| The research I've done over the past month is | | | | discrimination but they know there are so many |
| teaching me about the strength of our | | | | instances of covert racism that it's difficult to tell |
| subconscious mind and the fact that we are so | | | | where it is coming from. Could this be because |
| unaware of its beliefs, opinions and affects it has | | | | they pick up on the subconscious beliefs of most |
| on our behavior. | | | | White Americans? In fact the Race IAT shows |
| I just finished taking the Race Implicit Association | | | | that 27% of all who take it, Blacks and Whites |
| Test (IAT) which is available online. I recommend | | | | alike, show a strong preference for |
| you take it, the link can be found at the end of | | | | European-Americans and another 27% show a |
| this article. if you haven't already. When you get | | | | moderate preference for European-Americans, |
| to that page, click on the "Demonstration" link and | | | | accounting for 54% of all people taking the test. |
| on the next page, click on "Go to the | | | | The rest of the people are distributed among five |
| Demonstration Tests" link at the bottom of the | | | | other categories-slight preference for |
| page. Then, read the Preliminary Information page, | | | | European-Americans, no preference, slight |
| and if agreeable, click on "I wish to proceed." On | | | | preference for African-American, moderate |
| the next page, select the "Race IAT" button and | | | | preference for African-American and strong |
| proceed with the test. I was disturbed by my | | | | preference for African-American with decreasing |
| results. | | | | percentages representing each of these |
| I have authored a book about diversity and | | | | subsequent categories. |
| facilitate diversity workshops internationally and | | | | Stephen Young has developed a program, |
| my score shows I have a slight preference for | | | | MicroInequities: The Power of Small(TM). Research |
| European-Americans as compared to | | | | shows that the content of our verbal messages |
| African-Americans. I would have hoped that I | | | | means far less than the "subtle, often |
| would have scored in the no preference category. | | | | subconscious signals representing the core of the |
| What this test measures is our subconscious | | | | messages we send," such as eye rolling, undivided |
| feelings, of which we are often unaware. For | | | | attention given to one group and not others, eye |
| research purposes, the question is asked where | | | | contact, arms folded, etc. MicroInequities are |
| you consciously place yourself in your preference | | | | "cumulative, subtle messages that occur when |
| of the races. Naturally, I believed I saw both | | | | these signals are negative or promote a negative |
| races as equal, however, my subconscious tells a | | | | bias. MicroInequities are not one-time events. |
| different story. | | | | They are cumulative, repeated behaviors that |
| There are many other IATs available and I | | | | devalue, discourage, and impair performance in |
| recommend you take as many as you like. Here | | | | the workplace." They can certainly come |
| are some titles you can choose: Gender-Science | | | | deliberately from our conscious mind but I believe |
| IAT, Skin-tone IAT, Disability IAT, Asian IAT, | | | | most often MicroInequities are glimpses into what |
| Weight IAT, Religion IAT, Age IAT, Sexuality IAT | | | | our subconscious mind believes. |
| and many others. Check it out to see if your | | | | The first step in understanding this phenomenon is |
| conscious beliefs are lined up with your | | | | to gain information. Take the test. Understand |
| subconscious tendencies. | | | | what your subconscious believes and tells you on |
| As I am beginning to understand this dynamic, I | | | | a daily basis. Know that you are not responsible |
| find it may explain some things that have been | | | | for the programming you received. Most of the |
| puzzling to me. As a white female in the US, | | | | messages programmed into your subconscious, |
| when I talk with other white people, most will | | | | where placed there prior to your sixth birthday. |
| denounce racism as wrong. They will state their | | | | You couldn't defend against them. They came |
| conscious beliefs that white people and black | | | | from the culture in which you were raised. |
| people are equal and that they, themselves, | | | | However, now that you know about the disparity |
| believe in equality for all and do not participate in | | | | between your conscious intentions and your |
| oppressive thoughts or behavior and might even | | | | subconscious beliefs, you are responsible for |
| say they would be an advocate for minorities in | | | | taking or not taking action. If you want to take |
| society by taking a public stand against prejudice. | | | | action, you need to become aware of the |
| This led to my understanding that while racism is | | | | messages of your subconscious and deliberately |
| still alive and well in some areas, such as skinhead | | | | place yourself in situations where you will be |
| and Ku Klux Klan organizations, overall, white | | | | exposed to positive messages and associations |
| people are less racist than in years past. | | | | with the group against which you have been |
| I would be right if I were only measuring | | | | biased. Gaining more positive information and |
| conscious beliefs. Most white people are against | | | | experiences to balance out the negative is the |
| prejudice and oppression consciously, however, | | | | only way to counterbalance the influence of our |
| many are affected by their subconscious | | | | subconscious. |
| programming of which they are largely unaware. | | | | Bring your subconscious into your conscious |
| Contrast this with the experience of many Black | | | | awareness. Don't allow it to play uninterrupted in |
| and African-American people in the US. Most | | | | the background of your daily experience. Shine a |
| Blacks I know will deny that racism is any less | | | | light on it and become committed to bringing your |
| prevalent than it used to be. Sure there have | | | | subconscious into alignment with what your |
| been laws passed to protect them from overt | | | | conscious mind tells you to be true. |