Consider this: a woman returning home from a trip to Kentucky brings her sister and nephew gifts based on their interests, and brings her brother-in-law (who is from Asia) a bottle of soy sauce. With genuine good-will, she says she saw the soy sauce and immediately thought of him.
The woman, without realizing it, prioritized her brother-in-law’s race over his personal identity and interests. This is an example of unconscious racism: actions caused by implicit biases, which are racial stereotypes and assumptions so deep-seated we aren’t even aware they exist. Although unintentional, implicit biases and resulting unconscious racism still cause harm ranging from personal insults (like to the brother-in-law) up to broad societal impacts (like the perception of black men as more dangerous than white men).
How do we change our implicit biases? First, we have to recognize that we all have implicit biases, and identify what ours are. Then we can consider other points of view, learn to look at a person’s characteristics rather than their race, and pause before speaking or acting to reduce reflexive actions. Will you commit to starting today?
Interested in learning more about the Love One Another initiative? Visit the archives.