Color Blind or Color Brave (Summary)

Summary : In her TED talk “Color Blind or Color Brave”, Mellody Hobson, a finance executive, talked about the subject of race, with the focus not on racial discrimination, but rather on racial awareness. Hobson explained that races, or diversity, is usually avoided and neglected because it is thought to be an incendiary topic, which might make us feel like we are admitting discrimination. On the one hand, Hobson refers to the term “color blindness" , which occurs when we reject talking about races. Contrary to popular belief that being color blind means being fair to other identities, this perspective is actually a dehumanizing response to racism, because we ignore the problem instead of addressing it.The speaker then goes on to encourage her audience to be “color brave”, to openly discuss the issue of race since it is still happening in our country and we must face it. Hobson concluded that although it is uncomfortable, it is a smart way to become more observant and more mature. Analysis : Mellody Hobson, a finance executive, emphasized the subject of racial awareness in her TED talk “Color Blind or Color Brave". She has a hook in her beginning by recounting how she was thought to be a waitress when she came to a restaurant or how her mother feared of her being mistreated at a young age. These experiences has prompted her to deliberately ruminate on how races is an incendiary topic that “touches the third rail”.It is a problematic concept which we do not bring to discussion as it may rife with controversy. Throughout her talk, Hobson expresses an understanding attitude toward the unanimous discomfort in our society. She believes that the rejection of conversations of discrimination “rob of another generation all the opportunities" and “hold back businesses". To strengthen her argument, the speaker uses statistical data showing that minorities have been achieving far less than their white counterparts. She presents two definitions : color blindness and color bravery. On the one hand, she criticizes that the colorblind ideology is not synonymous with “fairness" but rather an implication of ignorance. On the other hand, she acknowledges the state of being color brave, which means “recognizing all races", to value differences. Hobson encourages her audience to be “comfortable with the uncomfortable". Greater diversity would eventually propel a better society. But diversity does not simply mean different races, it also involves people from all backgrounds and of all identities. One example she gives is how the cure to smallpox came unexpectedly from a diary farmer, which highlights the importance of including diversity in our culture. Hobson draws the final conclusion that to be open to discomfort is the key solution to racism and discrimination because it helps us “grow as a human”. Synthesis : As I watched Mellody Hobson, a finance executive, talked about “color bravery" valuing and recognizing all identities instead of be blind to the controversial topic and claim ourselves “fair". Her speech reminds me of my first experience in the United States. As an international student, more importantly, an Asian, growing up in an environment differs greatly from the American society. Before I came, my parents had said : “Be open, but not too open”. Although my parents had never been to the U.S, they allegedly assumed that racism is conspicuous. It is clearly a problematic concept in our country, though I have not been mistreated because of my race. Nor have I seen other minority groups been through. But what I have seen from day one, is that students of each race usually group together. Our society does not accurately promote diversity and make it our culture. We are not multicultural as we think, because what is happening is that we are separated by our backgrounds. I think this will continue to be an issue in the United States .