Chapter 9: What is “Whiteness”?: A Cognitive Semantic Analysis of the Metaphors and Prototype Features Framing the Notion of “Whiteness”

One of the more critical questions to emerge from the national discourse on the importance of cherishing diversity, embracing multiculturalism, providing voice to the disenfranchised, and creating an atmosphere of awareness of and appreciation for of the rich cultural tapestry found in the citizenry of the United States has been to question the fundamental roles that race and racism continue to play in today’s society. Many Americans feel that we live in a colorblind society, where meritocracy reigns supreme and racial equality is the norm and not the exception. However, any objective look at metrics that chart rates such as unemployment, incarceration, being a victim of violent crime, being on welfare, not having access to adequate healthcare, and so forth show that this is simply not true. America remains a land of racial inequality and discrimination with a disproportionate burden falling on people of color.