Race and Racism: Can We Be Colorblind? (Essay Sample)

Race and Racism: Can we be Colorblind?
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RACE AND RACISM: CAN WE BE COLOURBLIND?
Race is a term that refers to a particular group of people who share common physical characteristics and have a number of things in common including speaking the same language and sharing common practices and believes that are unique to them and different from other groups in the society. On the other hand, racism refers to prejudice, antagonism and discrimination that is purely directed towards a certain race on the basis of a belief that someone else race is superior that that of the group of people or individual being discriminated against (Neville et al, 2013). Racial discrimination is therefore a result of the racial differences experienced in the society. Racism has been seen as one of the main reasons that have made it very difficult for people to come to terms in nations that experience genocides and civil wars. Even though racism is real and lives among us, the fact is that we can actually try to be "colorblind" when it comes to race and co-exist in a harmonious and peaceful manner as one”.
The current situation in the societies of all nations of the world clearly indicates that it is difficult to find a nation that purely consists of only one race. This means that nations have people of different races who still co-exist peacefully and live together and they work together as one in their endeavors geared towards building their nations. The United States of America is a perfect example of a nation which is made up of many racial groups but which still enjoys peace and harmony as well as stability (Omi & Winant, 2014). This means that the different races in the United State of America live together as one people. If nations of the world are made up of different racial groups but still experience peace and tranquility and togetherness, then it means that each and every nation that has different races who are fighting each other can achieve colorblindness regarding matters to do with race and therefore live peacefully and in harmony.
With reference to race and racism, the "colorblindness" does not literally mean being unable to differentiate different colours of people. It rather means keeping away all the feelings and a thought of seeing different races as different and seeing them as one (Wise, 2013). A society that has achieved racial blindness is that which does not care the race of a person in distribution job opportunities, in giving leadership positions, in offering education, in mingling and generally, in all aspects of the social life. A society that has achieved colorblindness with regard to race is one that is ready to embrace ideas from all people regardless of their racial affiliations (Neville et al, 2013). It is a society that refuses to be divided along racial lines. Such a society is actually achievable. The only problem is that in a society, due to the fact that people...