Colorblind: A type of racism

In his article, Racism without Racists, Bonilla-Silva’s article argues that color-blind racism is racism without racists.   He touches on four central frames of color-blind racism:  abstract liberalism, naturalization, cultural racism, and minimization of racism. 

Bonilla Silva claims that abstract liberalism is the most important one, “as it constitutes the foundation of new racial ideology” (pg. 26).  Because this is the frame that he focuses on, and because I have particular ideas to share regarding this ideology, this is also the idea that I will focus about.

Let me begin by briefly explaining what abstract liberalism is per Bonilla-Silva’s terms in simpler wording: whites can appear to ignore racism by appearing “reasonable” and “moral” and ignoring any trace of racial inequality by treating minorities as equal and denying the fact that there is a history of segregation, inequality, and underrepresentation (pg. 28).  This reminded me of Marx in Drag’s blog posting  which depicts Miley Cyrus as using her white privilege in her infamous VMA performance last month.  For instance, Bonilla-Silva quotes a student, who he accuses for safeguarding white privilege because she ignored the effects of the historical discrimination on minorities when she stated that she didn’t minorities should be provided unique opportunities when being admitted to a university because they had the same opportunity as everybody else. 

 

In comparison, Marx in Drag’s blog also accuses Miley for using her white privilege when she interacted with her (black) dancers by degrading them and objectifying their body (for example, by putting her face on the butt of a black female dancer, while Miley was obviously seen as the confident and superior of the two).  This particular scene causes the Marx in Drag’s blogger to reference Sarah Baartman—an African woman of the 18^th century that was displayed as inferior to the whites.  This is significant because it reflects that while many whites may tend to think there is nothing wrong with their behavior (‘What?! Sticking my face up your butt is degrading to you!?’), they are in fact enhancing their whiteness by ignoring the social, economic, and educational historical differences between minorities and whites.

Bonilla-Silva’s argument of color-blindness, in particular abstract liberalism is a rather valid one that can be seen in everyday scenarios such as Miley Cyrus’s VMA performance. Not to mention that the back up dancers that Miley used to her advantage could be portrayed as a modern day minstrel, which prevails the belief that minorities are naturally inferior, for they are willing to serve to the white community.  

Would you concur that racism without racists are racist?  Are there any examples of color-blind racism that you see in modern day? 

Bonilla Silva, E. (2010). Racism without racists, Pymouth, UK: Rowman & Littlefield.     

        (Chapters 2)

Marx in Drag. (2013).  Miley Cyrus and Sarah Baartman, Retrieved September 9, 2013 from http://www.marxindrag.com/Marxindrag/Blog/Entries/2013/8/26_Miley_Cyrus_and_Sarah_Baartman.html.