colorblindness and the myth of post-racialism

Today, I was trying to think about the ways in which the rhetoric of colorblindness and our so-called "post racial" society are connected. Whereas colorblindness describes a perceived (but dishonest) way of thinking, post-racialism is the assertion that race does not matter anymore (not necessarily that it doesn't exist in true "I don't see color" fashion, but that it is somehow irrelevant). Colorblindness, as a concept, has been in existence for decades, possibly stemming from the democratic ideal "all men are created equal." An ideal, not for all people, but for all white property-owning men. The idea and pull of post-racialism, however, seems like a relatively new concept. With the advent of a black man in our highest office, all of our racial woes are cured. If, the story goes, a black man can obtain the most powerful position in the country (and some might add, the world) than all is white right with race in America. Thus, post-racialism describes a specific time period of idyllic bliss for some liberals when the guilt of slavery has suddenly been lifted off their back. It serves as a catalyst for the colorblindness ideology, one which pushes our idea of colorblindness further. So, post-racialism is both an outgrowth of and a catalyst to colorblindness. One supports the other. The post-racial argument is augmented by a rhetoric of colorblindness; I don't see color, therefore race is no longer on the table. In the same way, colorblindness is augmented by post-racialism; our society no longer has an race issues, in no small part to the fact that we no longer "see" race. 

The unfortunate part is that both have reached the point in which they have become, not only accepted, but also revered. They have become status quo markers of all that is right in the world. They have become politically correct. How is it that they have gone largely unchallenged as a racist ploy to continue to disenfranchise and harm communities of color. Racism 2.0 in effect.

I think it was Malcolm X who said (and I'm quoting from someone quoting him) that we gotta be on the forefront of racism. Every year they come out with a new model and trying to fix racial problems in American with the politics of the civil rights movement is trying to fix a 2011 car with a 1964 owner's manual.