Howard Schultz is Running For President and He Thinks He’s Colorblind – Could he Be Right?

Howard Shultz is running for President, as a someone who is colorblind. Is that even a thing? Well, yes it’s of many cultural lenses we use to make sense of the world. Shutz, who is running as an Independent says. “As somebody who grew up in a very diverse background, as a young boy in the projects, I didn’t see color as a young boy,” Schultz, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native, said during the town hall, “and I honestly don’t see color now.” So who are these folks who perceive themselves to be colorblind? Read the colorblind description below to learn more. Lenses are operating at all levels of society. Within each of us, our mindsets and systems and each make contributions to how we function. The goal is to remain in the strengths of each lens. It’s the weaknesses that get us in trouble. So who are the colorblind”

The Colorblind see people as unique individuals and ignore race, color, ethnicity, and other visible cultural identity factors. They want to look at a person’s qualities and character. They believe that ignoring differences like race and color, gender, and is the right thing to do and will have an equalizing effect.

STRENGTHS

• Show more interest in a person’s character than specific identity dimensions such as race or ethnicity
• Don’t get bogged down in racial/cultural identity tensions
• Appreciate the contributions of many individuals
• Eager to accept others and welcome them as equal members/contributors
• Help others experience a slice of “life without racial/ethnic/identity discrimination.”

WEAKNESSES

• Deny what is often a central part of an individual’s identity
• Harbor unconscious bias
• Overlook systemic bias and instead see discrimination as an individual phenomenon
• Refuse to believe that race/gender or other visible identity dimensions are still significant factors of life that adversely impact some people
• Fail to expand awareness of different identities and cultures because the need to do so is not acknowledged

DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS:

• Recognize that aspects of cultural identity may be an essential component of individual personalities.
• Learn how to leverage identity differences to serve customers, clients, and constituents better.
• Try to understand and support those who suffer from current discrimination.
• Develop the ability to recognize and confront systemic discrimination

• Learn About the 10 Lenses
• Identify The Lenses That Are Operating In Your Organization and Community, Host a Lenses Live Event!