Condoleezza Rice Says America Will Never Be 'Race Blind' On 'Face the Nation' VIDEO

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has been speaking out and reflecting on her time spent in the White House, much of which she recounts in her memoir "No Higher Honor."

During an interview on a special Thanksgiving edition of CBS' "Face the Nation," Rice talked about her perspective on race in America, saying although the country has come a long way, it will never be "race blind."

"It is a birth defect with which this country was born out of slavery" she told CBS' Bob Schieffer. "We're never really going to be race blind."

She went on to say that although she feels race today is not as much of a limiting factor as it was in the past, race and poverty and restricted access to acceptable public education is "still a terrible witch's brew," contributing to further inequality.

Rice additionally discussed how the public school system's shortcomings could eventually lead to a class warfare, as poverty-stricken individuals have less access to the tools they need to improve their chances of success.

Race and inequality isn't the only thing the former Secretary of State has spoken openly about. She has also weighed in on everything from Herman Cain's sexual abuse allegations to her regrets about Hurricane Katrina.

Comments

[Eric Daniels]

03:39 AM on 12/04/2011

I give Dr. Rice credit she may a Republican but at least she's not blind on the reality of race in America.

[AlternateReality]

07:56 AM on 12/04/2011

Ask her if she's blind to airplanes flying into tall buildings.

[aHazMatHoney]

10:58 AM on 12/04/2011

Congratulations! Your username is a misnomer! Fanned and faved!

[aHazMatHoney]

08:20 PM on 12/04/2011

Yo! Conspiracy Brother! Isn't that a bit of a shallow "analysis?" Condi walked the straight republican line the whole time she was in the White House. In fact, she was strongly and widely criticized for this -- even by the white media! She never did anything "black" the entire time she was in the White House. Now, when she gets out, and doesn't have to keep "W" happy anymore, all she has to do is say "race is a problem," and YOU think she's a sista? And you claim to be a black nationalist? Every time the Bush administration took a wrong turn regarding Black folks, Condi chose to remain silent. Remember when Bush refused to visit with the NAACP?

I can't wait to hear your response, i.e., all the new names you're going to call me in lieu of a truly engaged response that addresses the matter at hand.

How can a black nationalist be giving Condoleeza Rice props for being aware of the "reality of race in America?"

[Eric Daniels]

06:27 AM on 12/06/2011

You have been reported for harassment Vivien now how's that for a response !!!

[Jimm Milenski]

05:37 PM on 12/02/2011

Of course America will never be "race blind" if race blind means we look at someone and see a different skin color. We come in all different shapes and sizes. And colors.

[260Parkway]

04:22 PM on 12/02/2011

Hey Condi, one word for that statement, DUH!

[StepInBM]

03:29 PM on 12/02/2011

Condi is Black?!??!

[Califishing]

02:49 PM on 12/02/2011

The dollar bill is why the country will never be color blind. There are people of over race doing some dirt. Follow the money..

[BevDiane]

11:53 PM on 12/02/2011

...and the actions of White people are what keeps a lot of Black people down

[Count of Anjou]

06:19 PM on 12/03/2011

Sure, that's why Barack Obama is POTUS cause the WHITE MAN is holding the blacks under his heel. Even Herman Cain blames black for their predicament. Time to stop blaming others and help yourself.

[Sherman Miller]

01:01 PM on 12/01/2011

An Irish friend once shared that when his grandparents immigrated to the US in the early 1900s, there were signs in pubs that read, “No Irish and dogs allowed!” Today, on St Patrick’s Day many people pay homage to their Irish heritage. As interracial marriage escalates; my guess is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday morphs into a celebration of US black heritage in the 22nd Century. That will be racism’s death!

[BevDiane]

11:55 PM on 12/02/2011

"That will be racism’s death!"...

Dream on!

[Aesthete]

10:28 AM on 12/01/2011

Every human being is unique and special regardless of race, culture, appearance, etc. Whether or not people see "race" should not be the issue---it's about love and respect for one's fellow man whatever happens to be his or her unique attributes. Race and/or color, being highly visible but very superficial, has become important because it can and has been used to divide, exploit, and abuse. Actually the most important scientific markers of race are those that one cannot see. The concept of "race" only exists because of its high visibility, not its importance. Man has great difficulty, however, getting past that which he can see even if it actually means nothing. There is a Biblical scripture that reads thus: "God made of one blood all men to dwell together upon the face of the earth."

[JAT3]

09:38 AM on 12/01/2011

Sad but true, C Rice stated it ever so simply! But doesn't mean people shouldn't continue to strive for it!

[Zoe Moon]

12:47 AM on 12/01/2011

Dr. Rice is correct! It does not matter that the United States is such a melting pot of cultures and races. This beautiful country will NEVER be race blind. So long as we have bigoted white people that have the need to feel superior to others and then we have other races who put their own perceptions about other people to try to bring them down. This is one dream that America will never achieve. RACIAL TOLERANCE and UNITY!

[Trueletterson]

07:30 PM on 11/30/2011

She [Condoleezza Rice] is right, she is right on point. She is smart, brave and is "no coward" she does not hide from any issue, I hate to disappoint some of you liberal but the fact is we will never live in a color blind or race neutral society however we must keep striving and do better.

[wstrvlr]

07:14 PM on 11/30/2011

Surprised it took Sis. Rice this long to figure this one out. As long as the sun come up, air blows & this world exits this is going to be a problem to those who are so ignorant. God Almighty made us all & we are HIS children even if all don't want to get along.

I remember the days when folks put signs up over water fountains & on bathroom doors & folks went around to white folks backdoors when they worked in those houses for them. I am so glad I have seen things get beyond this degrading situation so many have endured for ages.

I remember those rare folk who allowed other races to eat in their cafe's, didn't mind when anyone drank from their water fountains & didn't insist folks go in the bushes to use the restroom if they were dark in color. Sometimes those rare folks were treated & suffered as badly as Black folk were because of their being blind to color in those days. Those special people truly are/were God's people & our brothers & sisters. Amen!

[StepInBM]

03:20 PM on 12/02/2011

Yep, too bad she didn't step up to the plate back in the day when she had the power to really exact some changes....

[wstrvlr]

04:04 PM on 12/02/2011

I wondered the same thing too. Why is it that every time a brother or sister gets in a high position they don't get more done? I guess it's because the pressure is so great & the obsticles so high that there is just so much a body can get done.

At least things are better than they were during the freedom marches, bus business, school situations in the 1950's & the sit-ins. As the old Negro spiritual went: " Someday by & by it's gonna be alright....." & "Press on, just a little while longer, press on, just a little while longer...."

By our Great God Almighty everything gonna be alright on the Judgement Day! Somebody say Amen!

[westcoastprog]

06:52 PM on 11/30/2011

Speaking of being blind----uhm----Miss Rice was blindly following and facilitating the worst political regime and worst president in the country's history. She helped get us into unnecessary wars. She was a dupe and we are all suffering from her blind obedience.

[StepInBM]

03:21 PM on 12/02/2011

She allowed herself to be the sock puppet, token for the GOP. Too bad she didn't see the light...

[princess333hd]

05:54 PM on 11/30/2011

sadly its true. people are still placing stereotypes on other races even now and they will keep doing it in the future.

[StepInBM]

05:48 PM on 11/30/2011

Nice try Condi! She's just figuring out NOW that she's black!

[amplow]

12:38 PM on 12/01/2011

What does this mean>?

[StepInBM]

03:18 PM on 12/02/2011

What it means is, she allowed herself to be used as "her husband's" Bush's token sock puppet, when she could have been making a difference, using her power to exact some good for the community. Now it's just too little, too late....

[Shelli40]

11:30 AM on 12/02/2011

That's just silly. As if all black people have to share the same beliefs.

[StepInBM]

03:13 PM on 12/02/2011

Where was she back when she actually had the power to make a change? Sitting in her "hubby" Bush's lap like a sock puppet.

[IndependentTogether]

04:46 PM on 11/30/2011

I don't know if I agree with that statement. This isn't just about being optimistic or pessimistic, this is about the reality that we've all come to take for granted. Exposure changes everything. The more exposure you have to "others" the more likely you are to judge people on an individual basis (I know this from my own personal experiences). The evidence can be found in the changes in attitudes of the younger generations vs. older.