Has the Colorblind Ideology Permeated Prison Walls?

• In Event: Gender and Racial Disparities in Corrections

Abstract

According to the color-blind ideology, we live in a post-racial society where racism is a remnant of the past and discussions about racial inequality only serve to needlessly divide people. The philosophy would seem at odds with the prison environment where race and racial categorization are manifest and a key part of daily life. Is it possible to maintain a colorblind perspective while living in the hyper-racialized environment of prison? Through qualitative interviews we examine the extent to which incarcerated males express colorblind attitudes and behavior behind prison walls.

Authors

• Gennifer Furst, William Paterson University of New Jersey

• Kathleen Korgen, William Paterson University