Abstract
In this chapter, the author explores connections between post-racial ideology and exclusionary practices in higher education. Post-racialists contend that race-conscious practices and policies in higher education are no longer necessary because of significant racial progress in society. In contrast, the author argues that post-racialism extends a key tradition of higher education—the mediation of self-serving ideology for the culturally dominant group from seemingly objective stances. After presenting the historical influence of White privilege on higher education policies and practices, the author outlines two current examples of post-racialism in postsecondary education—the continued retreatment from race-conscious admissions policies and the persistence of race-neutral, universalist perspectives of knowledge. In light of continuing racial stratification for postsecondary opportunities in the United States, contesting post-racialism is critical for scholars and policy makers interested in educational equity and justice.
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