Colorblindness

Since power and privilege predominantly lies in the hands of middle to upper class white folks, this ‘white privilege’ will not change if we decide to ignore the issue of race and racism. Since whites typically have the power, their point of view (which may be racism against blacks and other minorities) will continue to hold its place.
Also, it is important to remember that it is because of the whites that we have taken on this idea of colorblindness anyway. As we learn in the beginning of Wise’s text, urban riots broke out in the middle and later 1960s because of the previous intense focus on racism. Whites grew annoyed at the riots, and decided that the best way to handle the current issues would be to focus on other issues while de-emphasizing the issue of racism (Wise, 2010).
The fact that colorblindness encourages us to ignore the issue of race and racism actually can make racism worse. Colorblind universalism suggests that instead of focusing on particular races or racism in general, we should create opportunities or universal programs to uplift all people in jobs, education, and health care. However, it is important to note that the white public probably does not view this ‘social policy’ in the same way that the creators of this idea do. According to many whites, the efforts made in universal uplifts such as more funding in schools, job creations, and universal health care are proposed in order to assist people of color. Because of this, clearly, racism is simply supported and perhaps more likely to occur as people catch on to this particular view of this social policy.
The fact that colorblindness encourages us to ignore racism also means that it will not fix the issue of racism that is already in existence. By ignoring it, we would not be doing anything to stop it or lessen it. To make matters worse, as Tim Wise points out, ignoring racism will allow people of minorities to slip under the radar and perhaps become unnoticed as quickly as they are