Colorblindness On The Colbert Report

Statements like “I don’t see color” or “We are all just people,” are good examples that one might be engaging with colorblindness. Colorblindness often acts as a person’s denial to acknowledge another’s race or ethnicity as a relevant part of their identity. One might take the colorblind stance in order to be a “neutral” player in the discussion of race. A good example of this is Stephen Colbert’s skit on colorblindness on the Colbert Report, because he illustrates both the consequences of the colorblind position and the benefits of addressing the topic as a white man.
As a white comedian, Colbert is limited because he has only been able to observe or second handedly experience other subgroups’ cultural values and their struggles. Most of his views are likely limited to what he observes (and his perception of it) or learned through media’s lense. As
a result, some of his writing and the topics discussed might be limited to situations, races, and cultures that are often generalized. This can be seen in Colbert’s segments in which race emerges and most of his jokes include or reference how one event on race relates to white culture. Ironically, in using comedy to deny race consciousness, Colbert is limited as a white man, whereas an Asian or even Hispanic comedian might be more experienced and capable of expanding on these topics. Meanwhile, the benefits of his position as a white male makes Colbert capable of reaching out to a greater demographic and spreading awareness on the issue of colorblindness.
During Colbert’s later segment “The Word: Colorbind” in 2013, he acknowledges that whites have the greatest power if there is any real change to occur when dealing with issues of race. Here, “white action” is a necessary condition for change in issues of race. His statement is valid if we consider that white individuals possess the societal and institutional power to oppress numerous sub-groups under their hegemony. Then, this power could also be used to stop that same oppression or to have positive effect. This is also reflected in his audience demographics, which he admits are made up of a white majority. This allows Colbert to engage and possibly influence that very powerful demographic which other comedians of color might otherwise be unable to reach (or might be unwilling to listen). Colbert’s position as a white comedian allows him to simplify complex issues of race and deliver those to powerful audiences to challenge their current
beliefs. Lastly, there are comedians of color which help address similar issues. For instance, Jordan Peele, a comedian in Comedy Central, who has recently gained popularity through his film Get Out. However, despite some important points made by Peele in his film, some audiences remain hesitant to engage with the film and much less those topics relating to race. Perhaps, when considering how entertainment (comedy or films) affects issues of race, one should consider how their audiences are understanding or interacting with the content. While Colbert’s audiences might be inspired to change, how many do? Similarly, while many white audience members in Get Out cheer for the black lead, those same individuals could standby and watch innocent African Americans get shot down on the streets.