RACE
Why Some White People Believe “No One Cared About Race” in The 1990s
An essay about nostalgia and colorblind racism
Those who endorse colorblind racial attitudes not only turn a blind eye to racism in the modern era but also historically. Take, for instance, Ron Rule, former Chief Executive Officer of “As Seen on TV,” who asked in a viral post, “How did we get from the 90s to here?” He claimed that “nobody cared about race” during this decade and “divisive politics hadn’t permeated everything.” Of course, Rule is not alone in his embrace of a nostalgic view of American society, hence the popularity of his post. This narrative provides a clear example of what happens when the experiences of Black people are cast aside and treated as insignificant.
There is no decade you can point to in American history where Black people were not impacted by their race. One of the most prominent examples that dispelled the myth that “no one cared about race” during this era would be the language employed. For instance, during the 1990s, some media reports portrayed Black teenagers and men as more dangerous than other groups to justify the increased police presence in their communities. John DiLulio coined the term in the 1995 article published in the Washington Examiner, The Coming of The Super—Predators, claiming “the…
