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"Colorblind" Constitution

Definition

This term refers to the idea that the U.S. Constitution does not see race or ethnicity and treats all citizens equally regardless of their racial background.

Analogy

Consider "colorblind" constitution as sunglasses that filter out colors so everything appears in grayscale. Just as these glasses don't distinguish between colors, our constitution doesn't differentiate based on race or ethnicity.

Related terms

Civil Rights Act (1964): An act prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin by federal and state governments as well as some public places. It's like a rulebook that says everyone gets to play the game, no matter what team they're on.

14th Amendment: An amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States—including former slaves—and guarantees all citizens “equal protection of the laws.” It's like a welcome sign at a party saying everyone is invited and will be treated equally.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): A Supreme Court case that upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine. This is like having separate water fountains for different groups of people at school - it may seem equal on surface, but it's not really fair.