Sunday, November 3, 2013

Institutional Racism and Colorblindness


A key distinction that still seems unclear in our discussion is, “Institutional racism, which allows racial disparity to be produced and maintained with or without the deliberate and bigoted intent of those producing the disparity” (Wise, 162). “The kind that had worked to marginalize… millions of black job applicants across the nation in any number of professions for decades, ever since the passage of civil rights laws” (Wise, 162). The Civil Rights Movement was a time of questioning and progression, but it created a more insidious system of oppression. Now the energy wanes and institutional racism, fueled by historical precedent and other incentives, supports the colorblind ideal that is pervading this society. Another movement will need to address this or simply feed colorblind oppression. Even now these ideals are rooting themselves deeper in our psyche and our society, “American jurisprudence on racial discrimination makes it very difficult to prove a case without clear evidence of intent to injure” (Wise, 163). We need more than a movement, we need to realize we’re in motion.

1 comment:

  1. Interest post I am glad I chose to read it. I agree with the post wholeheartedly. The closing sums my opinion up fully " We need more than a movement, we need to realize we’re in motion." The problems that incited the Civil Rights Movement are far from eradicated. Progress has been made but there is great room for more to be made. In a sense the movement moved us forward but is it also true it help set us behind in some regards? Other systems of oppression did arise from this progressive movement. With that being said I have no real suggestions on how to actively fight them.

    ReplyDelete