery) to a black employee.

by: khasseler

04-20-2009 @ 10:58am

Dear Mr. Gilbreath:
As a white male, I think the notion of color blindness is more myth than reality. A lot of verbiage with limited reality to back it up. Nor is it desirable in a world that has yet to be fully anti-racist and culturally, racially reconciled. We(whites) have yet to confess and repent of our internalized superiority which is and has been revealed in our construction of systems that support our powerful, privileged position from the day of our birth for generations.("the sins of the fathers [and mothers] visited on the third and the fourth generations"). We (whites) have become impoverished by this generational deviation from God's will.

As you know the concept of race has almost no biological credence. Race is primarily a social cultural construct which exists for the benefit of those with power and privilege to identify the in group(s) and out group(s). Culture and cultural differences include race but also many other factors and we(white, northern Europeans) have a long way to go before we can hope to be multicultural in our perspectives and practices.

All this leads me to disagree with your careful, possibly ingratiating analysis of your friends comments the you are o.k. for a black person - " 'Ed, I don't even see you as a black person; when I look at you, I just see a person.' On the one hand, that's a very thoughtful and heartfelt sentiment to express - and I appreciate and receive the spirit in which it was shared." To say that this comment is "thoughtful" is not helpful. It is actually a thoughtless ignorant comment though probably "heartfelt" as you say. Have any of them ever listened thoughtfully and with interest when you talk about the challenges of being a black man in the U.S.? Have they been able to hear and quietly accept whatever anger and hurt you might bear from your daily experience of racism? Have any of them ever confessed their responsibility for racism and their need to broker their white power and privilege in a more careful, thoughtful manner in their effort to systematically dismantle racist practices at all levels in our society?

Your condescension to us by saying we(whites) are thoughtful when we make ignorant, hurtful comments like the one you mentioned in the blog is not helpful. Our condescension to you as a black person when we say such things as your friends is exponentially more damaging. It hinders the necessary transformation of our culture. This transformation needs to include our(whites) ability to embrace, celebrate and enjoy our cultural and racial differences in the context of our shared humanity. This transformation means we must learn to see people of color and from different cultures than ours as likely to bear scars of these differences in a fallen world where for all time there have been and probably will continue to be an in group(s) - the oppressor and out group(s) - the oppressed. Even if and when we can transform this world into a multiculturally, racially reconciled place, I do not hope to be color blind. In that transformed world, I hope we can see color and cultural differences, embrace color and cultural differences and learn to enjoy color and cultural differences. And we(whites) must always work to counterbalance the scars of color and cultural differences by practicing and pursuing equitable and just hiring policies and practices, business policies and practices, educational policies and practices, and social policies and practices. This vision is a lofty calling, but if those of us who believe in God cannot embrace and practice this calling - who can and who will? The question is, "How will we embrace and celebrate our color and cultural differences more equitably and justly as believers in God?"

by: BlueDeacon

04-15-2009 @ 1:36am

Except that that manager probably got that position through politics rather than qualifications. The old adage "It's not what you know but who you know still applies."

by: letjusticerolldown

04-15-2009 @ 2:35am

"multiculturalism or colorblindness"

Color consciousness is not possible outside the allegience to a particular cultural perspective. My children are trying to figure out whether they are white or black because they consider their skin to be brown (Mommy was black and Daddy white). It is their cultural setting that demands they categorize themselves. Our very color consciousness is compleely dependent on paradigms that are culturally bound.

True multiculturalism demands the possibility of color blindness.

Personally, I think this is all a journey. There are individual journeys, corporate journeys, group journeys,church journeys, etc. It is a dialogue. It involves seeing alot of history and realities from varied perspectives. It requires multiple paradigms. It requires allowing persons to be all over the map. It requires lots of grace, humility and love. I have become comfortable with allowing persons the space to be 'all over the map.'

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-15-2009 @ 12:01pm

This is admittedly a very real problem, one that smart leaders learn to resist because the last thing any organization needs is a cadre of incompetent, self-selecting managers. And the best way to prevent favoritism is to evaluate individuals as individuals and select the most capable persons with no regard to family contacts.

LV

by: BlueDeacon

04-14-2009 @ 5:58pm

The essence of the conservative response to civil rights is not that races don't exist, but that individuals do exist, and that individuals should at some point be treated as individuals. To do so requires the ability to see beyond race; actual ignorance of race is not required.

The problem with that argument is that, in many cases, we don't socialize with people from other races outside of the workplace (even at my job, which is probably one of the more liberal institutions in my city where that's concerned). We don't live in the same neighborhoods, attend the same churches etc., so we often don't understand how the other side lives. And you best believe that has a little bit do with the "quality" of work that someone does; if someone does a job the way you would do it you would be likely to say that such a person does a "good job."

by: BlueDeacon

04-15-2009 @ 12:48pm

How do you do that? There is no real objective criteria on which to base those decisions, especially considering that different companies have different needs.

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-15-2009 @ 1:40pm

Well, you start with a thorough understanding of your own company and industry, and then you do the best you can. Often you can develop fairly specific metrics that give you objective data. If you can't do that, you go out of your way to solicit opinions from different sources so that one individual or clique doesn't carry too much weight.

Nobody's saying this is easy -- personnel decisions are some of the toughest that any leader in any field will have to deal with -- but if you're smart you'll do the best you can.

LV

by: BlueDeacon

04-15-2009 @ 2:35pm

The trouble is that the work would have already done and this entry would have not need to be posted.

Let me give you two examples from the sports world. Our major-league baseball team some years ago hired a black manager who couldn't turn the team around because the players on balance weren't that good, and he ended up losing the job. Our NFL team, by contrast, was already pretty good; it hired a black head coach who ended up winning the Super Bowl. (The interesting part was that the team owner pushed through a league-wide rule that at least one minority had to be interviewed for any head coaching position.)

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-14-2009 @ 9:58pm

"if someone does a job the way you would do it you would be likely to say that such a person does a 'good job.'"

Yes, and if a manager with years of experience says I'm doing my job the wrong way, and should learn to do it the way he did it, there's a distinct possibility he's right, even if he doesn't fully appreciate all the nuances of my ethnic background. I'll admit in some fields there is some subjectivity involved, but not always. That's especially true in heavy industry, where it doesn't matter what race you are, if you don't watch yourself around the metal stamper you're liable to have your arm crushed to a pulp. That's also true in scientific fields like engineering, where a twelve-inch steel I-beam will bear a certain load and no more regardless of the ancestry of the architect.

LV

by: extremist4love

04-17-2009 @ 1:41pm

As someone who is white and is working hard to continue to develop a healthy racial identity, I often find myself very critical of the language we use when speaking to whites who do not have a commitment to Anti-Racism or who aren't persuing reconciliation. I think, personally, colorblindness is one of the most detrimental phrases and ideas that we are perpetuating in today's society. This idea was something that my parents taught to me. What I have now come to realize is that "colorblindness" allowed me to continue to participate and perpetuate racism. To be honest, colorblindness along with politically correctness and tolerance, are extremely detrimental in my opinion, because the focus of these ideas is to not appear racist. The intent is not to be Anti-Racist. We seem to be fine with having ideas and lifestyles that could perpetuate racism, we just don't want anyone to hear what we really think or don't completely understand and God forbid anyone be called a racist. No one wants that. What all of these terms have done is further isolate us from one another. Until we can realize the interconnectedness of My big thing is that we have a ridiculously huge God who made us in his image. He is SO big that he needed every person that ever lived and ever person that could ever live to fully display himself to the world. We won't ever be able to meet everyone, but each time we meet someone different than ourselves our image of God can come just a little bit bigger. I think what I've learned as I've tried to deconstruct my colorblind ideologies is that God has become so much larger. We aren't all the same, Praise the Lord. My life and theology and relationship with Jesus has been transformed through learning and being changed by getting to know people of different races and cultures than myself. Truly, my humanity and liberation are bound up in the humanity of all of my neighbors.

by: khasseler

04-20-2009 @ 10:58am

Dear Mr. Gilbreath:
As a white male, I think the notion of color blindness is more myth than reality. A lot of verbiage with limited reality to back it up. Nor is it desirable in a world that has yet to be fully anti-racist and culturally, racially reconciled. We(whites) have yet to confess and repent of our internalized superiority which is and has been revealed in our construction of systems that support our powerful, privileged position from the day of our birth for generations.("the sins of the fathers [and mothers] visited on the third and the fourth generations"). We (whites) have become impoverished by this generational deviation from God's will.

As you know the concept of race has almost no biological credence. Race is primarily a social cultural construct which exists for the benefit of those with power and privilege to identify the in group(s) and out group(s). Culture and cultural differences include race but also many other factors and we(white, northern Europeans) have a long way to go before we can hope to be multicultural in our perspectives and practices.

All this leads me to disagree with your careful, possibly ingratiating analysis of your friends comments the you are o.k. for a black person - " 'Ed, I don't even see you as a black person; when I look at you, I just see a person.' On the one hand, that's a very thoughtful and heartfelt sentiment to express - and I appreciate and receive the spirit in which it was shared." To say that this comment is "thoughtful" is not helpful. It is actually a thoughtless ignorant comment though probably "heartfelt" as you say. Have any of them ever listened thoughtfully and with interest when you talk about the challenges of being a black man in the U.S.? Have they been able to hear and quietly accept whatever anger and hurt you might bear from your daily experience of racism? Have any of them ever confessed their responsibility for racism and their need to broker their white power and privilege in a more careful, thoughtful manner in their effort to systematically dismantle racist practices at all levels in our society?

Your condescension to us by saying we(whites) are thoughtful when we make ignorant, hurtful comments like the one you mentioned in the blog is not helpful. Our condescension to you as a black person when we say such things as your friends is exponentially more damaging. It hinders the necessary transformation of our culture. This transformation needs to include our(whites) ability to embrace, celebrate and enjoy our cultural and racial differences in the context of our shared humanity. This transformation means we must learn to see people of color and from different cultures than ours as likely to bear scars of these differences in a fallen world where for all time there have been and probably will continue to be an in group(s) - the oppressor and out group(s) - the oppressed. Even if and when we can transform this world into a multiculturally, racially reconciled place, I do not hope to be color blind. In that transformed world, I hope we can see color and cultural differences, embrace color and cultural differences and learn to enjoy color and cultural differences. And we(whites) must always work to counterbalance the scars of color and cultural differences by practicing and pursuing equitable and just hiring policies and practices, business policies and practices, educational policies and practices, and social policies and practices. This vision is a lofty calling, but if those of us who believe in God cannot embrace and practice this calling - who can and who will? The question is, "How will we embrace and celebrate our color and cultural differences more equitably and justly as believers in God?"

by: BlueDeacon

04-15-2009 @ 1:36am

Except that that manager probably got that position through politics rather than qualifications. The old adage "It's not what you know but who you know still applies."

by: letjusticerolldown

04-15-2009 @ 2:35am

"multiculturalism or colorblindness"

Color consciousness is not possible outside the allegience to a particular cultural perspective. My children are trying to figure out whether they are white or black because they consider their skin to be brown (Mommy was black and Daddy white). It is their cultural setting that demands they categorize themselves. Our very color consciousness is compleely dependent on paradigms that are culturally bound.

True multiculturalism demands the possibility of color blindness.

Personally, I think this is all a journey. There are individual journeys, corporate journeys, group journeys,church journeys, etc. It is a dialogue. It involves seeing alot of history and realities from varied perspectives. It requires multiple paradigms. It requires allowing persons to be all over the map. It requires lots of grace, humility and love. I have become comfortable with allowing persons the space to be 'all over the map.'

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-15-2009 @ 12:01pm

This is admittedly a very real problem, one that smart leaders learn to resist because the last thing any organization needs is a cadre of incompetent, self-selecting managers. And the best way to prevent favoritism is to evaluate individuals as individuals and select the most capable persons with no regard to family contacts.

LV

by: BlueDeacon

04-15-2009 @ 12:48pm

How do you do that? There is no real objective criteria on which to base those decisions, especially considering that different companies have different needs.

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-15-2009 @ 1:40pm

Well, you start with a thorough understanding of your own company and industry, and then you do the best you can. Often you can develop fairly specific metrics that give you objective data. If you can't do that, you go out of your way to solicit opinions from different sources so that one individual or clique doesn't carry too much weight.

Nobody's saying this is easy -- personnel decisions are some of the toughest that any leader in any field will have to deal with -- but if you're smart you'll do the best you can.

LV

by: BlueDeacon

04-15-2009 @ 2:35pm

The trouble is that the work would have already done and this entry would have not need to be posted.

Let me give you two examples from the sports world. Our major-league baseball team some years ago hired a black manager who couldn't turn the team around because the players on balance weren't that good, and he ended up losing the job. Our NFL team, by contrast, was already pretty good; it hired a black head coach who ended up winning the Super Bowl. (The interesting part was that the team owner pushed through a league-wide rule that at least one minority had to be interviewed for any head coaching position.)

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by: Lord_Voldemort

04-14-2009 @ 2:04pm

Part of the problem is the rhetoric -- I can't help but wonder if conservatives haven't painted themselves in a bit of a linguistic corner by embracing "colorblindness" -- not because there isn't a lot of merit to the idea, but because the term is confusing.

In a literal sense nobody is colorblind -- in most cases an individual's racial background is hard not to see -- what distinguishes the fair-minded person from the bigot is not what he is blind to but what he sees in others: character and ability or sometimes the lack of either. This allows him to give credit where it is due to people of different races, and when necessary to be critical of those of his own race. He can do this not because he is blind (he isn't and as a practical matter he can't be) but because he isn't so distracted by race that he is unable to see other things that matter more.

The essence of the conservative response to civil rights is not that races don't exist, but that individuals do exist, and that individuals should at some point be treated as individuals. To do so requires the ability to see beyond race; actual ignorance of race is not required.

LV

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-14-2009 @ 2:04pm

Part of the problem is the rhetoric -- I can't help but wonder if conservatives haven't painted themselves in a bit of a linguistic corner by embracing "colorblindness" -- not because there isn't a lot of merit to the idea, but because the term is confusing.

In a literal sense nobody is colorblind -- in most cases an individual's racial background is hard not to see -- what distinguishes the fair-minded person from the bigot is not what he is blind to but what he sees in others: character and ability or sometimes the lack of either. This allows him to give credit where it is due to people of different races, and when necessary to be critical of those of his own race. He can do this not because he is blind (he isn't and as a practical matter he can't be) but because he isn't so distracted by race that he is unable to see other things that matter more.

The essence of the conservative response to civil rights is not that races don't exist, but that individuals do exist, and that individuals should at some point be treated as individuals. To do so requires the ability to see beyond race; actual ignorance of race is not required.

LV

by: nuclearferret

04-14-2009 @ 2:13pm

Are you attempting to approach the subject as what works best for people? Or from the perspective of what keeps you out of court?

Most workplaces and courts are governed by norms established by a "white" world in the US. An employer seeks to be colorblind because the system, legally, is not set up to promote diversity and difference, but to avoid lawsuits and complaints about discrimination. The employer, and individual employees, that identify people by race and work with that diversity engage in a large reward/risk game: The reward is that employees may feel more personally and individually engaged and appreciated; the risk is that they were singled out because of being different. So the employer's safe course is to treat everyone the same (and typically, the system the employer is most comfortable with). Little reward, but little risk. Depending on the individual and workplace, the discussions you cited about Jefferson Davis could have as easily led to complaints that someone was bragging about the Confederacy (and thus implicitly slavery) to a black employee.

by: nuclearferret

04-14-2009 @ 2:13pm

Are you attempting to approach the subject as what works best for people? Or from the perspective of what keeps you out of court?

Most workplaces and courts are governed by norms established by a "white" world in the US. An employer seeks to be colorblind because the system, legally, is not set up to promote diversity and difference, but to avoid lawsuits and complaints about discrimination. The employer, and individual employees, that identify people by race and work with that diversity engage in a large reward/risk game: The reward is that employees may feel more personally and individually engaged and appreciated; the risk is that they were singled out because of being different. So the employer's safe course is to treat everyone the same (and typically, the system the employer is most comfortable with). Little reward, but little risk. Depending on the individual and workplace, the discussions you cited about Jefferson Davis could have as easily led to complaints that someone was bragging about the Confederacy (and thus implicitly slavery) to a black employee.

by: BlueDeacon

04-14-2009 @ 5:58pm

The essence of the conservative response to civil rights is not that races don't exist, but that individuals do exist, and that individuals should at some point be treated as individuals. To do so requires the ability to see beyond race; actual ignorance of race is not required.

The problem with that argument is that, in many cases, we don't socialize with people from other races outside of the workplace (even at my job, which is probably one of the more liberal institutions in my city where that's concerned). We don't live in the same neighborhoods, attend the same churches etc., so we often don't understand how the other side lives. And you best believe that has a little bit do with the "quality" of work that someone does; if someone does a job the way you would do it you would be likely to say that such a person does a "good job."

by: BlueDeacon

04-14-2009 @ 5:58pm

The essence of the conservative response to civil rights is not that races don't exist, but that individuals do exist, and that individuals should at some point be treated as individuals. To do so requires the ability to see beyond race; actual ignorance of race is not required.

The problem with that argument is that, in many cases, we don't socialize with people from other races outside of the workplace (even at my job, which is probably one of the more liberal institutions in my city where that's concerned). We don't live in the same neighborhoods, attend the same churches etc., so we often don't understand how the other side lives. And you best believe that has a little bit do with the "quality" of work that someone does; if someone does a job the way you would do it you would be likely to say that such a person does a "good job."

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-14-2009 @ 9:58pm

"if someone does a job the way you would do it you would be likely to say that such a person does a 'good job.'"

Yes, and if a manager with years of experience says I'm doing my job the wrong way, and should learn to do it the way he did it, there's a distinct possibility he's right, even if he doesn't fully appreciate all the nuances of my ethnic background. I'll admit in some fields there is some subjectivity involved, but not always. That's especially true in heavy industry, where it doesn't matter what race you are, if you don't watch yourself around the metal stamper you're liable to have your arm crushed to a pulp. That's also true in scientific fields like engineering, where a twelve-inch steel I-beam will bear a certain load and no more regardless of the ancestry of the architect.

LV

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-14-2009 @ 9:58pm

"if someone does a job the way you would do it you would be likely to say that such a person does a 'good job.'"

Yes, and if a manager with years of experience says I'm doing my job the wrong way, and should learn to do it the way he did it, there's a distinct possibility he's right, even if he doesn't fully appreciate all the nuances of my ethnic background. I'll admit in some fields there is some subjectivity involved, but not always. That's especially true in heavy industry, where it doesn't matter what race you are, if you don't watch yourself around the metal stamper you're liable to have your arm crushed to a pulp. That's also true in scientific fields like engineering, where a twelve-inch steel I-beam will bear a certain load and no more regardless of the ancestry of the architect.

LV

by: BlueDeacon

04-15-2009 @ 1:36am

Except that that manager probably got that position through politics rather than qualifications. The old adage "It's not what you know but who you know still applies."

by: BlueDeacon

04-15-2009 @ 1:36am

Except that that manager probably got that position through politics rather than qualifications. The old adage "It's not what you know but who you know still applies."

by: letjusticerolldown

04-15-2009 @ 2:35am

"multiculturalism or colorblindness"

Color consciousness is not possible outside the allegience to a particular cultural perspective. My children are trying to figure out whether they are white or black because they consider their skin to be brown (Mommy was black and Daddy white). It is their cultural setting that demands they categorize themselves. Our very color consciousness is compleely dependent on paradigms that are culturally bound.

True multiculturalism demands the possibility of color blindness.

Personally, I think this is all a journey. There are individual journeys, corporate journeys, group journeys,church journeys, etc. It is a dialogue. It involves seeing alot of history and realities from varied perspectives. It requires multiple paradigms. It requires allowing persons to be all over the map. It requires lots of grace, humility and love. I have become comfortable with allowing persons the space to be 'all over the map.'

by: letjusticerolldown

04-15-2009 @ 2:35am

"multiculturalism or colorblindness"

Color consciousness is not possible outside the allegience to a particular cultural perspective. My children are trying to figure out whether they are white or black because they consider their skin to be brown (Mommy was black and Daddy white). It is their cultural setting that demands they categorize themselves. Our very color consciousness is compleely dependent on paradigms that are culturally bound.

True multiculturalism demands the possibility of color blindness.

Personally, I think this is all a journey. There are individual journeys, corporate journeys, group journeys,church journeys, etc. It is a dialogue. It involves seeing alot of history and realities from varied perspectives. It requires multiple paradigms. It requires allowing persons to be all over the map. It requires lots of grace, humility and love. I have become comfortable with allowing persons the space to be 'all over the map.'

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-15-2009 @ 12:01pm

This is admittedly a very real problem, one that smart leaders learn to resist because the last thing any organization needs is a cadre of incompetent, self-selecting managers. And the best way to prevent favoritism is to evaluate individuals as individuals and select the most capable persons with no regard to family contacts.

LV

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-15-2009 @ 12:01pm

This is admittedly a very real problem, one that smart leaders learn to resist because the last thing any organization needs is a cadre of incompetent, self-selecting managers. And the best way to prevent favoritism is to evaluate individuals as individuals and select the most capable persons with no regard to family contacts.

LV

by: BlueDeacon

04-15-2009 @ 12:48pm

How do you do that? There is no real objective criteria on which to base those decisions, especially considering that different companies have different needs.

by: BlueDeacon

04-15-2009 @ 12:48pm

How do you do that? There is no real objective criteria on which to base those decisions, especially considering that different companies have different needs.

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-15-2009 @ 1:40pm

Well, you start with a thorough understanding of your own company and industry, and then you do the best you can. Often you can develop fairly specific metrics that give you objective data. If you can't do that, you go out of your way to solicit opinions from different sources so that one individual or clique doesn't carry too much weight.

Nobody's saying this is easy -- personnel decisions are some of the toughest that any leader in any field will have to deal with -- but if you're smart you'll do the best you can.

LV

by: Lord_Voldemort

04-15-2009 @ 1:40pm

Well, you start with a thorough understanding of your own company and industry, and then you do the best you can. Often you can develop fairly specific metrics that give you objective data. If you can't do that, you go out of your way to solicit opinions from different sources so that one individual or clique doesn't carry too much weight.

Nobody's saying this is easy -- personnel decisions are some of the toughest that any leader in any field will have to deal with -- but if you're smart you'll do the best you can.

LV

by: BlueDeacon

04-15-2009 @ 2:35pm

The trouble is that the work would have already done and this entry would have not need to be posted.

Let me give you two examples from the sports world. Our major-league baseball team some years ago hired a black manager who couldn't turn the team around because the players on balance weren't that good, and he ended up losing the job. Our NFL team, by contrast, was already pretty good; it hired a black head coach who ended up winning the Super Bowl. (The interesting part was that the team owner pushed through a league-wide rule that at least one minority had to be interviewed for any head coaching position.)

by: BlueDeacon

04-15-2009 @ 2:35pm

The trouble is that the work would have already done and this entry would have not need to be posted.

Let me give you two examples from the sports world. Our major-league baseball team some years ago hired a black manager who couldn't turn the team around because the players on balance weren't that good, and he ended up losing the job. Our NFL team, by contrast, was already pretty good; it hired a black head coach who ended up winning the Super Bowl. (The interesting part was that the team owner pushed through a league-wide rule that at least one minority had to be interviewed for any head coaching position.)

by: extremist4love

04-17-2009 @ 1:41pm

As someone who is white and is working hard to continue to develop a healthy racial identity, I often find myself very critical of the language we use when speaking to whites who do not have a commitment to Anti-Racism or who aren't persuing reconciliation. I think, personally, colorblindness is one of the most detrimental phrases and ideas that we are perpetuating in today's society. This idea was something that my parents taught to me. What I have now come to realize is that "colorblindness" allowed me to continue to participate and perpetuate racism. To be honest, colorblindness along with politically correctness and tolerance, are extremely detrimental in my opinion, because the focus of these ideas is to not appear racist. The intent is not to be Anti-Racist. We seem to be fine with having ideas and lifestyles that could perpetuate racism, we just don't want anyone to hear what we really think or don't completely understand and God forbid anyone be called a racist. No one wants that. What all of these terms have done is further isolate us from one another. Until we can realize the interconnectedness of My big thing is that we have a ridiculously huge God who made us in his image. He is SO big that he needed every person that ever lived and ever person that could ever live to fully display himself to the world. We won't ever be able to meet everyone, but each time we meet someone different than ourselves our image of God can come just a little bit bigger. I think what I've learned as I've tried to deconstruct my colorblind ideologies is that God has become so much larger. We aren't all the same, Praise the Lord. My life and theology and relationship with Jesus has been transformed through learning and being changed by getting to know people of different races and cultures than myself. Truly, my humanity and liberation are bound up in the humanity of all of my neighbors.

by: extremist4love

04-17-2009 @ 1:41pm

As someone who is white and is working hard to continue to develop a healthy racial identity, I often find myself very critical of the language we use when speaking to whites who do not have a commitment to Anti-Racism or who aren't persuing reconciliation. I think, personally, colorblindness is one of the most detrimental phrases and ideas that we are perpetuating in today's society. This idea was something that my parents taught to me. What I have now come to realize is that "colorblindness" allowed me to continue to participate and perpetuate racism. To be honest, colorblindness along with politically correctness and tolerance, are extremely detrimental in my opinion, because the focus of these ideas is to not appear racist. The intent is not to be Anti-Racist. We seem to be fine with having ideas and lifestyles that could perpetuate racism, we just don't want anyone to hear what we really think or don't completely understand and God forbid anyone be called a racist. No one wants that. What all of these terms have done is further isolate us from one another. Until we can realize the interconnectedness of My big thing is that we have a ridiculously huge God who made us in his image. He is SO big that he needed every person that ever lived and ever person that could ever live to fully display himself to the world. We won't ever be able to meet everyone, but each time we meet someone different than ourselves our image of God can come just a little bit bigger. I think what I've learned as I've tried to deconstruct my colorblind ideologies is that God has become so much larger. We aren't all the same, Praise the Lord. My life and theology and relationship with Jesus has been transformed through learning and being changed by getting to know people of different races and cultures than myself. Truly, my humanity and liberation are bound up in the humanity of all of my neighbors.

by: khasseler

04-20-2009 @ 10:58am

Dear Mr. Gilbreath:
As a white male, I think the notion of color blindness is more myth than reality. A lot of verbiage with limited reality to back it up. Nor is it desirable in a world that has yet to be fully anti-racist and culturally, racially reconciled. We(whites) have yet to confess and repent of our internalized superiority which is and has been revealed in our construction of systems that support our powerful, privileged position from the day of our birth for generations.("the sins of the fathers [and mothers] visited on the third and the fourth generations"). We (whites) have become impoverished by this generational deviation from God's will.

As you know the concept of race has almost no biological credence. Race is primarily a social cultural construct which exists for the benefit of those with power and privilege to identify the in group(s) and out group(s). Culture and cultural differences include race but also many other factors and we(white, northern Europeans) have a long way to go before we can hope to be multicultural in our perspectives and practices.

All this leads me to disagree with your careful, possibly ingratiating analysis of your friends comments the you are o.k. for a black person - " 'Ed, I don't even see you as a black person; when I look at you, I just see a person.' On the one hand, that's a very thoughtful and heartfelt sentiment to express - and I appreciate and receive the spirit in which it was shared." To say that this comment is "thoughtful" is not helpful. It is actually a thoughtless ignorant comment though probably "heartfelt" as you say. Have any of them ever listened thoughtfully and with interest when you talk about the challenges of being a black man in the U.S.? Have they been able to hear and quietly accept whatever anger and hurt you might bear from your daily experience of racism? Have any of them ever confessed their responsibility for racism and their need to broker their white power and privilege in a more careful, thoughtful manner in their effort to systematically dismantle racist practices at all levels in our society?

Your condescension to us by saying we(whites) are thoughtful when we make ignorant, hurtful comments like the one you mentioned in the blog is not helpful. Our condescension to you as a black person when we say such things as your friends is exponentially more damaging. It hinders the necessary transformation of our culture. This transformation needs to include our(whites) ability to embrace, celebrate and enjoy our cultural and racial differences in the context of our shared humanity. This transformation means we must learn to see people of color and from different cultures than ours as likely to bear scars of these differences in a fallen world where for all time there have been and probably will continue to be an in group(s) - the oppressor and out group(s) - the oppressed. Even if and when we can transform this world into a multiculturally, racially reconciled place, I do not hope to be color blind. In that transformed world, I hope we can see color and cultural differences, embrace color and cultural differences and learn to enjoy color and cultural differences. And we(whites) must always work to counterbalance the scars of color and cultural differences by practicing and pursuing equitable and just hiring policies and practices, business policies and practices, educational policies and practices, and social policies and practices. This vision is a lofty calling, but if those of us who believe in God cannot embrace and practice this calling - who can and who will? The question is, "How will we embrace and celebrate our color and cultural differences more equitably and justly as believers in God?"

by: khasseler

04-20-2009 @ 10:58am

Dear Mr. Gilbreath:
As a white male, I think the notion of color blindness is more myth than reality. A lot of verbiage with limited reality to back it up. Nor is it desirable in a world that has yet to be fully anti-racist and culturally, racially reconciled. We(whites) have yet to confess and repent of our internalized superiority which is and has been revealed in our construction of systems that support our powerful, privileged position from the day of our birth for generations.("the sins of the fathers [and mothers] visited on the third and the fourth generations"). We (whites) have become impoverished by this generational deviation from God's will.

As you know the concept of race has almost no biological credence. Race is primarily a social cultural construct which exists for the benefit of those with power and privilege to identify the in group(s) and out group(s). Culture and cultural differences include race but also many other factors and we(white, northern Europeans) have a long way to go before we can hope to be multicultural in our perspectives and practices.

All this leads me to disagree with your careful, possibly ingratiating analysis of your friends comments the you are o.k. for a black person - " 'Ed, I don't even see you as a black person; when I look at you, I just see a person.' On the one hand, that's a very thoughtful and heartfelt sentiment to express - and I appreciate and receive the spirit in which it was shared." To say that this comment is "thoughtful" is not helpful. It is actually a thoughtless ignorant comment though probably "heartfelt" as you say. Have any of them ever listened thoughtfully and with interest when you talk about the challenges of being a black man in the U.S.? Have they been able to hear and quietly accept whatever anger and hurt you might bear from your daily experience of racism? Have any of them ever confessed their responsibility for racism and their need to broker their white power and privilege in a more careful, thoughtful manner in their effort to systematically dismantle racist practices at all levels in our society?

Your condescension to us by saying we(whites) are thoughtful when we make ignorant, hurtful comments like the one you mentioned in the blog is not helpful. Our condescension to you as a black person when we say such things as your friends is exponentially more damaging. It hinders the necessary transformation of our culture. This transformation needs to include our(whites) ability to embrace, celebrate and enjoy our cultural and racial differences in the context of our shared humanity. This transformation means we must learn to see people of color and from different cultures than ours as likely to bear scars of these differences in a fallen world where for all time there have been and probably will continue to be an in group(s) - the oppressor and out group(s) - the oppressed. Even if and when we can transform this world into a multiculturally, racially reconciled place, I do not hope to be color blind. In that transformed world, I hope we can see color and cultural differences, embrace color and cultural differences and learn to enjoy color and cultural differences. And we(whites) must always work to counterbalance the scars of color and cultural differences by practicing and pursuing equitable and just hiring policies and practices, business policies and practices, educational policies and practices, and social policies and practices. This vision is a lofty calling, but if those of us who believe in God cannot embrace and practice this calling - who can and who will? The question is, "How will we embrace and celebrate our color and cultural differences more equitably and justly as believers in God?"

by: khasseler

04-20-2009 @ 12:58pm

Dear Mr. Gilbreath:
As a white male, I think the notion of color blindness is more myth than reality. A lot of verbiage with limited reality to back it up. Nor is it desirable in a world that has yet to be fully anti-racist and culturally, racially reconciled. We(whites) have yet to confess and repent of our internalized superiority which is and has been revealed in our construction of systems that support our powerful, privileged position from the day of our birth for generations.("the sins of the fathers [and mothers] visited on the third and the fourth generations"). We (whites) have become impoverished by this generational deviation from God's will.

As you know the concept of race has almost no biological credence. Race is primarily a social cultural construct which exists for the benefit of those with power and privilege to identify the in group(s) and out group(s). Culture and cultural differences include race but also many other factors and we(white, northern Europeans) have a long way to go before we can hope to be multicultural in our perspectives and practices.

All this leads me to disagree with your careful, possibly ingratiating analysis of your friends comments the you are o.k. for a black person - " 'Ed, I don't even see you as a black person; when I look at you, I just see a person.' On the one hand, that's a very thoughtful and heartfelt sentiment to express - and I appreciate and receive the spirit in which it was shared." To say that this comment is "thoughtful" is not helpful. It is actually a thoughtless ignorant comment though probably "heartfelt" as you say. Have any of them ever listened thoughtfully and with interest when you talk about the challenges of being a black man in the U.S.? Have they been able to hear and quietly accept whatever anger and hurt you might bear from your daily experience of racism? Have any of them ever confessed their responsibility for racism and their need to broker their white power and privilege in a more careful, thoughtful manner in their effort to systematically dismantle racist practices at all levels in our society?

Your condescension to us by saying we(whites) are thoughtful when we make ignorant, hurtful comments like the one you mentioned in the blog is not helpful. Our condescension to you as a black person when we say such things as your friends is exponentially more damaging. It hinders the necessary transformation of our culture. This transformation needs to include our(whites) ability to embrace, celebrate and enjoy our cultural and racial differences in the context of our shared humanity. This transformation means we must learn to see people of color and from different cultures than ours as likely to bear scars of these differences in a fallen world where for all time there have been and probably will continue to be an in group(s) - the oppressor and out group(s) - the oppressed. Even if and when we can transform this world into a multiculturally, racially reconciled place, I do not hope to be color blind. In that transformed world, I hope we can see color and cultural differences, embrace color and cultural differences and learn to enjoy color and cultural differences. And we(whites) must always work to counterbalance the scars of color and cultural differences by practicing and pursuing equitable and just hiring policies and practices, business policies and practices, educational policies and practices, and social policies and practices. This vision is a lofty calling, but if those of us who believe in God cannot embrace and practice this calling - who can and who will? The question is, "How will we embrace and celebrate our color and cultural differences more equitably and justly as believers in God?"

by: khasseler

04-20-2009 @ 12:58pm

Dear Mr. Gilbreath:
As a white male, I think the notion of color blindness is more myth than reality. A lot of verbiage with limited reality to back it up. Nor is it desirable in a world that has yet to be fully anti-racist and culturally, racially reconciled. We(whites) have yet to confess and repent of our internalized superiority which is and has been revealed in our construction of systems that support our powerful, privileged position from the day of our birth for generations.("the sins of the fathers [and mothers] visited on the third and the fourth generations"). We (whites) have become impoverished by this generational deviation from God's will.

As you know the concept of race has almost no biological credence. Race is primarily a social cultural construct which exists for the benefit of those with power and privilege to identify the in group(s) and out group(s). Culture and cultural differences include race but also many other factors and we(white, northern Europeans) have a long way to go before we can hope to be multicultural in our perspectives and practices.

All this leads me to disagree with your careful, possibly ingratiating analysis of your friends comments the you are o.k. for a black person - " 'Ed, I don't even see you as a black person; when I look at you, I just see a person.' On the one hand, that's a very thoughtful and heartfelt sentiment to express - and I appreciate and receive the spirit in which it was shared." To say that this comment is "thoughtful" is not helpful. It is actually a thoughtless ignorant comment though probably "heartfelt" as you say. Have any of them ever listened thoughtfully and with interest when you talk about the challenges of being a black man in the U.S.? Have they been able to hear and quietly accept whatever anger and hurt you might bear from your daily experience of racism? Have any of them ever confessed their responsibility for racism and their need to broker their white power and privilege in a more careful, thoughtful manner in their effort to systematically dismantle racist practices at all levels in our society?

Your condescension to us by saying we(whites) are thoughtful when we make ignorant, hurtful comments like the one you mentioned in the blog is not helpful. Our condescension to you as a black person when we say such things as your friends is exponentially more damaging. It hinders the necessary transformation of our culture. This transformation needs to include our(whites) ability to embrace, celebrate and enjoy our cultural and racial differences in the context of our shared humanity. This transformation means we must learn to see people of color and from different cultures than ours as likely to bear scars of these differences in a fallen world where for all time there have been and probably will continue to be an in group(s) - the oppressor and out group(s) - the oppressed. Even if and when we can transform this world into a multiculturally, racially reconciled place, I do not hope to be color blind. In that transformed world, I hope we can see color and cultural differences, embrace color and cultural differences and learn to enjoy color and cultural differences. And we(whites) must always work to counterbalance the scars of color and cultural differences by practicing and pursuing equitable and just hiring policies and practices, business policies and practices, educational policies and practices, and social policies and practices. This vision is a lofty calling, but if those of us who believe in God cannot embrace and practice this calling - who can and who will? The question is, "How will we embrace and celebrate our color and cultural differences more equitably and justly as believers in God?"