Why ‘Not Seeing Race’ Falls Short—and What to Do Instead

When Dr. Christina Rucinski was in high school in Connecticut in the early 2000s, her school had a fairly diverse student body. But in her AP and honors classes, nearly all her classmates— like her— were White. She doesn’t remember ever explicitly questioning why that was; it just seemed normal. And because no one talked about it, it would have been easy to conclude that students of color either weren't interested or weren't prepared for higher-level classes.

Looking back, the 36-year-old former educator and academic says that the segregation was a result of academic tracking practices. While it wasn’t explicitly designed to segregate students by race, that was its effect. "It was structural racism," she says, pointing to the wealth and resource gap between White families and those of color in her New England hometown. This shift in perspective— from individual assumptions to systemic awareness— is at the core of her work at EmbraceRace.

“When someone makes a comment about race or inequality, how do you situate it within a broader pattern of thoughts and beliefs?” she asks.

From Color-Blind to Color-Brave

EmbraceRace’s latest resource - "Color-Blind”* or Color-Brave? - is designed to help parents, caregivers and educators explore these very questions. The tool breaks down the differences between "color-blind"* and color-brave approaches across key areas like identity, history, and policy— showing how each shapes racial understanding and justice.

By offering a side-by-side breakdown, the resource encourages users to reflect on their own perspectives and take steps toward fostering more inclusive, informed conversations about race. For example:

"Color-Blind”* Thinking: "Racism will end when people stop being racist."
Color-Brave Thinking: "Racism will end when we work together to change the systems that uphold racial injustice."

Why does this distinction matter? Because if we treat racism as only an individual problem, we miss the bigger picture. A "color-blind"* approach assumes that fairness means treating everyone the same, while a color-brave approach recognizes that different communities experience different barriers—and that real equity means addressing those differences while celebrating our cultural differences. 

The Role of Parents and Educators

A common misconception among parents is that their children “don’t see race.” But research shows otherwise. “The real question is: Are you going to be an explicit part of that conversation?” asks Andrew Grant-Thomas, co-founder of EmbraceRace.

“Are you going to embrace your role as a guide between your child and everything they’re exposed to—at school, in books, on TV, and even within your own family?”

The tool helps parents and educators shift from a passive role—assuming kids will “figure it out”—to an active one, where they help children process racial messages critically.

Why This Work Matters Now

Ignoring race doesn’t make racism disappear. If anything, it does the opposite. The consequences of ‘I don’t see color’ narratives, Grant-Thomas explains, “play themselves out every day -i n our schools, in our neighborhoods, in the headlines.”

Political backlash against racial equity initiatives — such as executive orders targeting diversity and inclusion programs — has made these discussions even more urgent. "The work of EmbraceRace, and this resource in particular, is critical right now." 

Raising Resilient and Empathetic Change Makers 

Engaging in conversations about race requires courage, vulnerability, and a commitment to ongoing learning. As Grant-Thomas emphasizes, this work isn’t about providing children with a single “right” answer, but about equipping them with the critical thinking skills to navigate racial issues thoughtfully and responsibly.

By using this resource, parents, caregivers, and educators can reflect on their own perspectives and where they want to grow and take actionable steps toward fostering open, thoughtful conversations about race. 

Download "Color-Blind" or Color-Brave tool and start the work in raising your kids to be conscious of racial difference and attentive to equity.

*We acknowledge concerns about the ableism inherent in the term “color-blind.” We use it here advisedly, with quotation marks, because it is used in the research literature much more often than terms like “color-evasive,” and is much more familiar to most people than any current alternative.

Special thanks to Amanat Khullar for authoring this piece for EmbraceRace.