Uncover Your Unconscious Bias
Lately, I've seen some of the worst of humanity, I’ve seen some of the best, and I’ve seen a whole lot of lukewarm.
If history has taught us anything, it’s that lukewarm gets us nowhere. It’s natural to feel defensive, attacked, convicted and uncomfortable when our beliefs are challenged. To be inclined toward ignorance. I know because I've been there. But we must humble ourselves. Please do not let your discomfort get in the way of progress. Don’t let your unwillingness to be challenged prevent your growth as a human being.
In all that’s happening right now, one of the best things you can do is examine and challenge your unconscious bias.
According to Vanderbilt University’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
Unconscious bias (or implicit bias) is often defined as prejudice or unsupported judgments in favor of or against one thing, person, or group as compared to another, in a way that is usually considered unfair. Many researchers suggest that unconscious bias occurs automatically as the brain makes quick judgments based on past experiences and background.
As a result of unconscious biases, certain people benefit and other people are penalized. In contrast, deliberate prejudices are defined as conscious bias (or explicit bias). Although we all have biases, many unconscious biases tend to be exhibited toward minority groups based on factors such as class, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, religious beliefs, age, disability and more.
It is crucial that we are constantly doing the work, checking our preconceptions and beliefs about people who do not look or live like we do.
No one is asking you to go 0 to 100. No one is asking you to be the *best* human being — just a better one. In the words of Dolly Chugh, “sometimes we're working so hard to protect that good person identity ... that we're not actually giving ourselves space to learn from our mistakes and actually be better people.”
Give yourself the space and grace to learn, grow and be better.
I’m pleading with you to do so.
Because so many lives depend on it.