Deck 17: The Structure of Racism in Color-Blind, Post-Racial America

Question 1

Eduardo Bonilla-Silva describes racism in a pretty unusual way. On his account, what would it mean to call someone "racist?" Is that ever a word that makes sense to talk about the people who are responsible for the new racism? Do you think that it's important to talk about racists when we talk about racism?

Answer 1

Explore how the concept of "racists" fits into Bonilla-Silva's framework for talking about racism.
Argue either for or against the statement, "It's important to talk about racists when we talk about racism."

Question 2

Take a second look at Rhonda and Roland's stories in Eduardo Bonilla-Silva's essay. Why does Bonilla-Silva point to these stories as examples of racism? What do you think about these stories? How would you talk to Rhonda and Roland about the points that Bonilla-Silva makes if you met them?

Answer 2

Discuss and evaluate Rhonda and Roland's stories in Bonilla-Silva's essay.
Describe how the author would engage in conversation about Bonilla-Silva's essay with Rhonda and Roland.

Question 3

Eduardo Bonilla-Silva points to Barack Obama as a figure that made racism worse and deeper in the United States. On his account, would it make sense to have similar conversations about any other popular figures (celebrities, athletes, authors, etc.)? If so, give an example of a person like that. If not, explain why only politicians can have an effect like Obama had.

Answer 3

Explore whether non-political figures have an effect on the state of racism in the United States.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the "new racism," as Bonilla-Silva describes it?

A) The avoidance of direct racial terminology
B) The elaboration of a racial political agenda that foregrounds racial references
C) The increasingly covert nature of racial discourse and practices
D) The subtle character of most mechanisms to reproduce racial privilege
E) All of these are characteristics of the new racism

Question 5

Bonilla-Silva argues that racial inequality is still ________:

A) Highly visible
B) A product of prejudice
C) Jim Crow-type discrimination
D) The same as it always was
E) Produced in a systematic way

Question 6

Bonilla-Silva affirms that nowadays, Blacks and Whites ________:

A) Are neither separate nor unequal in social life
B) Are integrated and equal in most every area of social life
C) Don't have to worry about issues like separation and inequality
D) Remain mostly separate and unequal in many areas of social life
E) Are as segregated and unequal as ever

Question 7

Bonilla-Silva defines "color-blind racism" as the racial ideology that results in what?

A) Raceless explanations for all sort of race-related affairs
B) A flattening of colorful, vibrant, and diverse lived experiences
C) A new form of slavery and subordination
D) A low-stakes way for white people to become educated about racism
E) The optimal state of affairs for contemporary race relations

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a component of color-blind racism?

A) Abstract liberalism
B) Prejudicial treatment
C) Racial stories
D) Peculiar linguistic manners and rhetorical strategies
E) All of these are components of color-blind racism

Question 9

The statement, "some of my best friends are Black," is an example of which component of color-blind racism?

A) Abstract liberalism
B) Prejudicial treatment
C) Racial stories
D) Peculiar linguistic manners and rhetorical strategies
E) This is not an example of color-blind racism

Question 10

The statement, "the past is the past," is an example of which component of color-blind racism?

A) Abstract liberalism
B) Prejudicial treatment
C) Racial stories
D) Peculiar linguistic manners and rhetorical strategies
E) This is not an example of color-blind racism

Question 11

Bonilla-Silva describes the election of President Barack Obama as ________:

A) A miracle
B) A change in our nation's racial trajectory
C) A hoax
D) An elaborate scheme crafted by racists
E) A deepening of the new racism

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the typical post-Civil Rights minority politician?

A) Moves quickly through the party ranks
B) Is the product of social movements
C) Joins the party of choice while in college
D) Is electorally oriented
E) All of these are characteristics of the typical post-Civil Rights minority politician

Question 13

Bonilla-Silva believes that racism is a two-way street, that is, both Blacks and Whites can be racist.