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Racism sucks. I think we can all agree on that; well, all of us who are aware that it is still a prevalent problem that affects everything from an average jail sentence to whether or not I’m going to be followed around in a clothing store. Unfortunately, some people who see themselves as very progressive and anti-racist are doing more harm for victims of racism than good. That’s why I’m going to talk a little about something that I think is the most destructive concept that supposedly anti-racist people adhere to: Color blindness.

How many of you have heard this: I don’t see color! It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white or green or purple.

If you’ve used this line before, know this: You’re doing it wrong. Like, really, what are you doing? Stop, right now. Please.

I get why the color blind approach to racism is popular. Color blindness suggests that the best way to end racism and racial discrimination is by treating everyone the same. It sounds nice, right? We can all agree that people should be treated equally, so what’s so bad about color blindness?

Here’s what’s bad about it: Color blindness thrives on the notion that racism isn’t really a problem anymore, and that everyone and everything is judged purely on merit. The problem is that that’s a bunch of crap and isn’t true whatsoever. Studies have shown that color blindness actually makes people more racist. Color blindness is really just an easy way for people who don’t experience racism (i.e. generally white people) to feel a little less squirmy about the possibility that racism is still a problem. The best way to feel less squirmy is to ignore it, because we all know that the more you ignore something, the faster it’ll go away, right?

Right?

Source: Tumblr

Well, I’ve tried that plenty of times with dirty dishes, and it hasn’t worked yet. The same can be said for racism.

Our generation has been raised to embrace equality, but many of us take the concept so far that we fail to acknowledge basic facts. For people who embrace color blindness, fighting racism is no longer about acknowledging existing inequities in society. Nope, now it’s all about pretending that it is no longer a problem because we have a black president and because one of your best friends is Mexican and you really love Korean food, so everything is all fine and dandy and you can’t possibly be racist.

Does that sound as ridiculous to you as it does to me? Well, I’ve heard people say ” I don’t see color and my best friend is [insert race/ethnicity here] so I can’t be racist” so many times that it makes my head spin.

Source: Tumblr

If you still don’t see what’s so wrong with color blindness, look at it this way: By claiming not to “see color” you’re refusing to acknowledge the fact that race still matters in 2013. For example, I’m black. Telling me that you don’t see me as black is not only a lie, but it is also incredibly dismissive of my experiences as a young, black woman. How am I supposed to share stories about dealing with racial insensitivity when I’m talking to someone who believes that racism is merely a product of the past, and that race isn’t important as long as I don’t make it important.

I’ve had to deal with plenty of friends dismissing my personal encounters with racial insensitivity. People say that I’m exaggerating, or that I’m only seeing something as racist because I want to. Newsflash: Nobody goes out of their way to experience racism. We don’t look for it, we’re not swapping stories about racism like they’re Pokemon cards, trying to one up each other for fun.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury to be color blind. I don’t have the luxury to ignore race. I don’t have the luxury to assume that everyone will see me as a fellow human being instead of a black chick. When I wake up every morning I see two things when I look in the mirror: First, I see Ashley. Second, I see a black woman.

Which brings up another reason why I hate the idea of color blindness: It suggests that acknowledging my blackness is shameful. When you say that you don’t see my color, you’re saying that you don’t see a pretty big part of my life. Well, despite all the negativity that comes with it, I like being black. So I don’t want it to be something that someone can decide to ignore because it makes them uncomfortable. My blackness isn’t like the wilted piece of lettuce you find in your salad and quickly discard.

If your non-white friend decided to open up to you about someone calling her a racial slur, telling her that we all bleed red isn’t helpful. You might think that coming up with arbitrary crayola colors (Robin’s Egg Blue, anyone?) is somehow making your friend feel better, but if they’re anything like me you’re making them feel worse. Dealing with racism is bad, but having your experiences dismissed is even worse.

Instead of being color blind, allow yourself to acknowledge the fact that racism is still a problem that hurts a lot of people in a lot of different ways. Some acts of racism are violent and obvious, others are more subtle and even unintentional. If you want to really be an ally for people who experience racism, listen to them. That’s all you have to do: Listen.

Source: Tumblr

And please, if you do happen to run into somebody who is purple, take them to the hospital immediately; they might be choking.

What do you think about a color blind approach to racism? Do you experience people dismissing your experiences with racism? Tell us in the comments!

ACK! Are You Wearing One Of These Offensive Costumes?

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Compliments can make us feel warm and fuzzy inside, but in some contexts, a compliment can actually have a negative effect. One example? When the press is talking about the appearance of women in politics.

The Women’s Media Center conducted a study that found that any kind of comment about a female political candidate’s appearance – whether that comment was positive, negative, or a neutral observation – actually made survey participants (aka likely voters!) react negatively toward the candidate.

The study had voters read the media coverage where a female political candidate’s appearance was discussed in these various ways. What they found was that afterward, these participants felt those female political candidates were less confident, less qualified and less likable. Celinda Lake, who headed up the study, summed up the significance of this in a press release from Women’s Media Center: “In close races, sexist coverage on top of the attacks that every candidate faces can make the difference between winning and losing.” All in all, cruddy news for women in politics.

I think it’s pretty obvious that saying something critical or disparaging about a woman’s looks is definitely not okay, but I think that it can sometimes be a little harder to see how any sorts of appearance comments – especially positive or neutral ones – can really be “bad.” Like yeah, Candidate X was wearing a “red dress.” That’s a fact. Is it really wrong to say?

The thing is though is recognizing the context and if that bit of appearance info really is necessary. If you just gave an all-star class presentation and all your classmates said was, “Wow, you really wore great shoes up there,” it’s like… hello, did you even care I spent three weeks on this?!

Yes, it is a fact that you wore shoes and maybe they are cool, but it didn’t have anything to do with your goal or why you were intending to get attention. If your teacher only hears feedback from your classmates about how great your shoes are and less about the project, that could cloud if your teacher felt you delivered a quality presentation.

It’s similiar with politics, just on a bigger scale. Though the media comment might not have been intended to mean anything or maybe it seemed like it was a compliment, the fact is that it any appearance comment is distracting to the actual goal (getting elected) which is unfortunate when appearance has nothing to do with political ability. Compliments should help a person out, not bring a person down by being a distraction.

I’m not saying that women are always going to be the better candidate in an election, but it seems crazy that the media puts women at a disadvantage with these kinds of discussions and that’s not fair. The Women’s Media Center actually is part of a campaign called “Name It. Change It.” that sets out to address the sexist way that female candidates are discussed in the media. As voters (whether current or future ones!), it’s a good reminder that we should care more about qualifications and plans, rather than outfits for candidates of any gender.

What do you think about this study? Do you notice that female candidates and politicians’ appearances are talked about more than men? What suggestions do you have about covering female candidates more fairly in the media? Tell us in the comments! 

 10 Quotes To Inspire You From Women In Politics

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A lot of people are saying that Hillary Clinton is going to run, but she might not. Sure, she’s been in politics a long time. But then again, she’s been in politics a loooooong time. Whether she runs or not, here are some amazing women that could become the first female President of the United States. [CollegeCandy]

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But what about children in politics? We rarely hear about them, maybe because the Secret Service is hiding their business. This post asking if Malia and Sasha Obama have it rough because they don’t get a “normal” teenage life got me thinking about political children. Let’s see what y’all had to say before I weigh in!

Nyctimene said:
No, I do feel sorry for them. They didn’t choose to have a parent in politics, but they have to play as much of a role as he does. Does anyone really think they want to be dragged around on his campaigns just so he can play “good family man”? They probably want to be at home with their friends, playing video games and going to the mall. One of them was so tired she was yawning at his inauguration and was probably up helping/being posed by him and Michelle.

Celebrity children are similar, but at least their lives are less in danger. They can often avoid publicity a bit more than high level political kids.

flamingoccm said:
First of all, how exactly are they the most powerful teenagers in the world? They’re the kids of a president. They hardly have power. Their father was a US Senator before he was a Presdient. Do you really think they would have had a “normal” high school experience if he hadn’t become president? Doubtful.

Nobody pities Chelsea Clinton, who also grew up in the White House. Nobody goes around feeling sorry for the children of other notable politicians. Why should you feel sorry for Malia and Sasha? I understand that it’s got to be rough being in the spotlight, but with the exception of big events, they’re not really. I may not be reading the same articles you are, but I don’t see them being criticized. They really want for nothing. Yeah, they’ll have secret service hanging around but the other children who have grown up in the White House have all gotten married just fine…even the Kennedys, and if ever there were presidential kids to feel sorry for, I think they probably take the cake.

So no. I can’t say I feel bad for them. They live a privileged life, and I believe they’ll benefit from it time and again throughout their lives.

Kimbooklover said:
They will never have “normal” high school years – everything they do will be magnified and criticized. That’s got to be a lot of pressure. Plus, who will want to date them with the secret service hanging around?!

I think to be any public figure must be tough, but yeah Malia and Sasha probably have a lot to deal with. They do however have a great amount of protection, and it’s not like the paparazzi are hounding them because they’re watched over very closely.

They go to a private school with many other kids of politicians. There’s an entirely separate world when it comes to politics. They probably hang out with other politicians’ kids. It may be more difficult for them to have sleepovers, and they can’t just walk outside without being followed. However, they’ve grown up like this. I think what’s normal for them isn’t what everyone else would consider normal.

Plus, they live in the White House. That’s pretty rad.

Do you think Malia and Sasha have it rough? What about other celebrity kids? Tell me in the comments!

Need advice on a different topic? Do you have a story you want to share? Post your own thoughts and questions in our boards and start chatting with other girls.

Check out Malia and Sasha at the Inauguration!

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These empowering women have all made an impact on politics in some way and they’ll always be remembered for how they inspire and motivate people all over the world. We rounded up some of the best quotes from some of the most powerful females we can think of. Check out these inspirational quotes to get you moving:

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10 quotes to help you deal with rejection

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A Smart Ensemble

Wear red, white and blue everyday. Everyone will know you're in the 2012 election mood. ShutterStock.com

Create Meaningless Catchphrases

If two friends are in a heated debate and they're demanding you back them up, drop a meaningless catchphrase and walk away. Say, "It's not about pro-life or pro-choice, it's about pro-love and pro-voice!" By the time they realize they have no idea what you're talking about you'll have been long gone. ShutterStock.com

You're Looking Clever, Lazy Girl

Wear glasses. Smart people wear glasses. Right? Yep. ShutterStock.com

The Rockets Red Glare

At karaoke everyone will be singing the hottest T-Swift or Rihanna track, but you'll be singing the "Star Spangled Banner." You're a real American. Real Americans know things. ShutterStock.com

Easy Reads

Hold a newspaper and pretend you're reading it. Look outraged. How can you be mad about something you don't completely understand? ShutterStock.com

American Cooking

Eat good ole' American cooking like, apple pie, macaroni and cheese and hot dogs. Your special talent is eating anyway, Lazy Girl. Now you're just eating American. ShutterStock.com

Everything Is So Historically Inaccurate

Whenever anyone brings up any kind of historical movie like, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter or National Treasure say things like, "My biggest problem with the film is that it was SO historically inaccurate." Everyone will think you know what actually IS historically accurate. ShutterStock.com

Pyrotechnic Patriot

What is more patriotic than fireworks? Get some and light them in the school parking lot. Your history teacher will give you a definite A. ShutterStock.com

Foreign Policy!

If someone makes an interesting point about politics you don't want to agree or disagree because then you'll have to--gasp--elaborate! An easy way to avoid taking a stance is to sternly ask a question. "Yeah that's a good point, but what I want to know is what we're going to do about foreign policy?" or "Yeah, I could see that, but what are we going to do about the environment?" ShutterStock.com

Your Next Campaign

Run for President of the United States. Anyone can run as long as you were born here, right? Who would run for President if they weren't completely, 100 percent, qualified to do so? That's unheard of! ShutterStock.com

Do people ask you a lot about politics? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Daniel Deme/WENN.com

I feel like we all know a lot about Taylor Swift – or at least, we know a lot for people who have never met or interacted with her before. That’s because Taylor is not a super private celebrity, to say the least. While plenty of stars out there do whatever they can to keep their personal relationships private, Taylor is the one singing about her heartbreak and happiness for all the world to hear. She’s never been shy about the fact that most of her songs are her form of revenge against dudes who have hurt her.

Which is why I was kind of surprised to hear that there is one thing out there that Taylor refuses to talk about, and that’s politics. You would think that a celeb as open as Taylor would be game for mouthing off on who she’s going to vote for. In fact, I would kind of expect the girl to write a song about the candidate she’s not so fond of.

But apparently, I’m wrong. When asked about the upcoming presidential election in a recent interview with Time, Taylor said, “I follow it, and I try to keep myself as educated and informed as possible. But I don’t talk about politics because it might influence other people. And I don’t think that I know enough yet in life to be telling people who to vote for.”

This is pretty interesting to me, because basically, Taylor is willing to blab about all of her exes, but she’s not willing to admit who she’s going to vote for. Here’s the thing: celebs totally deserve to have some privacy in their lives and they don’t have an obligation to share every thought they’ve ever had with us. But at the same time, stars also have the opportunity to use their superstar power for good by helping to make things happen.

Imagine if she talked about more then just relationships? | Source: WENN.com

In other words, if Taylor were to start talking politics, she would be helping to inform her fans about what’s going on with the election. Taylor has thousands of young fans out there who hang on her every word. Instead of just whining singing about how John Mayer dumped her, she could be discussing more serious issues that are really important right not. Except she’s not. Maybe it’s because she’s dating a Kennedy, and her views clash with his family? Or maybe it’s because, as Zimbio.com pointed out, her country fan base is generally conservative, and endorsing a specific candidate could be bad for her record sales.

At the same time, I can understand why Taylor is hesitant to admit who she’s voting for. Listen, I get it – I usually feel the same way as her. Talking about politics is one of my least favorite things to do ever, mainly because I don’t feel like I know enough about it to discuss it fully, but also because it’s an extremely touchy subject. Plenty of celebrities come under fire once they announce which candidate they’re standing by, especially if it’s not the most popular opinion, and I can see why someone like Taylor Swift (who is all about sparkles and sunshine and happiness) wouldn’t want to get involved with that.

However, I do still feel like Taylor could make a big impact on a cause she cares about if she wanted to. I think it’s great when celebrities try to make things happen with their influence and I think it would be really great if Taylor could get her young fans out there to start thinking about politics.

What do you think about Taylor’s comment? Should she talk about politics? Do you care who she’s voting for? Do you think celebs should get involved in politics? Tell us in the comments. 

Check out who your favorite stars are going to vote for

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We Asked: What do you guys think about what Biden and Ryan are saying about women’s health and our right to make our own decisions when it comes to abortion?

Pro-Biden!

Credit: Hugh Dillon/WENN.com

Ashley Evelyn Potter: I just love Biden for accepting that women should decide what to do with their own bodies and not be told what to do by men.

Cynthia Hernandez: Biden is on point. He doesn’t allow his religious values to interfere with how ANY american women can rule their own body. Every woman should have the choice of what they can do with their body, that should not be taken away from them because of someone’s religious idea of life.

Amanda Jimenez: Biden hit the nail on the head. If we MUST have a middle aged man representing our health rights, I would love for it to be Joe Biden. We are lucky to have someone who actually believes that it is our right to our own bodies to do what we please with them.

Pro-Ryan!

Credit: DJDM/WENN.com

Marianna Bowden: Nobody said that they were making abortion illegal. The Romney/Ryan campaign don’t believe in abortion but that doesn’t mean that they are outlawing it. I’m sure abortion is at the bottom of their to do list.

Kelsey Hill: My biggest problem with abortion is the fact that I know young people who use it as birth control. And I agree with Marianna, I think the only reason the Obama administration is pushing it is because they have no other legs to stand on.

The Epic Moderate!

Credit: Carrie Devorah / WENN

Did you tune into the VP Debate? Let us know in the comments!

Obama Dancing On Ellen


Michelle Teaching Us How To Dougie From The Heart

Hillary Getting Her Freak On In South Africa

Mitt Goes Gangnam Style
It may not be real, but it is pretty convincing.

Sarah Palin Raises The Roof

George W. Does The Happy Dance

Jennifer Granholm Rocks Out At The DNC

Obama Has Smooth Moves

Hillary Keeps It Real In Malawi

And then there’s those Oval Office parties we’re not invited to.

Will you be tuning into the VP Debates? Let us know in the comments!