We have to talk about it

 

Armstrong and Wildman state in “Colorblindness is the New Racism” that colorblindness, or not acknowledging race, actually reinforces racism. This is because it prevents people from recognizing how privilege shapes society. Thus, the authors’ main argument is that instead of ignoring race, we should participate in color insight, or discussing race and privilege in order to promote equality. This provides the necessary vocabulary and space to analyze these structures of oppression. Similar to the Johnson reading, avoiding a difficult conversation about privilege allows for it to continue. Armstrong and Wildman bring up multiple ways to conduct color insight in the classroom, such as the power line exercise and “looking for the me.” They also offer other techniques as well that can foster reflection and combat stereotyping. 

Next, Gomez’s post “Why Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Mattered” discusses the power of his performance in centering Latino/Hispanic/Puerto Rican experiences and cultures in one of America’s biggest events. His main argument is that this show was more than entertainment or spectacle, as it was a moment of authentic representation for lived experience. It occurred mostly in the Spanish language, without translation, and exemplified the everyday life of Puerto Ricans. The day after the Super Bowl, I facilitated a discussion amongst my classes about the performance, and most of my students wrote that they felt “seen” and “represented.” The visibility of the performance made many emotional. I think this performance was especially important due to the current political and cultural climate of the U.S, such as in the Trump administration and ICE’s violence toward Hispanic/Latino communities. 

Both of these texts fit together nicely. For one, they both discuss the importance of visibility in fighting dominant cultures and privilege. Also, they show how the media can really impact how people view identity. Both classrooms and the Super Bowl can be spaces of discussion and reflection about privilege.