When we each look in the mirror we are faced with preparing a mask that gains some of us access to anything and everything, whereas if you are a person of color that same access now becomes limited by others’ racial biases. If we lived in an egalitarian society, life would be great so everyone treated equally. This ideal society would be nice, but the reality tests this theory with John Tierney’s Implicit Association Test (IAT) that shows the bias towards certain racial groups over others. This test helps shape the argument that Malcolm Gladwell stated in Blink Teaches About Virtue, an article stating how IAT and people in society are bias towards white privilege without realizing it. These factors play apart in the implicit and explicit bias in America that I am faced with, how taking the test myself shaped my views on racism, and my belief that with awareness changes our experiences to gain an egalitarian society.
The implicit biases in society are shaped by our subconscious. Racism is hinted at through nonverbal cues that reinforce the favoritism towards Caucasians in America. This is not racism if we as Americans are unaware of it. Malcolm Gladwell states, "So what do we do about our subconscious, split-second tendencies to prefer whites over blacks? We cannot, as Gladwell argues, simply try to develop our conscious values," (Gladwell, 3). We as Americans pick whites over blacks because of media influences us creating bias for blue eyes and blond hair. The media has portrayed conscious American values with these blue eyes and blond hair with prevalent television shows from the 1950's to the late 1980's. The majority of shows featured cast that were white and these families were middle class. Middle class values became the goal for all of Americans. This escalated racial bias that blacks were not in these shows except as the mailman, garbage -man, or milk-man, all roles that were low in society. This value of lowly or lower class blacks perpetuated the myth and ideology that whites were the only ones that gained upward mobility. This mobility shifted to an explicit racial bias.
Explicit bias shape the biases of society. Middle class values and the media made blacks the enemy. Racial stereotypes grew and made blacks the criminals and gangsters that still dominate on the media. Many American citizens claim racism and bias do not exist, Gladwell disagrees by stating, "Even after 40 minutes of negotiating, black car shoppers were still offered prices nearly $800 times higher than the initial offer made to white shoppers," (Gladwell, 2). Big deal some would respond, but this is clear discrimination. Blacks are being treated with unequal bias and as if they are the ones that stole the American dream from whites. This belief escalates the hatred between these two groups and may be the reason behind this unconscious bias. I believe this fact and explains why blacks are fighting so hard for basic human rights through the Black Lives Matters. This movement has raise questions about power and agency within our communities.
The agency within the black culture becomes limited by racism. Racism and biases create pervasive with blacks having equal access. Gladwell stated, "It seemed that these four cops were clearly guilty of overt racism that motivated them to shoot an innocent man. Gladwell argues that these four cops, due to past experiences both personally and professionally with black people caused them to automatically and implicitly associate black people with danger, much more quickly than they might associate white people with a threat," (Gladwell, 2-3). This statement is interesting due to the context past experiences, where and when are the first questions that should be asked? The media represents blacks as criminals, which is the contact that these officers are mentioning. This logic shows a natural bias towards blacks as criminal with no cultural relativism. Cultural relativism is a anthropology term meaning placing oneself in others' shoes, which helps eliminate racism. If this was done more often the IAT would not be necessary.
The IAT test influenced how I see racism. Before I took the test, as a Mexican-American I feel I have no racism because I face discrimination due to migration and other stereotypes that are at opposition to my identity. I am an American citizen, plain and simple. There was no need to take a test that confirmed I have no biases toward other racial groups. I have no bias toward other groups because growing up, I saw the struggle for black individuals who are discrimination based on their name, skin color, personality, tone, or just because they are different. People forget the difference are what make America, America. We are all foreigns except Native Americans, so there is no such thing as belonging. This biases we place on one another shows a lack of empathy and basic understanding. With knowledge comes inclusion, not isolation and exclusion based on stereotypes that are usually invalid or on weak foundations like “that” are a racial scapegoat to prejudices. In that same aspect, I because of my skin tone could pass for white if someone did not know my name. That being said, I have not benefited at least to my knowledge past the point of my education and moral integrity has shaped my identity.
Factors like implicit and explicit bias facilitates racism in American and blocks egalitarianism. Some influences like John Tierney’s IAT test and Malcolm Gladwell’s commentary on the biases we have subconsciously favored whites over blacks. After taking the IAT test myself, this shaped how I view racism and my belief that with awareness change can occur. Our experiences with the IAT test can help Americans gain an egalitarian society through cultural relativism. Placing oneself in another’s shoes creates a chance to destroy the racial tension and stereotypes that have divide a nation for centuries.
Works Cited
Gladwell, Malcolm. Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking. New York: Little, Brown, 2005. Print.
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