DAY 3:
UNDERSTANDING BIAS

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“Worse than being less than you, is if you are perceived as a threat”

John A. Powell

 

We all have bias. But often, we are not aware of the biases that we subconsciously hold. Research shows that years of structural and cultural constructs have deeply embedded stereotypes into our culture, and consequently into our own subconscious. For example, according to a recent study, companies are more than twice as likely to call minority applicants for interviews if they submit whitened resumes than candidates who reveal their race.

But, research also shows that we can actively rewire these neural associations by being more intentional about acknowledging our biases. Today’s focus is on personal reflection - taking the time to uncover some of our own biases and reflecting on how we take control of these unconscious constructs.

 

TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Do one or more of the following…

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READ:

Read the article Cognitive Biases: What They Are and How They Affect You. Cognitive biases affect every area of our life, from how we form our memories, to how we shape our beliefs, and to how we form relationships with other people. In this article, you will learn more about cognitive biases, understand why we experience them, see what types of them exist, and find out what you can do in order to mitigate them successfully.

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WATCH:

Watch the video Let's Talk Bias from PBS Learning Media. Bias can take many forms, and impacts various groups in different ways. In this Youth Collective video produced by Reel Works, five young people share stories of experiencing bias targeted at their unique identities. (4:41)

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TEST:

Go deeper and take Project Implicit's Hidden Bias tests, created by psychologists at top universities, to uncover some of your own unconscious biases. Remember, having biases doesn’t make you a bad person—it only makes you human. TIP: Proceed as a guest to access their library of tests and find out your implicit associations about race, gender, sexual orientation, skin tone, and other topics.

DAY 3 JOURNAL PAGE

Capture what you learned by journaling your thoughts and feelings about today's content. Click below to download a free journal page for today.

Journal Page

DISCUSSION GUIDE

If you are participating in the Challenge as part of a group, download this free discussion guide to help facilitate discussion.

Journal Page

 

 

NEXT TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING PRIVILEGE

 

 

CONVERSATION PIECE: Art Addressing Equity

Celebrate Black Composers

Artist: Composer: H. Leslie Adams (text Edna St. Vincent Milay)
Performer: Damaris Nelson (East High School, ’20 graduate)

Title: For You There is No Song

Date of piece: Composed 1960. Performed August, 2020.

Description: “For You There is No Song” is the third song of H. Leslie Adams’ song cycle Five Millay Songs.

“The works of black composers have historically been overlooked, and therefore assumed not to exist. By showcasing some of these amazing works, we hope to try to give the platform they have too frequently been denied because of systemic racism within the performing arts community.”

Mary Anne Sims
City Voices

Thank you to the members of BRAVO Greater Des Moines for curating the Equity Challenge Gallery, a collection of art in various media that speaks to the issues of equity in our society.

BRAVO Greater Des Moines