[Martin Elster]

Originally Posted by Julie Steiner

Martin,

Suggesting that race doesn't or shouldn't matter, or wouldn't if racial, ethnic, and gender minorities weren't making such a big deal about it, overlooks the fact that these identities usually ARE noticeable and DO matter, a lot, both to others and to ourselves. They are central to our first impressions of others and to our sense of belonging within a wider community, through bonds sometimes strengthened by cultural factors like religion, language, music, dance, food, etc.

Claiming that people are somehow doing something wrong when others choose to identify them as Other and choose to treat them differently because of that, rather than judging them by the content of their character, seems unrealistic at best, and victim-blaming at worst, if that treatment is negative.

I wrote something in response to this and thought I may post it, but then I found this talk on YouTube, which I think answers what you wrote better than me.

Coleman Hughes on The Case for Color-blindness S2 [Bonus Episode]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq6xJ2vFlaA