Why Race does matter

Why Race Does Matter: A Conversation We Need to Have

In an ideal world, race wouldn’t be a factor in how people are treated, the opportunities they receive, or the obstacles they face. But we don’t live in that world. We live in a world where race does matter — because it shapes lived experiences, influences social structures, and determines access to resources and opportunities in ways that cannot be ignored.

When people say “I don’t see color” or “Race doesn’t matter,” the intention might be to promote equality. But in reality, ignoring race erases the very real struggles, histories, and systemic barriers that exist. Pretending race doesn’t matter doesn’t make racism go away — it just makes it easier to overlook.

1. Race Shapes Lived Experiences

Race affects how people navigate everyday life. It influences how they are perceived, the opportunities they receive, and the biases they encounter. Studies consistently show that:

• Job applicants with “ethnic-sounding” names get fewer callbacks than those with white-sounding names, even when their resumes are identical.
• Black and Hispanic homebuyers face more hurdles in securing loans and fair housing opportunities compared to white applicants.
• People of color experience different treatment in healthcare, with disparities in pain management, maternal mortality, and access to quality care.

Dismissing race as irrelevant ignores these realities and allows these inequities to persist.

2. History Shows Us Race Has Always Mattered

America was built on racial hierarchies. From slavery to segregation, redlining to voter suppression, racial disparities have been deliberately woven into the fabric of society. While some legal barriers have been removed, their effects linger.

• The GI Bill, which helped build the middle class after WWII, disproportionately benefited white veterans while Black veterans were denied housing and education benefits.
• Redlining practices prevented Black families from buying homes in certain neighborhoods, affecting generational wealth accumulation.
• Mass incarceration disproportionately affects Black and brown communities due to policies like the War on Drugs, which criminalized communities of color at far…