Third Way: Conservative Perspectives On Colorblindness
aelitta
Colorblindness has been offered more recently as a counterapproach to race-conscious initiatives such as affirmative action, reparations, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs. Proponents of a colorblind attitude argue that race should not play a role in social or legal spheres. Our focus will be on colorblindness as it pertains to Black Americans, since this principle is mostly used to reject measures related to them.
Strongly divergent views can be derived from conservative thought when it comes to how issues surrounding race and civil rights should be tackled. Conservative colorblind theorists assert that history is on their side, and that great philosophers, from Thomas Jefferson to Martin Luther King, Jr., would have indeed been in favor of colorblindness today. Conservative civil rights advocates who do not see things from a colorblind lens, however, instead emphasize separatism and Black identity as the correct way to achieve progress.
Colorblind conservatives appeal to tradition and to hard principles in their opposition to color-consciousness. “Discrimination to fix historical discrimination is still discrimination,” wrote conservative commentator Larry Elder, reacting to the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule the use of race-based affirmative action in college admissions.
Philosophy professor Andre Archie argued likewise in a video this month for the conservative media organization PragerU, describing color-conscious “anti-racists” as “the new racists.”
The notion that so-called “reverse discrimination” is simply discrimination is misguided. When Black Americans are discriminated against, it is explicitly meant to harm them. We cannot compare that to the indirect effects of initiatives to correct these prior wrongs and improve a minority group’s presence in a given area.
Supporters of the aforementioned ruling noted how race-based affirmative action disproportionately affected, negatively, Asian Americans. Conservative writer Kenny Xu calls Asian Americans an “inconvenient minority” because while they have been historically discriminated against, at the same time they achieve remarkable success. “Therefore,” he continues, “colleges and universities treat them as if they're the privileged class, which is wrong.”
To Xu’s point, of course no group should be actively discriminated against, and any such policies should be overturned. But that is different than the effects of trying to increase the representation of other minority groups, which is a positive thing.
Returning to Archie’s video for PragerU, to the likings of a conservative audience he appealed to his interpretation of American values and tradition to present his colorblind philosophy. Remarkably, he quoted founding father Thomas Jefferson, who wrote that “all men are created equal.” This is particularly ironic, considering that Jefferson was a slave owner. Perhaps this demonstrates how disconnected noble preachings could be from reality — just like the “colorblind” doctrine today. Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were also cited as well, though hardly in a way that contributes to Archie’s argument.
Archie noted Dr. King’s dream that we one day live in a society where his children “will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Dr. King will be discussed more extensively next week, but his legacy and political views extend far beyond this one quote that many on the right seem to focus on. Notably, this quote was not a policy statement, but rather a dream of a utopian future that we should all strive for — a future that may require color-conscious initiatives as a means to that end.
On the opposite end of conservative political thought when it comes to uplifting Black Americans is the color-conscious idea of Black Nationalism and separatism. Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, exemplifies the extreme of this, arguing in favor of “a separate state” and a “separate nation” for Black Americans. “Black Power. Black Power to do what?,” he asked. “To integrate a lunch counter?”
While Farrakhan is notorious for his antisemitic remarks and represents the extreme wing of Black activists, more generally his focus on separatism and building the community holds legitimacy among many of those sincerely interested in pursuing civil rights.
Consider Malcolm X. While he was less dogmatic and more pragmatic in his approach, he saw color in the sense that he preached a “Black Nationalist” philosophy. In his famous “The Ballot or the Bullet” speech, he explained that Black Nationalists seek to have control of the politics, economics, and ethos of the Black community.
He despised the idea of outsourcing to white people, such as by making purchases in white-owned businesses. He saw that this just makes white communities richer and black communities poorer. “If we own the stores, if we operate the businesses, if we try and establish some industry in our own community,” he said, “then we're developing to the position where we are creating employment for our own kind.”
Malcolm X asserted that the problem with segregation is not the separation of races per se, but rather that segregation allows people from outside the community to control matters inside the community: “When you're under someone else's control, you're segregated.”
In fact, he proceeded to argue, “the white man is more afraid of separation than he is of integration. Segregation means that he puts you away from him, but not far enough for you to be out of his jurisdiction; separation means you're gone.”
Malcolm X’s color-conscious means to civil rights, Black Nationalism, emphasizes the need for Black Americans to control their own economy, to be able elect their own politicians, and to develop the morals and character of their community from within. According to Malcolm X, segregation and integration are both obstacles to this. As will be discussed next week, this is in contrast to Dr. King’s philosophy, for he sought both integrationist and separatist solutions — whichever would be the most promising avenue to make practical gains for the Black community.
Philosophy Larry Elder and Andre Archie have a more moderate application of conservative principles — which better suits a contemporary audience — by appealing to American values and unshakable principles to support colorblindness. Louis Farrakhan and Malcolm X preach a combination of conservative thinking and color-consciousness which can be extreme to many, focusing on separatist solutions. Hence, there are many approaches one who has conservative values might advance when it comes to achieving civil rights and uplifting Black Americans.