Photo / Archie, A
Introduction:
The New Zealand government has announced a new policy aimed at creating a “colourblind” public service, a move that has sparked debate about the effectiveness and ethics of such an approach. This policy, championed by Act leader David Seymour, seeks to prioritize need over race, eliminating ethnicity-based initiatives like targeted health programs and procurement policies that favor Māori businesses.
While the policy aims to create a more inclusive society by focusing on individual needs, critics argue that it ignores the systemic nature of racism and overlooks the historical and ongoing disadvantages faced by Māori. This approach, they argue, risks perpetuating the very inequalities it seeks to address.
The concept of a “colourblind” society, while seemingly appealing in its promise of equality, has been widely critiqued by scholars like Robin DiAngelo and Jane Elliott. DiAngelo, in her seminal work “White Fragility,” argues that colorblindness is a form of denial that allows white people to avoid confronting their own racial biases and the realities of systemic racism.
Jane Elliott, known for her “blue-eyed/brown-eyed” exercise, demonstrates how easily prejudice and discrimination can be instilled and reinforced through seemingly innocuous actions and policies. Her experiment highlights the power of social conditioning and the need to acknowledge and address the impact of historical and ongoing discrimination.
Photo / Jane Elliot
The New Zealand government’s policy, while seemingly motivated by a desire for fairness, risks falling into the trap of colorblindness. By ignoring the realities of systemic racism and the unique challenges faced by marginalized communities, it may inadvertently perpetuate inequalities and hinder efforts to achieve true social justice.
Instead of striving for a “colourblind” society, perhaps the focus should be on creating a society that is “anti-racist.” This involves actively acknowledging and addressing the historical and ongoing impacts of racism, dismantling systemic barriers, and promoting equity and inclusion for all.
Conclusion:
The New Zealand government’s policy, while well-intentioned, requires a more nuanced and critical approach. It is crucial to acknowledge the complexities of race and racism, and to implement policies that address the root causes of inequity rather than simply aiming for a superficial “colourblindness.”
Reference:
Archie, A. (224). The Virtue of Color-Blindness. [Image]. Retrieved September 13 2024 from:https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Virtue-of-Color-Blindness/Andre-Archie/9781684514021
Elliot, J.(2017). Brown eye, Blue eye. [Image] Retrieved September 13 2024 from https://kpfa.org/episode/the-week-starts-here-october-29-2017/
