Work for black women has been an important and valued dimension of Afrocentric definitions of black motherhood.
Patricia Hill CollinsRead
Under the color-blind ideology of the new racism, Blackness must be SEEN as evidence for the alleged color blindness that seemingly characterizes contemporary economic opportunity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques the notion of color-blindness in society, arguing that it often obscures the realities of racism and economic disparity faced by Black individuals.
Patricia Hill Collins highlights the problematic idea of color-blind ideology, suggesting that it reduces Black identity to a mere justification for ignoring systemic racism. She argues that this perspective not only overlooks the lived experiences of Black individuals but also perpetuates the myth of equal opportunity while failing to address the underlying inequalities that persist in society.
Themes
RacismColor-BlindnessBlacknessInequalityEconomic Opportunity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about racial equality, this quote can illustrate how color-blindness ignores the economic struggles of Black individuals.
More from Patricia Hill Collins
All quotes βOppressed groups are frequently placed in the situation of being listened to only if we frame our ideas in the language that is familiar to and comfortable for a dominant group. This requirement often changes the meaning of our ideas and works to elevate the ideas of dominant groups.
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To maintain their power, dominant groups create and maintain a popular system of 'commonsense' ideas that support their right to rule. In the United States, hegemonic ideologies concerning race, class, gender, sexuality, and nation are often so pervasive that it is difficult to conceptualize alternatives to them, let alone ways of resisting the social practices that they justify.
Patricia Hill CollinsRead
The role model approach to social change is no substitute for challenging unjust employment practices, educational policies and housing.
Patricia Hill CollinsRead
Challenging power structures from the inside, working the cracks within the system, however, requires learning to speak multiple languages of power convincingly.
Patricia Hill CollinsRead
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