Disproving the Myth of a Colorblind Society

A considerable number of people disregard the significance of "wokeism" or underestimate global initiatives such as Black Lives Matter, favoring economic concerns while suggesting that notions like “brokeism” or “All Lives Matter” dilute the complexities of racial relations in the Caribbean. They claim that race holds no weight, considering social and economic issues as separate matters. Frequently, these voices maintain that racism is nonexistent within our predominantly Black populace, insisting that, due to our African lineage, racial tensions are implausible. This narrative fosters an illusion of racial cohesion, similar to Benedict Anderson’s concept of an imagined community, deeply rooted in our history of enslavement and migration. I, too, may have accepted this viewpoint without scrutiny had I not encountered political leaders exposing underlying biases. Former senator Timothy Mangal’s recent remarks underscore this misperception, revealing a troubling link between race and socioeconomic standing. Disrupting these fallacies is essential for achieving true equality and challenging the persistent myth of a raceless society.