The Transparency of Whiteness and Tokenism

To be white in America means that you are a majority. Whiteness is seen everywhere. It specifically means that you are of the Caucasian race but in America it means more than that.

Certain cultures and ways of life are often associated with being white. These cultures are then accepted as the norm. As the article discusses, Hollywood spends "more money on white stars in white movies, and far less money on non-white actors in overtly racial or ethnic properties." This is due to the transparency of whiteness. In order for the idea of whiteness to even be considered it must be acknowledged or emphasized. Whiteness is therefore accepted without recognition. By putting a lack of emphasis on whiteness it becomes the norm. This causes a problem because it puts more stress on one’s “non-whiteness.” I believe that this emphasis caused by not acknowledging race in terms of whiteness indirectly encourages more racism. For example the practice of tokenism emphasizes the fact that the character is not white. Token characters are placed in a film in order to dispute any charge of racism when in fact the very existence of token character suggests racism. They are often given small supporting roles that are less important than the white lead role. Token characters simply replace real diversity with fake, token, diversity. This, in turn, increases the idea of white transparency by increasing acknowledgment of non-whiteness in film.