Introduction: Has the United States Really Moved Beyond Race?

This edited volume is designed to provide an interdisciplinary exploration of the concept of color-blind racial ideology (CBRI)—the widely held belief that skin color does not play a role in interpersonal interactions and institutional policies/practices. In this collection, scholars in psychology, education, sociology, and related fields provide a probing analysis deconstructing racial color blindness; all of the contributors point out the problems with the concept as it is currently practiced in society. These scholars deconstruct the theoretical and empirical literature on the definitions and manifestations of racial color blindness, point out major flaws in the myth of racial color blindness, and reveal its harmful impact on the lives of people of color. Moreover, the contributors provide new conceptual frameworks to understand the clash of racial realities that occur between people of color and White Americans and why such highly publicized killings of unarmed Blacks and Latinos are viewed so differently. As long as the philosophy of color blindness maintains its role as a dominant belief in our society, not only will people of color continue to suffer individually, but it will perpetuate inequities in health care, education, and employment. The balanced strength of the text is that all authors provide useful research, practice, and policy implications for anyone interested in reducing racial inequalities in society and thus challenging so-called racial color-blind discourse and policies. The volume thus is intended to serve as a resource for students, researchers, and practitioners interested in understanding contemporary expressions of racism and race relations. This chapter introduces the book.