Rejecting the Myth of Colorblindness in Education

Colorblindness is a defect in the perception of colors, caused by a deficiency in specialized cells in the retina that are sensitive to different colors. The term is often used today during political discourse, often by members of some factions of liberalism, when claiming that one’s race should be irrelevant to any decision making process. It is a form of moral posturing; that one should see an individual as simply an individual, but not as part of any larger group or culture. As if this philosophy will enable us to bridge any gaps between races, this thought attempts to focus on how we are all the same, rather than how we differ. Teachers and administrators are required to complete coursework pertaining to multicultural education†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, Christina Judith Hein, in Color-Blindness vs. Race Matters claims that a common goal cannot be that every individual is treated the same, regardless of their race, gender, or age, but rather, these dif ferences require different responses within the social framework with certain norms and values. Reactions to an individual must be specific to that individual’s needs. In the collateral-collectivist cultures (African-American, Hispanic and Asian), emphasis is placed on the family, above all else. This means that in these cultures, even education is second to the needs of a family. When teaching children from these cultures, it is important not be ethnocentric, but rather understand the structure of their cultures. As teachers, we cannot be colorblind; for it is a disservice to those we teach. Hatred, abuse, social injustice, and general dislike of an individual or group will never be controlled or extinguished through any means of education or political mandate. These terrible practices are part of the human frailty of life, and can be found among every ethnicity and culture. While it should never be condoned, it cannot be eradicated. In The Multicultural Cult, Thomas Sowell argues that cultural differences matter and always have. He claims that the â€Å"multicultural cult† is one that believes it can improve the education and economic status of a group simply by immersing them in another’s culture. Trying to equate colorblindness with