by progressives who adopt a paint-by-numbers approach to racial justice: top orchestras, they say, must be 13 percent black because America is 13 percent black—even if we must discriminate against musicians of other races to achieve that outcome.
I’m grateful for the Free Press. Most of us understand that whomever controls the corporate media controls our societal dialog. The majority opinion may never be heard. Who is the most vulnerable to this propaganda? Our young people who will become the leaders of our country in the coming years.
What's frustrates me the most about this idea that colorblindness is racist is that it's largely a strawman argument. By saying "I'm colorblind" or that our nation is "colorblind" no one is dismissing someone's experience or washing away someone's culture or ethnic heritage. That was never the point of colorblindness. Rather, it's stating that you should see an individual as an individual first and foremost, as someone worthy of basic human dignity and respect for their distinctness as an individual human being, and that the laws should treat people in the same manner. It's not a dismissal of culture, ethnicity, or of perspective, it's simply an understanding that a person's color does not define them nor is color accompanied by any essential characteristics.
I listen to classical music pretty much all day and the station I listen to points out a composer or performer who is African-American. This is a good thing because it helps defeat most people's presumption that classical music is all European-American. A friend of mine, a woman of color (I'm European-American), is delighted when Katherine Johnson was described in the media as an African-American women who helped with the Apollo mission to the moon. Color-blindness is also seriously detrimental in health care research.
When I see people bring this topic up, I recommend Ellison's Invisible Man.
I'm just getting around to reading this and I agree completely. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about affirmative action, but it feels like society will be better off if we stop making race a factor in decisions and use socioeconomic factors instead.
Mr.. Coleman's essay resonates on many levels. I commend him for his interest in having a meaningful conversation on race as a feature of policy and governance.
I wonder, however, if far more selfish motivations is at work in the formatting of the debate on the part of those academics grousing over race-neutral or race-absent thinking. Could there be a bit of gaslighting going on to stratify the academic requirements of the positions the occupy?
After all, a black studies professor has to write about...well...er...black studies to maintain his/her/they position in the department constructed to give they/them a soapbox on which to stand.
At a point in time, you know, these manufactured issues become tiresome. Let's start giving these faux controversies a pass.
Great essay from the insightful and brilliant Mr. Hughes.
Race has become nothing more than a tool used to to divide us. It's a power grab, an industry, a means to a nefarious objective. Race legislation has mostly been a failure. It appeases the intended victim and gives a false feeling of benevolence to the assumed oppressor. We as a nation are walking on eggshells, afraid of any topic which race or sex is considered. We were mostly past this 20 years ago. Each sub-group we get put in eventually turns us into our own worst enemy, as those who wish to lead us are simply ill-qualified to do so. Trump and Biden, the best our nation has to offer? Proof enough for me.
"Auditioning musicians behind a veil guarantees that racial and gender bias cannot contaminate the decision-making. "
As a symphony lover, this line alone made the entire article for me! Thank you.
On the other hand, 'color-blindness' should not be exercised during an introduction or a personal event. The first thing you notice about a person is their gender, their race and even their hair color. Those are personal attributes that cannot help but be noticed and not necessarily for the wrong reasons. At a dinner party I once gave, the gentleman to my right was a MIT grad/engineer; black and 6'7'' as well. He loved being asked if he played in the NBA. I am a natural blonde and admittedly liked the attention. Another guest was 275 lbs at 6'5'' and enjoyed being asked where he played football although he was a successful art dealer in Miami!
We all had a great time laughing about these 'stereotypes' by which not a single one of us were offended. The moral of the day:
Maintain a sense of humor and enjoy the 'other side' of first impressions.
This posting is the first since I started my subscription. Certainly very worthwhile. Clear and incisive use of language. Many thanks for welcoming me into your community. Thanks to Elon Musk for making me aware once again of Bari Weiss and her work.
An excellent essay on this subject. You need no education from me, but I would like to reiterate here that the current obsession with race has nothing to do with race and everything to do with essentially resentment and revenge. This is the perview of the modern communist that terms himself a woke progressive. The Wokies, as I term them, do not wish to see people of color as they shop, since they have successfully cancelled Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben and that Land O' Lakes Native American lady on the box of butter. They do not wish to deal with anyone that actually thinks differently than they do or desires to be exceptional or talented. Their true aspiration for all of us would be summed up in an old short story by Kurt Vonnegut entitled Allison Bergeron. They are a virus and someone such as yourself is the vaccine. Thank you once again.
by progressives who adopt a paint-by-numbers approach to racial justice: top orchestras, they say, must be 13 percent black because America is 13 percent black—even if we must discriminate against musicians of other races to achieve that outcome.
Does this apply to professional sports too?
I’m grateful for the Free Press. Most of us understand that whomever controls the corporate media controls our societal dialog. The majority opinion may never be heard. Who is the most vulnerable to this propaganda? Our young people who will become the leaders of our country in the coming years.
I enjoyed the article and agree with the premise.
What's frustrates me the most about this idea that colorblindness is racist is that it's largely a strawman argument. By saying "I'm colorblind" or that our nation is "colorblind" no one is dismissing someone's experience or washing away someone's culture or ethnic heritage. That was never the point of colorblindness. Rather, it's stating that you should see an individual as an individual first and foremost, as someone worthy of basic human dignity and respect for their distinctness as an individual human being, and that the laws should treat people in the same manner. It's not a dismissal of culture, ethnicity, or of perspective, it's simply an understanding that a person's color does not define them nor is color accompanied by any essential characteristics.
I listen to classical music pretty much all day and the station I listen to points out a composer or performer who is African-American. This is a good thing because it helps defeat most people's presumption that classical music is all European-American. A friend of mine, a woman of color (I'm European-American), is delighted when Katherine Johnson was described in the media as an African-American women who helped with the Apollo mission to the moon. Color-blindness is also seriously detrimental in health care research.
When I see people bring this topic up, I recommend Ellison's Invisible Man.
I'm just getting around to reading this and I agree completely. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about affirmative action, but it feels like society will be better off if we stop making race a factor in decisions and use socioeconomic factors instead.
It's just too bad that a point this obvious now requires a defense.
Mr.. Coleman's essay resonates on many levels. I commend him for his interest in having a meaningful conversation on race as a feature of policy and governance.
I wonder, however, if far more selfish motivations is at work in the formatting of the debate on the part of those academics grousing over race-neutral or race-absent thinking. Could there be a bit of gaslighting going on to stratify the academic requirements of the positions the occupy?
After all, a black studies professor has to write about...well...er...black studies to maintain his/her/they position in the department constructed to give they/them a soapbox on which to stand.
At a point in time, you know, these manufactured issues become tiresome. Let's start giving these faux controversies a pass.
Great essay from the insightful and brilliant Mr. Hughes.
Race has become nothing more than a tool used to to divide us. It's a power grab, an industry, a means to a nefarious objective. Race legislation has mostly been a failure. It appeases the intended victim and gives a false feeling of benevolence to the assumed oppressor. We as a nation are walking on eggshells, afraid of any topic which race or sex is considered. We were mostly past this 20 years ago. Each sub-group we get put in eventually turns us into our own worst enemy, as those who wish to lead us are simply ill-qualified to do so. Trump and Biden, the best our nation has to offer? Proof enough for me.
"Auditioning musicians behind a veil guarantees that racial and gender bias cannot contaminate the decision-making. "
As a symphony lover, this line alone made the entire article for me! Thank you.
On the other hand, 'color-blindness' should not be exercised during an introduction or a personal event. The first thing you notice about a person is their gender, their race and even their hair color. Those are personal attributes that cannot help but be noticed and not necessarily for the wrong reasons. At a dinner party I once gave, the gentleman to my right was a MIT grad/engineer; black and 6'7'' as well. He loved being asked if he played in the NBA. I am a natural blonde and admittedly liked the attention. Another guest was 275 lbs at 6'5'' and enjoyed being asked where he played football although he was a successful art dealer in Miami!
We all had a great time laughing about these 'stereotypes' by which not a single one of us were offended. The moral of the day:
Maintain a sense of humor and enjoy the 'other side' of first impressions.
I am offended by the automatic granting of the label Progressive to people who are anything but: they are horribly Regressive. Time for a re-brand.
This posting is the first since I started my subscription. Certainly very worthwhile. Clear and incisive use of language. Many thanks for welcoming me into your community. Thanks to Elon Musk for making me aware once again of Bari Weiss and her work.
Isn’t there a Thomas Sowell masterclass on this topic?!
Mr. Hughes,
An excellent essay on this subject. You need no education from me, but I would like to reiterate here that the current obsession with race has nothing to do with race and everything to do with essentially resentment and revenge. This is the perview of the modern communist that terms himself a woke progressive. The Wokies, as I term them, do not wish to see people of color as they shop, since they have successfully cancelled Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben and that Land O' Lakes Native American lady on the box of butter. They do not wish to deal with anyone that actually thinks differently than they do or desires to be exceptional or talented. Their true aspiration for all of us would be summed up in an old short story by Kurt Vonnegut entitled Allison Bergeron. They are a virus and someone such as yourself is the vaccine. Thank you once again.
This should be taught in schools now!
Lol...explaining away Rev. Dr. MLK, Jr. plain words. What a noble pursuit!
Thank goodness this is being said now. But a lot of damage has been done.
If you can't be color blind, then you can't be gender blind.
Holding both of those points of view simultaneously in one head where logic reigns, is impossible.