talking about race -- memo
TRANSCRIPT
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RESETTINGAVISIONOFRACEFORTHE21STCENTURY:INSIGHTSFROMTHEMINDSCIENCES
ByRachelGodsilandAlexisMcGillJohnson
August13,2013
AmericansrememberthenowiconicIHaveaDreamSpeechasthecrystallizationofthe
CivilRightsMovementsvisionofracialequality.Theupcoming50thAnniversaryofthespeech
creates a remarkable opportunity to define a 21st Century vision of racial equality. This
momentwillbeinterpretedbymanyasareferendumontherelatedbutdistinctquestionsof
howmuchprogresswevemadeandwhetherracecontinuestomatter.Ourracialprogressis
undeniableandthevastmajorityofAmericansholdegalitarianaspirations.Yetourpractices
donot live uptoour conscious aspirations. The challenge is toaddressthis realitywithout
furtherpolarizingthecountry-particularlybecausetheculturalconversationwilloccurinthe
fraughtaftermathof theZimmermanverdictandSupremeCourtrulingsonaffirmativeaction
andtheVotingRightsAct.Despitecontinuedsegregationandintenseracialpolarization,the
SupremeCourtinparticularistiltingtowardanadoptionofthecolor-blindvisionandaway
fromtheideathatgovernmenthasaroletoplayinensuringracialequality.
Theconceptofcolor-blindness,ofcourse,isacaricatureoftheimageofanationwhere
theywillnotbejudgedbythecoloroftheirskinbutbytheircharacterandatransformationof
thatcaricatureintoanideology.Thecolor-blindmemehasalsobeenaverysuccessfulstrategy
for the Right. It appeals to White peoples sense of fairness and egalitarian values, isaspirationalinnature,appealstoAmericanindividualism,andallowstheRighttocallanyone
whodiscussesracearacist.Mostegregiously,weseethisstrategyatworkinthelabelingof
PresidentObamatherace-baiterinchiefduetohiseffortstospeaktotherealitiesofracein
contemporarysociety.Thecurrentstrategyforrespondingto color-blindnessistohighlight
disparities,butforreasonsdiscussedbelow,thatstrategyis likelytofail,and,indeed,hasnot
beensuccessfulthusfar.
Though the color-blind ideology has permeated our culture, it has not entered our
subconscious. Neuroscience and social psychology show empirically that 21st century
Americans are far from color-blind. Instead,we all have deeply embedded stereotypical
associations(implicitbiases)thataffectourbehavioranddecisions.Studiesfurthershowthatpeople ofall racesexperience racial anxietywhen interactingwith people ofother races.
Equallyimportant,however,istheresearchshowingthat:
Ournegativestereotypesflowfromimagesthatpermeatetheculture.Accordingly,wecantransformperceptionsbychallengingthosenegativeimagesandintroducingmore
fullyhumanizedvisionsofpeopleofcolorthatwilltransformournegativeassociations.
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If we know about our biases and anxieties, we can follow our conscious egalitarianvalues.
Racialbiasandanxietyarenotintractablebutracialequalityrequiresustounderstandhowracematters.
Social science research provides the empirical support to deconstruct the tenets that
underlietheideologyofcolorblindnessandtheclaimsthatwearepost-racial.Butthisresearch
allows us to communicate thismessagewhile affirming peoples egalitarianaspirations and
positive intentions. Weneed todrawa distinctionbetween the common understandingof
racismasexplicitandintentional,theprovinceofWhitesupremacistslikeBullConnor,and
raceasanimplicitandunconsciousdriverofouropinionsandactions.Andweneedtobe
morecoordinatedanddisciplinedaroundmessagesthatspeaktothefollowing:
People literally and physiologically cannot be colorblind; color-blindness does notworkasapractice.
Whiletheideathatweallcanjudgeandbejudgedbasedpurelyonthecontentofourcharactermay seemtobe awonderful aspirationtoworktowards, itis not actually
possible.
The ideology of individual responsibility ignores the multitude of racialized practicesthatcausemuchpresentdayinequality.Weneednotandshouldnotdenyindividual
agency or personal responsibility but we should also not rely on it as a sole
explanationforracialdisparity.Weneedtomakeclearthatgovernmentvisavispolicy
hasaroletoplayinallowingindividualstheopportunitytoreachtheirpotential.
Our cultural history (indeed the Civil Rights Movement soon to be celebrated) alsosupportsamodelofcollectiveresponsibilitythatcanbesignificantlymoreempowering
thanconsumeristindividualism.
Racializedactionsrarelystemfromtheactionsofracists,butratheroftenresultfromin-grouppreferences,implicitbiases,andracialanxieties.
A21st Century vision for racial justice isa collective vision.One that isnt just aboutindividualactionsandanindividualsexplicitviews,butinsteadfocusesontheindividual
andcollectiveactionsthatreducemicro-aggressionsagainstpeopleofcoloraswellas
context-specificinterventionsthatmitigatetheeffectsofbias.
Collectively,wehavean opportunityto use the powerfulinsightsfromthemindsciencesto
redefineavisionofracialjustice.Ideally,the21stcenturywillallowustorealizeanotherofDr.
KingsimagesthatonedayrightdowninAlabamalittleblackboysandblackgirlswillbeabletojoinhandswithlittlewhiteboysandwhitegirlsassistersandbrothers.Together,weneed
to engage culture to transform perception, and hold accountable media depictions that
reinforcenegativeassociations.Weneedtoengageourowncommunity,andrealizethatwe
havemorepowerthanwethinktoholdpolicymakersaccountableanddemandbetterpolicy,
particularlyinthewakeoftheSupremeCourtsguttingoftheVotingRightsAct.Wealsoneed
toarguethatwhilevisionsofracialjusticemaydiffer,weknowthatcolor-blindnessisnotracial
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justice, and neither is a world in which every news story and utterance by a politician is
racialized.
This memo outlines messaging strategies that flow from the above understanding of the
currentlandscapearoundissuesofrace,aswellasanunderstandingofhowimplicitbiasworksand how implicit bias insights can help point the way to a new more constructive racial
conversation.
Theultimategoalofmessagingmustnotbetosilenceouropponentsbutrathertochange
theconversationbyaffirmingourcollectivehumanityandbringpeopleofcolormorestrongly
intotheAmericannarrative.Toaccomplishthisrequiresmessagesthatdisarmpredictable
defensemechanismsandhelpusreducebothracialbiasandracialanxiety.
INORDERTOTALKABOUTRACE ,ITISCRUCIALFIRSTTODISARMRACIALANXIETY :
Research reveals that discussions about race and inter-racial interactions can triggerheightenedanxiety inbothpeopleofcolor andWhitepeople. Thisanxietymanifests inour
bloodpressure, our heart rate reactions, and can diminish our cognitive capacities. White
people forwhomdiscussionsofraceareoftenguiltinducingoftenshutdownentirelyand
cease listening. We lose theability to have a constructive conversation ifpeople are in a
defensiveposture.
Racialanxietycanbeeffectivelyreducedwhen:
Aspeakerwithmoralauthorityaffirmsthelistenersaspirationalintentions; Addressesthesourceoftheanxietywhichisthedissonancethelistenerexperiences
betweenegalitarianidealsandsometimesbiasedpracticesorthefearthatactionswillbeperceivedasbiased(orworsecalledoutasracist);
Explainsthatourbiasesarenotaresultofmoralfailings,butourbrainsresponsetothenegativestereotypesthatpermeateourculture;and
Describes howwecanovercomeour implicitbiasesandactionsthat correspond tothem by consciously overriding those biases and living according to our conscious
values.
Howbiasworks:Everymoment ofour lives,weencounter anenormousamount ofstimuli
while contending with our memories and emotions. Our ability to navigate the world is
possibleonlybecausemostofourmentalprocessingoccurswithoutourconsciousawareness.Ourbrainshavealreadycreatedcategories(orschemastousethescientificterm)formostof
the sights and soundsweencounter. The schemas include categories for different kindsof
people, called stereotypes. These stereotypes serve useful purposes when they allow us
automaticallytodistinguishbetweenachildandanadult,buttheyareriskywhentheyinvolve
categories such as race. When a particular category becomes associated with negative
stereotypes in theculture,ourbrain automaticallyassociates these stereotypeswithanyone
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who fits the category. Once these stereotypes are lodged into ourminds, they are easily
triggered,aprocessscientistscallimplicitbias.
BiasandAnxietyinourdailylives:allracesfeeltheimpactofimplicitbiasontheirlivesand
this creates heightened anxieties. People of color experience an ever-present fear thatnegativestereotypeswillimpacttheirlives,theirhealth,theiremploymentopportunitiesand
their safety. White people,meanwhile, verymuchwant tobe considered fairminded and
worry that theirwordsoractionswill bemisunderstoodwhen they interactwith people of
different racial orethnic groups. Messagesthat inadvertentlyheightenanxiety are likelyto
leadtogreaterpolarizationandlessreceptivitytothemessage.
RESIST THE COMMONPRACTICE OFBEGINNINGADISCUSSIONOFRACE BYDESCRIBING CURRENT
RACIALDISPARITIES:
Those ofuswho care deeply about racial equality and justice experience a sense ofmoral
urgencywhenwe learnaboutdisparitiesin educationaloutcomes, imprisonment,healthcare
access, employment, and other important life domains. However, for those not already
focusedonracialjustice,beginningadiscussionwithalistofdisparitieshastheoppositeeffect.
Racialdisparitiestriggeranxietywhichhastheeffectoftriggeringdefensemechanismsthat
hardenoppositionratherthangarneringsupport. Discussionsthatbeginwithdisparitiesalso
tend to reify stereotypes, create a sense that people of color are other, and undermine
supportforparticularpolicies.
Researchsupport:InaninternalAmericanValuesInstituteStudywiththeAnalystInstitute,wefoundthatsupport
forajobspolicyforareasofhighunemployment decreasedfromover60%to42%whensubjectsreadashort
piecethatbeganwith:Althoughmanypeoplehavebeenhard-hit,thejob-findingpictureforblackAmericansis
particularly bleak. Alreadymore than a third of black children are living in poverty.Without a dramatic newinterventionbythefederalgovernment,thepovertyrateforAfrican-Americanchildrencouldeventuallyapproach
aheart-stopping50percent,accordingtoanalystsattheEconomicPolicyInstitute.Indeed,16%ofwhitepeople
stoppedreadingafterthefirstsentence.
Leadingwithand emphasizingracial disparitiesis also likely tobedispiriting for the racial
groupatissue:Whilewemayassumethathearingaboutracialdisparitieswilltriggeraction
amongthoseaffected,researchsuggeststhathearingaboutdisparitiescanleadpeopletofeela
senseofhelplessnessordespairratherthanagencyandempowerment.
Researchsupport:AstudyofBlackvotingturn-outinthe2008NorthCarolinaprimaryfoundthatblackvotersare
more likely toadoptof normsof not voting when it seemed likethe norm amongother blacks inprevious
electionswastonotvote.Wesuspectthatthisresultislikelyduetothewaysinwhichthesemessagesalteredblacksperceptionofthevalueofvoting.Becauseofthenontrivialcostsassociatedvotingandbecauseofblacks
strongsensefor collectiveidentityamessagewhichsuggeststhatpeoplelikemedontvoteis likelyto cause
blackstoquestiontheutilitygainedfromvotinginthiselection(andperhapslaterelections).Additionally,wecan
demonstratethecontinuedrelevanceofraceinourliveswithoutrelyingonoutcomedisparities.Thepersistence
oftensionandanxietyaroundracializedissues(TrayvonMartin,publiceducation,StopandFrisk,PaulaDeenetc.)
iseasilydemonstrableandanexperiencemostlistenerswillhaveintheirownlives.
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AFFIRMSHAREDVALUESANDTHEAUDIENCE SHUMANITY:
Peoplerespondstronglytoemotionalappealsthattriggerasenseofmutualresponsibilityand
afaithinthelistenersmorality.
Researchsupport:In particular,in discussinghowfarweve comeas anationon theissue of race, emphasize
attitudinalchange ratherthan solelyfocuson improvedoutcomes toestablish commonground.Studieswidely
showthatWhite people consciouslyhold egalitarianvalues. Forexample,according toSamuelR. Sommers&
PhoebeC.EllsworthsworkonWhitejurorbias,manyWhitesembraceanegalitarianvaluesystemandadesireto
appearnon-prejudiced.Furthermore,positiveemotionshavebeenshow(in,eg,JohnsonandFredricksonsWe
AllLookTheSameToMe)toeliminatetheown-racebasinfacerecognition.
WEMUSTCHALLENGERATHERTHANSUPPRESS STEREOTYPES:
Ourinstinctistocalloutracialstereotypesandmisguidedunderstandingofhistorydepictedin
those statements to silence our opponents. Silencing our opponents leaves stereotypes
unchallengedandstillpowerful.
Flippingthescript:
The majority of Black men are employed (58% 2013 data Bureau of Labor Statistics) and
among college educated Black men, the employment rates are far higher (in 2011, the
unemploymentrateswere6.9%).ItistruethattheratesarebetterforWhitemen(in2011,the
unemployment rates for collegeeducatedwhitemenwas3%), but byemphasizingthat the
employment rates rather than the unemployment rates, weare undermining the persistent
negativestereotypes.Wecancontinuetoemphasizetheneedtoincreasejobopportunitiesforall,includingparticularlyBlackmen,butwecandosowithoutreifyingstereotypes.
ManymoreBlackmenareincollegethaninprison (1.4millionBlackmenincollege-840,000
inlocal,state,federalprisons,Prof.IvoryToldson,NPR2013).Thisisnottosaywedontwant
tochallengeover-incarceration,butwehavetodosowithoutagain,perpetuatingthenegative
stereotypeofcriminality.
Respondtoblatantstereotypeswithpositivenarratives:
Oppositionstereotyping:Thereasontheressomuchviolenceandchaosintheblackprecincts
isthedisintegrationoftheAfrican-Americanfamily.Withoutmuchstructure,youngblackmen
oftenrejecteducationandgravitatetowardthestreetculture,drugs,hustling,andgangs.(Bill
OReilly,July31,2013)
Counter-narrative:e.g.Lastweek,IspentWednesdayeveningasajudgeinamocktrialatthe
federaldistrictcourthouse.Theprosecutorsanddefenseattorneyswere14year-oldBlackboys
and girls from Newark, NJ finishing a full-time 5-week program at a local law school. The
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programhad50kids.Thewaitlistwasanother300.TheyoungblackboysfromNewarkare
yearningformoreopportunities
Pointtoinspiringexamplesofgroupscomingtogethertosolveournationsproblems.
Example: Phillip AtibaGoffs workwith the Consortium for Policing Leadership in Equity, a
groupoflawenforcementprofessionalsandsocialscientiststhatcollaboratetopromotepolice
transparency and accountability (http://cple.psych.ucla.edu/). Work like CPLE points to the
successesthatarepossiblewhenweallcometogethertotrytosolvetheongoingproblemof
racialequityinAmerica.
Tellstoriesthatprovidecounter-stereotypicalexamplestohelpchallengebiases.
Example:Jadendoesntalwayslethisclassmatesknowit,buthelovesmath.Whenhewas
little,hecountedeverything.Butingradeschool,histeacherssometimesmademistakesin
math.WhenJadenstartedmiddleschool,mathseemedtooeasyandhestartedgettingbored,untiloneofhisteacherssignedhimforanafterschoolprogram,Mathnasium,walkingdistance
fromhishouseintheBronx.Mathnasiumandsimilarafterschoolmathprogramsareplacesfor
kidslikeJadentobechallengedinmathandtodeveloptotheirpotential.
ThisshortnarrativechallengesthestereotypeofBlackboysasuninterestedinacademictopics
but italsoalludestoperennialproblemsliketeacherswhoarenotexpertinSTEMareasand
thequalityofschoolsinpoorneighborhoods.Itreferstoapolicyprescriptionenrichment
andafterschoolprogramsandislikelytoelicitmoresupportthansimplytalkingaboutthe
importanceofSTEMandafterschoolprograms.
Researchsupport:Researchershavefoundthatpeoplearemorelikelytorememberinformationandtorespond
emotionallywheninformationispresentedasastoryornarrative.Weareconditionedfrombirthtolearnfrom
stories.Thenarrativemodetreatsexperiencesasuniquehistoricaleventscontainingplots(intentions,actions,
andoutcomes) that allowus tounderstand andinterpret human activity andbehavior (McAdams, 2001). Our
experienceshearingandtellingstoriescreatethecapacityforustoengageinperspectivetaking,empathy,critical
thinking,andnuancedwaysofunderstandingtheworld(Ochs,Taylor,Rudolph&Smith,1992).Accordingly,when
dealingwithissueslikeraceinwhichpeopleslifeexperiencesdiffer,storiesareparticularlycriticalforcreatingthe
possibilitiesofempathy.
CHALLENGEOURCULTURAL LEADERSTO CREATEMOREREPRESENTATIVEANDACCURATE STORIES
AROUNDRACE;ANDTOADDRESSRACEWITHTHECOMPLEXITYITDESERVES :
Weallrecognizethatimagesandnarrativesdriventhroughpopularcultureplayasignificantroleincreatingandperpetuatingnegativeperceptions,soitshouldbenosurprisethatresearch
showsculturalengagementisalsoanimportantmechanismtode-bias.Ifwearetomove
beyondourracialanxietyandcreatesupportformoreaddressingracialinequity,wemustadd
adeeperanalysisofhowouremotionsandfearsaboutraceshapeourbehaviorsand
preferences.Emotionisshapedthroughculture.Todosorequiresengagingourcultural
influencersandimagecreatorstorethinkoverrelianceonquick,convenient,oftenstereotypical
waysoftellingstoriesinvolvingrace.
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Promotemoreaccurateandcomplexstories:
AsOpportunityAgenda,theMaynardInstitute,andColorofChangehavearguedthroughout
theirwork,accuracyisacoreprincipleofjournalism.Real,honest,complexstoriesarethemeansofwideningthecircleandhumanizingouryoungblackmenandboys.Yetweareoften
delugedwithdistortedstoriesinstead.AndasresearchbytheAmericanValuesInstitutehas
established,thesestoriescreatethelensthroughwhichindividualsareviewedandtreated.
Blackmenandboysareoftenseenaspotentiallydangerousorpresumedtobeanathleteor
entertainerratherthanadoctor,lawyer,teacher,orfather.Thefrighteningrealityisthatthe
systemicsuppressionofthesestoriesacrossnews,fictionandinfotainmentleadtothe
oppositeeffectrestrictingwhomwefeelempathyfor,andgivingusseemingjustificationto
treatsomepeopledifferently,includingviolently.Andthatsastruefortheinfluenceover
judges,doctorsandteachersasitisforlawenforcement,jurorsandtheneighborhood
watchman.
Researchsupport:Contrarytothestoriesweseeinthemedia,ifweactuallyevaluateNationalCenterfor
EducationStatistics,theCensusBureau'sAmericanCommunitySurveyandtheDepartmentofJustice'sstatistics
morethan400,000Blackmenareincollegethaninjail.Violentcrimeisrarelyinter-racialsoWhitepeoplearefar
lesslikelytobethevictimofaviolentcrimebyaBlackmanthanaWhiteman.In2010,accordingtotheU.S.
Census,118,124Blackmenwereteachers.WeneedmanymorestoriesaboutBlackcollegestudentsand
teachers.ButProfessorTravisDixonfromU.C.L.A.andothershaveconductednumerousstudiesshowingthat
localandnetworknewsshowsaswellascrimedramasinsteaddelugeuswithimagesofviolentcrimes.
EmpowerAmericanstoHoldMediaAccountable:
Whilewecanworktoengageourmedialeaderstowardstransformingperceptionsaroundraceingeneralandblackmenandboysinparticular,wecanalsoengageAmericanstorejectmedia
that is blatantly manufactured to encourage stereotypes or increase racial anxiety. Again,
Americansarebyandlargefair-mindedandegalitarian.Weshouldbeempoweringthemto
identifyandpush back onnegativeandunfair representationswiththeir viewinghabits and
advertisingdollars.
Conclusion
Wearefastapproachingoneofthoseall-too-raremomentswhenourcountryfocusesonrace,
notbecauseofatragedy,orarace-linkedutterancebyacelebrity,butinmemoryofaleader,
reveredbecausehecalledforththebestintheAmericanpeople.ThosewhoknowCivilRightshistoryare aware that inhis own time,Dr. Kingwas deeply prescient, focusingonissuesof
poverty,opposingtheWarinVietnam,andrecognizingthatasimportantasthegainsofthe
CivilRightsMovementwere,destroyingtheedificeofJimCrowwasnecessarybutnotsufficient
fortrueequalitybetweentheraces.WehaveanopportunitytoagaincallupontheAmerican
people tobe theirbestselves,appealing tothebestofourculture,theunderlyingdesireof
peopletobefreefromtheirownbiasesandasaresulttobefreefromtheattendantanxieties.
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President Obama and national leaders and surrogates who will be speaking in media and
throughouteventsleadinguptotheMarchAnniversaryareuniquelypositionedtoissuethis
call.
ABOUTTHEAMERICANVALUESINSTITUTE:
TheAmericanValuesInstitute(AVI)isaconsortiumofresearchers,educators,andsocialjusticeadvocatesfocused
onunderstandingtheroleofbiasinoursociety.Weapproachourmissionbygroundingourselvesinthestudyof
theunconsciousstereotypes,preferences,andjudgmentsthatunderpinoursocialandpoliticalbehaviorwhat
researcherstermimplicitorunconsciousbias.Ourprojectleveragesinterdisciplinarymethodstounderstand
theroleimplicitbiasplaysindistortingpolicyandpolitics.Weaimtodeviseanddevelopeffectivemechanisms
thatwillde-biastheelectoratetherebyallowingustomakeimportantdecisionsandbehavewithoutbeing
influencedbyracial,ethnic,orgenderrelatedanxiety.
Formoreinformation:www.americanvaluesinstitute.orgorwww.perception.org.
Orcontact:AlexisMcGillJohnsonat:[email protected]