The myth of colorblindness: more on race in Doctor Who

[stoplookingup]

Recently, I asked myself why the "I don't see color" line in Doctor Who race arguments drives me crazy. I ended up writing an essay on  it. It's long, and it's behind the cut.

The myth of colorblindness, or, Why “I don’t see color” is not actually a statement to be proud of: More on Doctor Who and race.
by Parrotfish

Why is there such intense

Comments

[judiang]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! That was brilliantly and eloquently expressed. It goes right to the heart of my own rant last month and my schizo attitude about S3. I love Ten/Martha but hated the story Martha was saddled with. I'm making a memory of this post.

[stoplookingup]

I'm glad this resonates with you. I understand S3 schizo-ness completely. To love Martha and hate a big part of her story is just...ouch. Not a happy thing.

[skywardprodigal]

Well done.

Colorblind = an excuse to ignore racism.

[drho]

I agree with everything you said.

Whenever I hear the term "colorblind" in a context unrelated to a medical condition, I think of Stephen Colbert.

Re: Colorblind = an excuse to ignore racism.

[stoplookingup]

YES! I do love Stephen Colbert.

There was also this great bit on My Name is Earl where Joy (the ex-wife) is on TV saying, "These are my two sons. One is white and one is black, but I don't see color so I can't tell which is which."

[mireille719]

Excellent essay.

I firmly believe that RTD & Co didn't *intentionally* put that in--that Martha would have had this storyline if she'd been white. But she isn't, and so there's a larger context that makes her storyline disturbing from a racial perspective.

(I admit I rarely get worked up about it, because when I get started, I rarely get past the treatment of women to anything else, but I know it's there.)

[stoplookingup]

(I admit I rarely get worked up about it, because when I get started, I rarely get past the treatment of women to anything else, but I know it's there.)

I think it's interesting that the race question gets people far more hot and bothered than the gender issues. Is that because so many online fans are women? Because we're more willing to turn a blind eye to sexism than racism? Because calling someone a racist is more insulting? My greatest fear is that it has to do with the fact that so many women still buy into the messages inherent in conventional ideas of love and gender indentity. But that's a whole 'nother essay...

[mireille719]

I don't know. That's the thing that has smacked *me* in the face as I've watched New Who (and have thought, "wow, there were times in the 70s that they did better than this."), and then it's only after that that I get to, "Oh, and there's some skeevy race issues in there now, too. Joy." (Because my issues with the way the show handles women are not new to S3.)

Of course, I have the luxury of doing that, being a white woman, and my priorities might be different otherwise.

[elliptic_eye]

and have thought, "wow, there were times in the 70s that they did better than this."

Oh, yes. Sarah Jane, anyone?

[some_stars]

yes, yes, yes, yes. *Communal responsibility*, that's it exactly. (I find Americans have an enormous amount of trouble with this concept, too, really. I think it's just one that people hate because it makes them (OH NOES) uncomfortable.)

[stoplookingup]

It's certainly true that just the word "communal" gives Americans the heebie-jeebies. Has a pinko sound to it.