Racism without Racists

Chapter 4: The Style of Color Blindness - “Since a full discursive analysis of the stylistic components of color blindness is beyond the scope of this chapter,3 I focus instead on showcasing five things. First, I document whites' avoidance of direct racial language to expressing their racial views. Second, I analyze the central “semantic moves” whites use as verbal parachutes to avoid dangerous discussions or to save face. Third, I examine the role of projection in whites' racial discourse. Fourth, I show the role of diminutives in color-blind race talk. Finally, I show how incursions into forbidden issues produce almost total incoherence in many whites.”