"Why Does Race Matter?"

A few weeks ago in a class focused on crossing cultures and diversity, my classmate turned to me and asked, "Why does race matter?" She asked this after I explained how Chinese adoptees when starting college are often confronted with the realities of their ethnic and racial identity. I have to confess that it was disconcerting to hear her ask such a question (or perhaps it was more of a statement) after weeks of studying and reading about diversity and about racism (and other -isms) and under the tutelage of a Black woman.

Bottom line, cultural competence won't come from information or class assignments. Somehow, more must be done for those who are privileged and in the majority to develop an anti-racist identity by delving into who they are and how their racialized notions will make or break a therapeutic alliance. The fact that this classmate would discount the reality and importance of race makes me wonder how she can ever work with those who are different from her and how her colorblindness will prevent her from truly seeing her clients. Even more so, is how are counseling programs truly addressing the glaring lack of cultural competence in their students (and in some cases their faculty)?

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