Unconscious Bias and Racism in the Black Lives Matter Movement

Peaceful protesters gather in masses. Entire sports teams kneel or leave the field or court during the National Anthem. State and local governments are reallocating resources to better serve and protect communities. Celebrities take to social media to share their anti-racial beliefs. There is no doubt a huge, albeit long-overdue, racial movement going on in the U.S. right now.

An increasing number of Americans are finding ways to support people of color. So far I’ve sat on the sidelines, watching in horror at the news headlines that showcase one story after another of people of color treated unfairly. I also watch with admiration for those doing something to stop it.

I hold the same anti-racist views as those activists. I believe everyone should be treated equally regardless of skin color, and I believe we all deserve the same opportunities and the same respect.

But I have no actions to speak of to back up my opinions or to show my support for racial equality and racial justice.

So, I asked myself: What can I, a privileged, middle-class white woman who does not in any way consider herself racist, do to combat systemic racism?

The answer?

To start, I can and will be aware of my unconscious biases, and I can use my words to encourage others to do the same. Not because I am better than those who don’t speak out against racism or those who hold different views, but because racial inequities are learned. Our brains use information we already have stored to take short-cuts in assessing a situation. Our past experiences, our upbringing, our education, socialization, and the media all play a role in automatic decision making, whether we are aware of it or not.

Having unconscious bias does not mean you purposely behave in racist manners

Unconscious bias, also called implicit bias or implicit association, is what it sounds like — biases we hold that we are not conscious of holding. Often referred to as blind spots or thoughts we didn’t even know we had, these assumptions and stereotypes enter our minds without our being aware and, even though unintendedly, affect our actions.

Some unconscious biases are helpful and protect us from potentially dangerous or otherwise unfavorable situations. Other times, when we link stereotypes towards groups or people without even realizing it, we allow our unconscious biases to result in flawed thinking and decision-making.

But it does mean you unintentionally hold negative associations and therefore do behave in racist manners

If you’ve ever assumed a Baby Boomer isn’t technologically capable or a Millennial is a lazy worker, concluded a man in scrubs is a doctor while a woman in scrubs is a nurse, or attributed a man’s feminine characteristics or a woman’s tomboy-ish attitude to homosexuality, you hold unconscious biases.

Or, consider these questions: Have you ever automatically rolled up your car window while driving through a predominately black neighborhood? Or assumed that the middle-aged black woman leaving a home in an upscale neighborhood was the maid? Do you cross to the other side of the street when you see a black man coming toward you? Are you surprised when a black person speaks eloquently or without slang and accents stereotypically associated with black people? Do you compliment them on their ability to do so? Have you ever surmised a black person was pulled over or had police at their home for drug or weapon related purposes?

These are just a few examples of unconscious bias in action.

Fight back against unconscious biases

A critical factor to remember is that racial unconscious biases didn’t materialize out of nothing. We as a people are up against centuries of policies and structures in place because of racism. We have more examples of social injustice and inequity than anybody can count. Which is why we, all of us, without regard to racial differences need to take steps to act against our unconscious biases and help others to do the same.

Unconscious biases often don’t align with our stated beliefs and can therefore be hard to admit to having, but the reality is they do exist. The good news is that, since they are learned, they can also be unlearned.

So, if we aren’t aware of these biases, how can we address them?

First, acknowledge they exist. Next, learn what they are. Then, take responsibility by being self-aware and fighting back against unconscious biases, speaking out against racist actions and systems, being honest about the true state of our nation, and fighting to end systemic racism.

Self-awareness

Self-awareness is as much about others as it is about our self. The way we treat people, the way we make them feel, and the way we act around them are all important aspects of self-awareness.

One amazingly eye-opening resource is Implicit Association Tests (IAT) offered by Project Implicit, a non-profit aimed at researching hidden biases and educating the public. Using images and words, the tests evaluate how quickly, and therefore how closely, the user associates those images and words in various combinations. These evaluations help uncover biases related to a number of things, including race, gender, age, and sexual orientation.

We can take additional steps to learn more about ourselves using tools like online personality tests, meditation, and journaling. These things can help us better understand who we are and why we think and act the ways we do.

Accountability

Accountability comes in handy here. Actively push back against biases and learn more about how biases affect the people, businesses, communities, and society around us.

Also, reflect on ways you may have benefited from privilege and how your life compares to those who have not been granted those same privileges. Educate yourself to better understand the challenges and adversity black people have faced and continue to face daily.

Curiosity

Ask questions to understand why somebody holds a certain view and what exactly that view is. Refrain from making judgments, especially regarding things with which you are not familiar. Create and encourage conversations, even the difficult, uncomfortable ones. Rather than ignore or shy away from diversity, take steps to learn about it and why involving individuals from all backgrounds is actually beneficial rather than harmful.

Take A Stand

Thinking back to previous civil rights movements and what the history books say, and don’t say, about those who did, and didn’t do, anything to help during these times, which side of the Black Lives Matter movement do you want to be on?

Are you going to remain silent and let others fight the fight? Are you going to watch and wait and hope things get better? Is your plan to stay on the sidelines because you don’t believe you are personally affected by it or because you aren’t aware of the seriousness of the situation?

We all hold unconscious biases, myself included, and it is long past the time to not only admit it, but to wholeheartedly scream out against the social inequities that people of color face in this country, and the world for that matter, every day. I am not perfect and I don’t pretend to be, but I am taking this step to show support to my fellow Americans of all colors.

I don’t claim to have all the answers. But one answer I do know is that to beat systemic racism, we have to talk about it.

So, that is what I’m doing.