| > | | | | research needs to be done to learn more about |
| Thinkers know better than to be racist. It's | | | | this. |
| generally understood that racists are, well, not | | | | No intelligent person wants to acknowledge that |
| thinkers. It's not that racists are necessarily | | | | they may have a bias in terms of race. We know |
| stupid--it's that they are ignorant. | | | | in our minds that it is unfair, unwarranted, and |
| We like to think that racists are choosing to hang | | | | detrimental to have a negative view of someone |
| on to their bias because they don't know any | | | | on the basis of race. We also know it's politically |
| better. Those of us who are educated--or who | | | | incorrect. We like to think we're smart enough to |
| think--can overcome any bias through information | | | | outwit any insidious form of racism that may be |
| and intention. Right? | | | | lurking in the back of our brains. |
| Tell that to our brains. | | | | Well, our brains don't know that. These tests |
| A recent study done at Dartmouth College | | | | measure what's going on in our brains, not what |
| presents some interesting ideas about racism and | | | | we want to have going on. The results can be |
| the brain. According to the widely published results | | | | quite shocking. |
| of this research, racism can actually cause | | | | I guess the good news is that there's a part of |
| stupidity. Even professors from esteemed | | | | our brains that is trying to behave properly! This |
| universities like Stanford are quoted as saying | | | | study was done with educated, intelligent, fairly |
| such things as "Racism really does make people | | | | progressive white students at Dartmouth College. |
| stupid." | | | | Though it isn't mentioned in the report, I'm |
| Well, that makes for an interesting sound bite, but | | | | guessing that these students didn't consider |
| it's a bit misleading. | | | | themselves racist. What happens if the same |
| Here's what happened: white test subjects with a | | | | study is conducted with those who readily admit |
| bias against black faces performed poorly on a | | | | their prejudice? |
| cognitive skills test after being interviewed by an | | | | If we know better, and we want to avoid being |
| African American person. The more biased the | | | | racist, how do we go about doing so? We |
| subjects were (based on their scores on the | | | | assume that more contact with individuals of |
| Harvard implicit association test), the worse they | | | | other races will help us overcome our prejudices, |
| did. | | | | but that sometimes backfires. Integrated |
| What's fascinating about this study is that it is the | | | | communities are rarely racism-free. |
| first to show through magnetic resonance imaging | | | | Contact doesn't eliminate racism--greater |
| that there is a particular area of the brain | | | | understanding and positive relationships do. |
| associated with efforts to say or do the right | | | | Think about your brain and your own bias |
| thing. This "executive control" portion of the brain | | | | regarding race. The first step is to be honest: |
| showed increased activity during both the implicit | | | | virtually every single person on the planet has a |
| association test and the interview. | | | | racial bias of some kind. The next step is to take |
| Those who had scores indicating a greater bias | | | | a test to find out for yourself where you stand. |
| showed the most activity in their brains in this | | | | And then? What next? |
| area as they struggled to refrain from making | | | | We learn racism. We know enough about the |
| racist choices or offensive remarks. As this poor | | | | brain and how it works to recognize that |
| little section of the brain was overloaded, subjects | | | | whatever we learn we can also unlearn. Absorb |
| were temporarily unable to perform thinking | | | | everything you can about other ethnicities and |
| tasks. | | | | cultures. Read, travel, see movies, listen to music, |
| So, really, the compelling notion here isn't simply | | | | try new foods--do everything possible to develop |
| that racism makes you stupid. It's that the | | | | a voracious curiosity and robust enthusiasm for |
| presence of someone about whom we feel a bias | | | | people of all races. |
| affects our ability to think. If you live in a fairly | | | | Stimulate your brain in an effort to render that |
| homogenous community, your bias--and the | | | | "executive control" area irrelevant. Train your |
| "executive control" part of your brain--isn't really | | | | mind while building relationships with individuals of |
| tested. However, if on a daily basis you interact | | | | other races. Outsmart your brain's racism by |
| with people toward whom you have a racial bias, | | | | becoming colorblind. |
| your thinking becomes impaired, at least | | | | Thinkers know better than to be racist. The |
| temporarily. | | | | challenge is to free our brains of lingering doubts. |
| What does this mean long term? Are racist | | | | Immerse yourself in the richness of the world. It'll |
| individuals in integrated communities "dumbed | | | | make you smarter--and more excellent--in every |
| down" because their overtaxed brains can't cope? | | | | way. |
| Is there a cumulative effect? A whole lot more | | | | |