Individualism

One way in which white people skirt the issue of race is by relying on the concept of individualism, which is a fallacy or a flaw in logic. This concept is the idea that each person is an individual who can succeed through the force of his or her own efforts (which is the idea of meritocracy). The idea endorses the idea of a level playing field--that each person has the same chance to succeed as others, and it adds to white fragility.

This concept allows whites to feel justified in having more privileges than other people, as they believe that they have achieved a superior position because they are simply harder working or more deserving than others who have failed. The fallacy of individualism also allows whites to regard people of color who are less advantaged to remain in that position, as whites argue that people can...