Is Philosophy White-Washed?

“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own,” said feminist philosopher of color Audre Lorde in her book, “Sister Outsider.”

While philosophy is not exclusive by race or gender, the statistics of those succeeding in the field are less than promising. People of color and women are unfortunately left behind by their white, male counterparts.

Gloria Anzaldua is at the forefront for Latinx philosophy. She writes on her experiences as a queer woman of color transitioning into the American culture. Much of her work, like “Now Let us Shift,” is written in a Faulkner-esque tone with many sections that read as a stream of consciousness.

The book Socrates Cafe by Christopher Phillips, shows philosophy in action and there is no change in the capability of understanding and practicing philosophy across the board on age, gender, race, ethnicity and class.

So why is there a white-washing of philosophy? Most schools offer undergraduate level courses in Eastern philosophy or Islamic philosophy. However, a handful of ethnically diverse courses, usually taught by white professors, is not enough.

A factor that might steer POC away from philosophy is not having the privilege of choosing a career that is not as lucrative. While for some philosophers there is a possibility of having a successful career, if there is a fear of financial burden, which is prevalent in POC and first- generation immigrants, studying business or marketing will provide that ease of mind.

Does that make studying philosophy a privilege? Unfortunately, for many students the answer is yes. The average student debt in America is currently at, $37,172 with the nation-wide total at $1.5 trillion. Philosophy also requires a Doctoral degree to publish and teach which can be an additional $100,000.

It is a vicious cycle where students do not see any philosophers they can relate to and thus do not pursue philosophy. There won’t be a creation of non-white philosophers.

“Philosophy, the oldest of the humanities, is also the malest (and the whitest),” said Jennifer Saul, a philosophy professor at the University of Sheffield to Mint Press News. “While other areas of the humanities are at or near gender parity, philosophy is actually more overwhelmingly male than even mathematics.”

Hopefully, the cost of obtaining a degree will become reasonable and thus encourage students of color to purse a degree in philosophy without the worry of a lack of return on their investment in their education.