Quotes About Race

c) attaining a racially color-blind society is unattainable and only reinforces racism and societal inequality.

the belief that a race-neutral society can produce procedural justice for all groups and that it will end prejudice and discrimination is not supported by research on color-blind racial ideology.

Yes, we are all the same under the skin, and human beings, but why is being human defined from a White, Western perspective?

When educators lack critical consciousness about race/racism, have not adequately dealt with their own racial hang-ups, and are uncomfortable and unprepared to deal with difficult dialogues on race, they become part of the race talk problem (Bell, 2003; Pollock, 2004).

Neville et al. (2013) conclude several things about color-evasion: (a) Ignoring race or color is actually harmful to the well-being of people of color in a highly racially stratified society,

When Whites feel wrongly accused, they may respond with anger and engage in a counterattack when a racial topic arises. It appears that anger in race talk stems from two sources: (1) feeling unfairly accused (defensiveness) and/or (2) being told their substance, stance, or position taken is wrong. When back talk occurs, many Whites may feel offended and perceive the allegations as a provocation or an attack that requires retaliation.

Our research suggests that successful race talk must allow for the free expression of nested and impacted feelings, acknowledge their legitimacy and importance in dialogues, and be deconstructed so their meanings are made clear (Sue, 2013; Sue et al., 2010; Sue, Torino, et al., 2009).

Becoming culturally competent in facilitating difficult dialogues on race presupposes that parents and teachers must first do the necessary work of confronting their own biases, prejudices, and assumptions about human behavior. Self-healing must come before other healing.

one of the greatest barriers to race talk for many White Americans: the invisibility of their Whiteness (Bell, 2003; Helms, 1992; Spanierman, Poteat, Beer, & Armstrong, 2006; Tatum, 1992; Todd & Abrams, 2011).

The myth of the melting pot is predicated on several false assumptions: (a) a receptive society, (b) an equal status relationship between culturally different groups, and (c) its morally and politically neutral character. In reality, the melting pot is used to mask White supremacy and White privilege (topics, as we have seen, that impede race talk).

race, culture, and gender influence how people behave and communicate. The problem is not in the differences of how people communicate, but in the failed understanding of their meanings, and the detrimental actions taken by those in positions of authority who hold stereotypes.

Strangely enough, Whiteness is most visible when it is denied, evokes puzzlement/negative reactions, and is equated with normalcy.

A fish in water, for example, requires oxygen for survival. However, the medium to deliver it must be water, not air. The atmosphere that symbolically represents White culture is quite noticeable to people of color, and while nurturing to White Euro-Americans, it may prove less than healthy for people of color.

Most Whites would entertain the notion that being a person of color in this society subjects them to second-class citizenship. Yet it is intriguing that most White Americans would actively deny that they are advantaged automatically by this state of affairs.

people of color is a necessary condition to dispel stereotypes and fears (Allport, 1954; APA Presidential Task Force, 2012; J. M. Jones, 1997). Ironically, White Americans are most likely to have contact with people of color who represent only a narrow spectrum of the group—those who have gotten into trouble with society or who need special help.

The irrational sense of entitlement is a dominant feature of White privilege (McIntosh, 2002).

If you accept the concept of White privilege, then you must entertain the more realistic notion that many Whites did not succeed because of superior ability, but due to favoritism.

There is a triple purpose to the existence of White privilege: (1) to advantage White Americans, (2) to disadvantage persons of color, and (3) to attribute causes to individual deficiencies, thereby relieving White society of responsibility for perpetuating inequality.

Many White Americans, however, have distorted and or conveniently used color blindness as a means of color denial or, more accurately, power denial (Neville, Awad, Brooks, Flores, & Bluemel, 2013). An understanding of White privilege ultimately unmasks a dirty secret kept hidden by White Americans: Much of what they have attained is unearned, and even if they are not overtly racist, Whites cannot choose to relinquish benefits from it.

most people, including Whites, perceive racial relationships as binary: Black–White only (Pew Research Center, 2012). So, when matters of prejudice or discrimination are brought up for discussion, other groups of color, such as Asian Americans, Latina/o Americans, and Native Americans, often feel left out of the dialogue and rendered invisible (B. S. K. Kim, 2011; Takaki, 1998).

issues or racial situations present themselves, it is important to ask, "Where are the feelings of uneasiness, differentness, or outright fear coming from?" They may reveal or say something about one's biases and prejudices.

Why is race talk difficult between and among people of color? Why are some people of color hesitant to address interracial/interethnic differences? These are questions often asked privately by groups of color, but seldom publicly discussed for fear of negative consequences and the destruction of political unity (Orbe et al., 2013; Sue & Sue, 2013).

When around people of color or when race-related issues or racial situations present themselves, it is important to ask, "Where are the feelings of uneasiness, differentness, or outright fear coming from?" They may reveal or say something about one's biases and prejudices.

while the politeness protocol, the academic protocol, and the color-blind protocol serve as ground rules that prevent race talk by Whites, the commandments (a) "Thou shall not air dirty laundry in public" and (b) "Thou shall not speak ill of one another and destroy group unity" are equally powerful forces preventing people of color from honestly dialoguing about their thoughts and feelings toward one another.