Colorblindness? AP Language Question

To clarify: This is not a required assignment. This is an actual AP essay question which deals with questions of neutrality on issues surrounding race and society. 

AP Language Question

(Suggested time—40 minutes. This question counts as one-third of the total essay section score.)

Read carefully the passage below. Then write an essay in which you support, refute, or qualify the claim that a “neutral” stand on race perpetuates racial imbalance.

            I am saying that sometimes colorblindness is racism. I know that sounds counterintuitive, but let me go on.

            Think of society as comprised of lots of different groups of people, identified by their race, gender, etc. Neutrality in our society is supposed to be the great equalizer because we believe that, if we don’t favor any one group, things will work themselves out and become more equal. But the thing is this: neutrality has this effect only if there is no previous social or historical context. But that’s not how the real world is. There is, in fact, a social and historical context for every situation. So if I were being “neutral”  and viewing everyone as being the same, ignoring personal contexts, I would be promoting equality because I would be ignoring the differences that exist and allowing the inequalities to continue to exist, given that I wouldn’t do anything to help change them. Identifying problems and actively promoting solutions are necessary to effect useful change; being neutral is consenting to the status quo.