Racism follow-up

I want to follow up on someting from the "Doctor Laura" post. I noticed that I spent a lot of time focusing on treating people as individuals.  I want to clarify that this was in response to the "doctor" lumping the Black caller into her perception of the larger group / Blacks in general.  Putting aside that the "doctor" doesn't seem to think too highly of the group anyway, it was still very wrong of her to automatically lump this individual into a group before even trying to hear what she had to say or see her point of view.  HOWEVER... I did not want anyone reading that to think I was making any kind of endorsement of colorblindness.  I wrote a post awhile back regarding the inherent racism of colorblindness.

So... What's the answer?  Bottom line: Race is a complex issue, and there a rather considerable balancing act that needs to happen.  People are individuals, and should be treated as such, but the color of our skin (as well as our gender, religion, national origin, sexuality, etc...) affects the experiences we have, largely because they affect the way the world perceives (and responds to) us.

Consider this: If a White Man and a Black Man with otherwise similar backgrounds (economic, upbringing, education, religion, etc...) go to a party, meet the same people, drink the same liquor, dance to the same songs, play the same games... They do not leave the party having had the same experience.  And among other things (of course) the fact that one was black and one was white influences that.

If you don't see the party example as exemplary of this, consider the exact same two people at a Klan rally.

Still think the color of their skin doesn't affect the experience they have?

Don't stereotype, but don't IGNORE it either.  It's a delicate balancing act to be sure.  So proceed with care and caution and empathy.