March 7th 2024.
The Floor, the new game show hosted and produced by the talented actor Rob Lowe, has been on air since January and has already made headlines with its first viral moment. However, this moment was not one to celebrate. In a clip that has since gone viral, white contestants are seen struggling to answer basic questions about Black culture, highlighting a shocking level of incompetence and ignorance.
The show, as described by Deadline, is a physical trivia game where contestants compete against each other to capture squares and ultimately win the entire floor. After defeating their opponent, they can choose to continue playing or let The Floor select a new challenger. The final contestant with complete control over the board will win a grand prize of $250,000.
Unfortunately, the clip that went viral showcased a stark contrast between the worlds that Black and white people live in. While Black people are forced to navigate and understand the worlds of white people for survival, white people can't even be bothered to learn the names of famous Black individuals who should be well-known in their society. This not only disrupted the flow of the game but also speaks to the social lives of many white people who choose to live in a bubble of deliberate ignorance.
As the clip made its rounds on social media, many users took the opportunity to poke fun at the contestants' incompetence and also provide social commentary on the larger issue at hand. Singer and songwriter Isadore Noir shared his observation, stating that many white people are content with not knowing or interacting with Black individuals unless absolutely necessary. Photographer Jack Barnes also chimed in, pointing out the double standard that Black people are expected to understand and learn about white people's culture, while the reverse is not expected.
Writer and poet Kyla Jenée Lacey comically mocked the common phrase "I don't see color" often used by those who claim to be "colorblind" to racial issues. Overall, the reactions to the clip shed light on a phenomenon known as deliberate ignorance, as described by sociologist Crystal Fleming. This is the result of centuries of racism that have warped our understanding of society and ourselves.
Fleming further elaborates on this idea in her book "How To Be Less Stupid About Race," pointing out that segregation in American society is not a new concept and has been enforced by white Americans for much of the country's history. It has led to a significant lack of meaningful relationships and understanding between white people and people of color. This, in turn, perpetuates racial ignorance and insensitivity.
In a lecture at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Fleming emphasizes that hypersegregation, a term used to describe the extreme racial separation in American society, is a major source of racial ignorance. She points out that it is not people of color who have imposed segregation, but rather it has been intentionally enforced by white Americans. This has resulted in millions of white individuals growing up without any understanding or knowledge of the history, sociology, and politics of racism or the perspectives of people of color.
The viral clip may have provided some comic relief, but it also sheds light on a much larger issue in society. It serves as a reminder that we all have a responsibility to educate ourselves and break down the barriers of racial ignorance and segregation. Only then can we truly move towards a more inclusive and understanding society.
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