Voices

Fielding off-putting questions and comments is a regular part of the mixed-race experience around the world. Yet this social phenomenon is especially common in places with a legacy of institutionalized and cultural racism. That includes the South.

I was angry and felt defeated. I also knew deep in my heart that this would have never happened if I were white. I had been using Uber for over 2 1/2 years and never came across anything similar to this.

Where did this particular ideology of not “seeing” race come from? What are the origins of “colorblindness” and what are their current consequences? Here’s the disturbing legacy you’re building on if you take a “colorblind” approach to race.

We were at a karaoke bar on a weeknight. I was sitting near a wall-length mirror, and I felt self-conscious about my body. 

The other day I was having a conversation with one of my girlfriends about the difference between gossip and having an intentional conversation with a trusted friend while seeking feedback about an issue with a third party. This is what we concluded.

“Feminism” wasn’t a word I heard much growing up. When I did hear it, I equated it with a historical event, not a work in progress. I thought first-wave feminism was a one-and-done deal, and that all the work necessary for women’s equality had already been accomplished.

I know he did not finish our program duration. I know that I finished the program with no friends, and very few people who even believed me. I consider myself very lucky to have survived the situation with mostly just a bruised ego, but I will always feel guilty.

All men at work benefit from what Australian sociologist Raewyn Connell has named the “patriarchal dividend.” This is the unearned social or professional capital that men accrue. [...] This dividend doesn’t just happen — it has to be reproduced and maintained for future generations. If men recognise this and take responsibility for it, then we can start to make positive changes to workplaces.