"It means we're doomed to see people through the prism of race and gender instead of talent and achievement..Maybe you think diversity matters more than excellence." 
MW its profoundly sad you perpetuate the diversity=less excellence myth;  imply that people who arent white cant be excellent.  The current potus, one in the countless #s of white mediocrity hidden by the sheer numbers in positions of power/authority. Colourblindness is a myth, a copout; it pretends everyone has the same experience. It foists whiteness on everyone, it negates the experiences, uniqueness of the 'other' because the default for sameness is whiteness; it knows there is inequality but pretends there isnt. 

I was just reading about the black lawyer who left her bay street job, did the person who hired her see race/gender or talent? 

Maybe Friedersdorf is right attacks on colorblindness does produce a persecution mindset.  I dont need to look at the comments here to know that this will on full display.