Day 1: Personal Reflection & Implicit Bias
Racism is deeply embedded into the culture and history of the United States – so deeply embedded, in fact, that it can be hard to identify in ourselves. It goes beyond the individual acts of cruelty and violence often associated with ‘hate groups’ to perpetuate power structures that continue to privilege a few. These structures have overwhelmingly been built on the labor and unnamed contributions of people of color.
The activities will hopefully challenge what you ‘know’ about race and social justice. It is likely you will be frustrated or even angry as you uncover truths along the way. We encourage you to utilize this discomfort as a way of shaking loose from old ways of thinking and doing and consider how you can be part of building a more collaborative community.
CHALLENGES
OPTION 1: Unconscious Bias. Go deeper and take Project Implicit’ s Hidden Bias tests, created by psychologists at top universities, to uncover some of your own unconscious biases. Remember, having biases doesn’t make you a bad person—it only makes you human. TIP: Proceed as a guest to access their library of tests and find out your implicit associations about race, gender, sexual orientation, skin tone, and other topics. We recommend you take the Race IAT. This is a free assessment and provided by Project Implicit, a network of scholars and researchers dedicated to collaborating with organizations and individuals interested in learning about the science behind and the impact of implicit bias.
OPTION 2: Speak Up. Read one or more of the compelling personal stories featured in the Speak Up Handbook by the Southern Poverty Law Center. On page 19, there is a section titled "What Can I do About My Own Bias?" but feel free to use the table of contents on page 2 to explore other topics that interest you.
OPTION 3: How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them, TED Talk by Vernā Myers, encourages work vigorously to counterbalance bias by connecting with and learning about and from the groups we fear. (19 minutes)
OTHER RESOURCES
Whatever you think about Implicit Bias Tests, it is important to remember implicit bias is real--and it matters
A Pediatrician who serves children of color discovered his implicit bias. Here's what he's doing about it.
Check out this Racial Equity Glossary for terms that may be seen throughout the challenge and in future reading.
View this Buzzfeed slideshow on microagressions heard on a daily basis.
View the video Breaking Down Racial Barriers in the US (10mins30sec) featuring author Beverly Daniel Tatum.
Watch 1 or more short videos and reflections from A Conversation on Race by The New York Times (time varies). Tip: Can't decide? View: "A Conversation With White People on Race" (5mins25sec).