Honorary Whiteness: The Psychology of Racial Cognitive Illusion
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ft.v11i3.6
Aloysius Uchechukwu ONAH
Université Catholique du Congo, Département de philosophie
Email: onah4u2000@yahoo.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4606-5080
Abstract
Experiences whether personal or collective, sometimes evoke a psychological
satisfaction of being superior to others. This could be due to inappropriate
perception or some prejudice. When misperception takes a systematic and
permanent form, it becomes an illusion. Several scientific works imply possible
racial cognitive illusions. In this work, I treat honorary whiteness as a diminutive
way of referring to some categories of human beings. Honorary whiteness is an
ideology based on the belief of being superior to others on the basis of colour. It is
the practice of acting white or like European in order to gain some benefits or for
some interests. This attitude pervades the political, economic, legal and social life
of human beings. Hence, this research initiates the urgency to revisit the discourse
on racial superiority and how it informs some cognitive misrepresentations of
human biological givens. I examine the above theme with the aim of explaining
honorary whiteness, racial cognitive illusion and finally, explore the psychological
perspectives in view of proffering innovative solutions on racial cognitive illusion.
Keywords: Archipelago, cognitive illusion, honorary blackness, honorary
whiteness, racial discrimination.
Introduction
The recognition of differences in human beings has led to injustice in treating
people. Some people have suffered prejudice of all kinds because of their age, sex,
level of education or even health condition. The worst discrimination is based on
race. Racial discrimination occurs when there is any exclusion, restriction or
segregation of people based on the colour of their skin. International actions
against racial discrimination and conventions on the elimination of all racial
discrimination (BANTON, 1996) have probably given rise to honorary white
status. I presume that honorary white status includes racial discrimination.
Discrimination simply means to draw an unfair or injurious distinction in such a
way that widely accepted values and procedures are violated (SIMPSON &
YINGER 1985, 23). It presents an inferior opinion about a particular group to
justify dehumanising treatment against them. However, honorary white, a “system
of social relation” which seems to give value to everyone irrespective of colour
gives the impression of racial intolerance. Honorary white absorbs the best nonwhite into the White group and raises the status of non-white.
Vol. 11. No. 3. Oct, 2022 Themed Issue: Honorary whiteness: Delusions of Racial Hierarchy
68
The privilege of “honorary white” status does not resolve the idea of inequality but
rather a systematization of racism. Over time, this has developed into a racial
cognitive illusion. The complexity of human perception and treatment of
information call for closer examination of the psychological perspective of why
some people think they are better than others and why others read more…
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ft.v11i3.6
Aloysius Uchechukwu ONAH
Université Catholique du Congo, Département de philosophie
Email: onah4u2000@yahoo.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4606-5080
Abstract
Experiences whether personal or collective, sometimes evoke a psychological
satisfaction of being superior to others. This could be due to inappropriate
perception or some prejudice. When misperception takes a systematic and
permanent form, it becomes an illusion. Several scientific works imply possible
racial cognitive illusions. In this work, I treat honorary whiteness as a diminutive
way of referring to some categories of human beings. Honorary whiteness is an
ideology based on the belief of being superior to others on the basis of colour. It is
the practice of acting white or like European in order to gain some benefits or for
some interests. This attitude pervades the political, economic, legal and social life
of human beings. Hence, this research initiates the urgency to revisit the discourse
on racial superiority and how it informs some cognitive misrepresentations of
human biological givens. I examine the above theme with the aim of explaining
honorary whiteness, racial cognitive illusion and finally, explore the psychological
perspectives in view of proffering innovative solutions on racial cognitive illusion.
Keywords: Archipelago, cognitive illusion, honorary blackness, honorary
whiteness, racial discrimination.
Introduction
The recognition of differences in human beings has led to injustice in treating
people. Some people have suffered prejudice of all kinds because of their age, sex,
level of education or even health condition. The worst discrimination is based on
race. Racial discrimination occurs when there is any exclusion, restriction or
segregation of people based on the colour of their skin. International actions
against racial discrimination and conventions on the elimination of all racial
discrimination (BANTON, 1996) have probably given rise to honorary white
status. I presume that honorary white status includes racial discrimination.
Discrimination simply means to draw an unfair or injurious distinction in such a
way that widely accepted values and procedures are violated (SIMPSON &
YINGER 1985, 23). It presents an inferior opinion about a particular group to
justify dehumanising treatment against them. However, honorary white, a “system
of social relation” which seems to give value to everyone irrespective of colour
gives the impression of racial intolerance. Honorary white absorbs the best nonwhite into the White group and raises the status of non-white.
Vol. 11. No. 3. Oct, 2022 Themed Issue: Honorary whiteness: Delusions of Racial Hierarchy
68
The privilege of “honorary white” status does not resolve the idea of inequality but
rather a systematization of racism. Over time, this has developed into a racial
cognitive illusion. The complexity of human perception and treatment of
information call for closer examination of the psychological perspective of why
some people think they are better than others and why others read more…
