Jane Elliott on Her "Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes Exercise" and Fighting Racism

Summary

In this powerful interview, Jane Elliott discusses her eye-color exercise to teach people about discrimination. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging race and the need for education to combat racism. Elliott shares her personal experiences since starting the exercise post-Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination and stresses the significance of recognizing our shared humanity.

Takeaways

• 👁️ Jane Elliott's exercise separates people by eye color to simulate discrimination based on physical traits.
• 📚 She assigns blue-eyed individuals to a lower status to demonstrate unfair treatment.
• 🧠 Jane uses the myth of intelligence differences based on eye color to highlight irrational biases.
• 🌐 She challenges the concept of 'whiteness' as a norm, emphasizing that true white people are rare.
• 🇹🇿 Jane points out the plight of albinos in Tanzania to illustrate the harsh reality of color-based discrimination.
• 🗣️ Jane advises against claiming to 'not see color' when talking to people of color, as it denies their identity.
• 👗 She humorously critiques those who claim to be color-blind but dress poorly, implying hypocrisy.
• 📅 The exercise began the day after Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, inspired by the need for empathy.
• 🏡 The impact of the exercise was profound, leading to social ostracization and personal losses for Jane and her family.
• 📚 Jane emphasizes the importance of self-education to combat indoctrination and promote understanding.
• 🌍 She concludes with the message that all humans are part of one race, the human race, with a shared ancestry.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of Jane Elliott's exercise with the eye color?

The primary purpose of Jane Elliott's exercise is to give participants, specifically white people, an idea of how it feels to be treated unfairly based on a physical characteristic over which they have no control.

How does Jane Elliott categorize people in her exercise?

In her exercise, Jane Elliott separates people into groups based on the color of their eyes: blue eyes, brown eyes, and a low class for those who don't have blue or brown eyes.

What is the false claim Jane Elliott makes about brown-eyed people to demonstrate inequality?

She falsely claims that brown-eyed people are smarter, more worthwhile, more Christian, and better human beings than blue-eyed people because they supposedly have more melanin protecting their brains from sunlight.

Why does Jane Elliott emphasize the myth of one race and the myth of the rightness of whiteness in education?

She emphasizes these myths to highlight how they perpetuate racial inequality and to challenge the notion that whiteness is inherently superior or 'right'.

What does Jane Elliott suggest people should not say when talking to people of color?

She suggests that people should not say 'I don't see color' or 'I just see people as people' when talking to people of color, as it denies the reality of their racial identity.

Why does Jane Elliott find the statements 'I don't see color' or 'I'm color-blind' problematic?

She finds these statements problematic because they deny the racial identity of people of color and imply that their skin color is not an important part of who they are.

When did Jane Elliott start her exercise with the third graders?

Jane Elliott started her exercise the day after Martin Luther King Jr. was killed, which was in April, following his death in 1968.

What was Jane Elliott's reaction to the media's portrayal of black leaders after Martin Luther King Jr.'s death?

She was shocked and dismayed by the media's insensitivity and the questioning of black leaders' ability to maintain unity and express appropriate emotions.

What personal consequences did Jane Elliott face after starting her exercise?

Jane Elliott faced significant personal consequences, including losing friends, being ostracized by colleagues, her parents losing their business, and her children being abused by their peers and teachers.

What does Jane Elliott recommend as the first step to fix racial inequality?

Jane Elliott recommends educating oneself as the first step to fix racial inequality, suggesting that what people learned in school was often indoctrination rather than true education.

What message does Jane Elliott want people to take away from her work?

Jane Elliott wants people to understand that there is only one race, the human race, and that all humans are closely related, sharing a common ancestry that is black.