Randy Pouwels wrote in part that "... as [a humanistic endeavor, African
Historical Study] should be approached, studied and taught ideally as a
color-blind exercise..."
Randy, would you explain what you mean by a "color-blind endeavor"? Surely you
can't mean that we should be blind to the significance for African history of
ideas and practices attributing meaning to "color" (and other criteria used in
the historically variant construction of "race")? As properly self-critical
humanists, within the canons of humanistic study, shouldn't we refuse to blind
ourselves to the historical meanings of "color"? Shouldn't we in fact give a
central place to reflections on how the history of racial ideas has shaped
humanism's perceptions and generalizations about what is ostensibly universal
or best about humanity and humaneness, and also shaped the hiring, curricular
and other practices of humanistic academic institutions?