This document discusses facing issues of race and humanity. It notes that while we may unconsciously think about and hold biases related to race even with sincerely egalitarian attitudes, avoiding discussions of race does not make bias go away. Having open conversations about race, though difficult, is important. It concludes by providing information about the Kirwan Institute and its work related to issues of race.

1. Facing Race,
Facing Our Humanity
Andrew Grant-Thomas
Deputy Director, Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity
Ohio Council of Churches
2011 Ohio Ministries Convocation - “Faith and Race: New Opportunities”
January 24-25, 2011
Crowne Plaza, Columbus North Hotel

2. The Dancing Girl Illusion
http://www.moillusions.com/2007/06/spinning-sihouette-optical-illusion.html 2

3. Awareness Test
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrqrkihlw-s
3

4. Our Unconscious Networks
• What colors are the following lines of text?
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5. Our Unconscious Networks
• What colors are the following lines of text?
5

6. Our Unconscious Networks
• What colors are the following lines of text?
6

7. Our Unconscious Networks
• What colors are the following lines of text?
7

8. Our Unconscious Networks
• What colors are the following lines of text?
8

9. Whoa!

10. 10
Implicit Association Test – Part 1 (abbreviated)
European African
American American
Say “Left” Say “Right”

11. 11
Implicit Association Test – Part 2 (abbreviated)
Bad Good
words words
Say “Left” Say “Right”

12. 12
Implicit Association Test – Part 3 (abbreviated)
European African
American or American or
Bad words Good words
Say “Left” Say “Right”

13. African American - European American IAT
Strong preference for Blacks 2%
Moderate preference for Blacks 4%
Slight preference for Blacks 6%
Little to no preference 17%
Slight preference for Whites 16%
Moderate preference for Whites 27%
Strong preference for Whites 27%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
N = 732,881 13

14. Light Skin – Dark Skin IAT
Strong preference for dark skin 2%
Moderate preference for dark skin 4%
Slight preference for dark skin 6%
Little to no preference 17%
Slight preference for light skin 16%
Moderate preference for light skin 27%
Strong preference for light skin 27%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
N = 122,988 14

15. Fat – Thin IAT
Strong preference for fat people 1%
Moderate preference for fat people 4%
Slight preference for fat people 7%
Little to no preference 19%
Slight preference for thin people 18%
Moderate preference for thin people 27%
Strong preference for thin people 25%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
N = 199,329 http://implicit.harvard.edu
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16. “Maleness” – Career IAT
Strong association of Male with Family 0%
Moderate association of Male with Family 2%
Slight association of Male with Family 4%
Little to no preference 17%
Slight association of Male with Career 20%
Moderate association of Male with Career 32%
Strong association of Male with Career 24%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
N = 83,084 http://implicit.harvard.edu
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17. What Would You Do?
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18. Some behavioral implications
• In “shooter game,” mistakes follow clear pattern: people
shoot more unarmed blacks and fail to shoot armed whites
• Doctors’ implicit racial attitudes  unequal treatment for
Latinos and Blacks compared to Whites
• Resumes with “white-sounding” names (Emily, Greg, Jill,
Todd) receive 50% more call-backs than those with “black-
sounding” (Jamaal, Latoya, Tyrone, Lakesha) names.
• Neighborhoods with White-only residents evaluated much
more favorably than same neighborhoods with black
residents or racially mixed residents
• More or less implicit bias corresponds to comfort level and
body language in interracial interactions
“Emergency Treatment May Only Be Skin Deep.” Science Daily 11 Aug. 2007 18

19. Possible interventions
• Talk about race
 When we don’t talk about race, our unconscious/
hidden ways of thinking can operate without the
“discipline” of our fairer explicit frames.
 Give your “better angels” a chance!
The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World. By the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler. (2009). p. 70 19

20. % Hispanic in Ohio
1990
2007
http://www.socialexplorer.com/pub/maps/map3.aspx?g=0 20

21. % Foreign born in Ohio
1990
2007
http://www.socialexplorer.com/pub/maps/map3.aspx?g=0 21

22. Concluding Thoughts
• We unconsciously think about race even when we do
not explicitly discuss it.
• We probably hold racial/ethnic biases even when our
explicit attitudes are sincerely egalitarian
• You can’t avoid bias by avoiding
race; it does not work
• Conversations about race are not
easy, but they are vital.
Source: Lester, Julius. Let’s Talk About Race 22

23. www.race-talk.org
KirwanInstitute
on:
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