I want to make an argument to you I want to make a case to you and the argument
to make a case to you and the argument
to make a case to you and the argument that I want to make is that the way that
that I want to make is that the way that
that I want to make is that the way that we currently think about talk about and
we currently think about talk about and
we currently think about talk about and act on issues of racial bias and other
act on issues of racial bias and other
act on issues of racial bias and other lines of difference in this country is
lines of difference in this country is
lines of difference in this country is woefully inadequate and it’s incomplete
woefully inadequate and it’s incomplete
woefully inadequate and it’s incomplete the way we think about talk about and
the way we think about talk about and
the way we think about talk about and act on issues of racial bias and other
act on issues of racial bias and other
act on issues of racial bias and other lines of difference in this country is
lines of difference in this country is
lines of difference in this country is woefully inadequate and it’s incomplete
woefully inadequate and it’s incomplete
woefully inadequate and it’s incomplete and in making this case I want to build
and in making this case I want to build
and in making this case I want to build on the very robust and compelling
on the very robust and compelling
on the very robust and compelling evidence that has been coming out of the
evidence that has been coming out of the
evidence that has been coming out of the science community for the past ten plus
science community for the past ten plus
science community for the past ten plus years that suggests that if we want to
years that suggests that if we want to
years that suggests that if we want to move to a radically different place a
move to a radically different place a
move to a radically different place a radically better place on issues of race
radically better place on issues of race
radically better place on issues of race and difference in this country we have
and difference in this country we have
and difference in this country we have to pay attention to something called
to pay attention to something called
to pay attention to something called implicit bias so what is implicit bias
implicit bias so what is implicit bias
implicit bias so what is implicit bias Oprah Winfrey has talked about it
Oprah Winfrey has talked about it
Oprah Winfrey has talked about it Malcolm Gladwell has written about it
Malcolm Gladwell has written about it
Malcolm Gladwell has written about it normally we say when Oprah is talking
normally we say when Oprah is talking
normally we say when Oprah is talking about it and Malcolm is writing about it
about it and Malcolm is writing about it
about it and Malcolm is writing about it everybody knows about it which isn’t
everybody knows about it which isn’t
everybody knows about it which isn’t always the case so a bias is a
always the case so a bias is a
always the case so a bias is a preference for or a prejudice against a
preference for or a prejudice against a
preference for or a prejudice against a person or a group of people there are
person or a group of people there are
person or a group of people there are three characteristics that make a bias
three characteristics that make a bias
three characteristics that make a bias implicit characteristic number one
implicit characteristic number one
implicit characteristic number one implicit biases operate at the
implicit biases operate at the
implicit biases operate at the subconscious level outside of conscious
subconscious level outside of conscious
subconscious level outside of conscious awareness we don’t know that we have
awareness we don’t know that we have
awareness we don’t know that we have them and they can’t be accessed through
them and they can’t be accessed through
them and they can’t be accessed through introspection in other words the science
introspection in other words the science
introspection in other words the science of implicit bias says that none of us
of implicit bias says that none of us
of implicit bias says that none of us can sit here in this room right now
can sit here in this room right now
can sit here in this room right now scratch our heads and wonder out loud do
scratch our heads and wonder out loud do
scratch our heads and wonder out loud do I have a bias against men against women
I have a bias against men against women
I have a bias against men against women against black people against white
against black people against white
against black people against white people against immigrants and expect to
people against immigrants and expect to
people against immigrants and expect to accurately answer that question because
accurately answer that question because
accurately answer that question because the nature of an implicit
the nature of an implicit
the nature of an implicit vices such that we don’t know that we
vices such that we don’t know that we
vices such that we don’t know that we have them characteristic number two
have them characteristic number two
have them characteristic number two implicit by C’s oftentimes run contrary
implicit by C’s oftentimes run contrary
implicit by C’s oftentimes run contrary contrary to our conscious stated beliefs
contrary to our conscious stated beliefs
contrary to our conscious stated beliefs about who we are as human beings and
about who we are as human beings and
about who we are as human beings and what our values are in other words the
what our values are in other words the
what our values are in other words the science of implicit bias says that you
science of implicit bias says that you
science of implicit bias says that you can be a school administrator and say
can be a school administrator and say
can be a school administrator and say that you are deeply committed to
that you are deeply committed to
that you are deeply committed to nurturing and building up young people
nurturing and building up young people
nurturing and building up young people and yet be the same school administrator
and yet be the same school administrator
and yet be the same school administrator who leads your school and high rates of
who leads your school and high rates of
who leads your school and high rates of suspensions and expulsions of young
suspensions and expulsions of young
suspensions and expulsions of young people and both of those things would be
people and both of those things would be
people and both of those things would be true consciously you’re deeply committed
true consciously you’re deeply committed
true consciously you’re deeply committed to building young people up
to building young people up
to building young people up unconsciously you’re doing harm in the
unconsciously you’re doing harm in the
unconsciously you’re doing harm in the process
process
process the science of them quizzes by says that
the science of them quizzes by says that
the science of them quizzes by says that you can be a law enforcement officer
you can be a law enforcement officer
you can be a law enforcement officer deeply committed to the mantra that
deeply committed to the mantra that
deeply committed to the mantra that appears on the side of police vehicles
appears on the side of police vehicles
appears on the side of police vehicles that says what protect and serve and yet
that says what protect and serve and yet
that says what protect and serve and yet be the same law enforcement officer who
be the same law enforcement officer who
be the same law enforcement officer who leads your precinct or your district and
leads your precinct or your district and
leads your precinct or your district and high rates of stops and frisks of young
high rates of stops and frisks of young
high rates of stops and frisks of young men of color and both of those things
men of color and both of those things
men of color and both of those things would be true consciously you’re deeply
would be true consciously you’re deeply
would be true consciously you’re deeply committed to the principles of
committed to the principles of
committed to the principles of protecting and serving
protecting and serving
protecting and serving unconsciously your behavior is
unconsciously your behavior is
unconsciously your behavior is inconsistent with that the third
inconsistent with that the third
inconsistent with that the third characteristic that makes a bias
characteristic that makes a bias
characteristic that makes a bias implicit is that implicit biases are
implicit is that implicit biases are
implicit is that implicit biases are triggered through rapid and automatic
triggered through rapid and automatic
triggered through rapid and automatic meant to associations that we make
meant to associations that we make
meant to associations that we make between people ideas and objects and
between people ideas and objects and
between people ideas and objects and attitudes and stereotypes that we hold
attitudes and stereotypes that we hold
attitudes and stereotypes that we hold about those people ideas and objects and
about those people ideas and objects and
about those people ideas and objects and so case in point I want to do a quick
so case in point I want to do a quick
so case in point I want to do a quick exercise around the power of meant to
exercise around the power of meant to
exercise around the power of meant to associations so in a minute I’m gonna
associations so in a minute I’m gonna
associations so in a minute I’m gonna flash a few words on the screen and what
flash a few words on the screen and what
flash a few words on the screen and what I want to ask you to do is I want you to
I want to ask you to do is I want you to
I want to ask you to do is I want you to quickly reflect on and/or call out the
quickly reflect on and/or call out the
quickly reflect on and/or call out the associations that you make with those
associations that you make with those
associations that you make with those words or that you believe the
words or that you believe the
words or that you believe the aughter society makes with those words
aughter society makes with those words
aughter society makes with those words and so this requires a little bit of
and so this requires a little bit of
and so this requires a little bit of call-and-response so government
corporate suburbs subsidized housing so
corporate suburbs subsidized housing so the science of implicit bias would say
the science of implicit bias would say
the science of implicit bias would say that those associations that you just
that those associations that you just
that those associations that you just made those aren’t mere verbal
made those aren’t mere verbal
made those aren’t mere verbal associations those aren’t mere mentor
associations those aren’t mere mentor
associations those aren’t mere mentor associations the science says that there
associations the science says that there
associations the science says that there are attitudes and behaviors that we
are attitudes and behaviors that we
are attitudes and behaviors that we attach to those associations so imagine
attach to those associations so imagine
attach to those associations so imagine if as part of my introduction I came out
if as part of my introduction I came out
if as part of my introduction I came out here and I said my name is Dasha I want
here and I said my name is Dasha I want
here and I said my name is Dasha I want to talk with you about something
to talk with you about something
to talk with you about something innovative and I’m here representing
innovative and I’m here representing
innovative and I’m here representing local government I used to work in
local government I used to work in
local government I used to work in corporate America I was born and raised
corporate America I was born and raised
corporate America I was born and raised and subsidized housing but I now live in
and subsidized housing but I now live in
and subsidized housing but I now live in the suburbs of Alexandria Virginia
the science would suggests that for many
the science would suggests that for many of you for those who said that your your
of you for those who said that your your
of you for those who said that your your automatic mental association with
automatic mental association with
automatic mental association with government is corrupt or your automatic
government is corrupt or your automatic
government is corrupt or your automatic meant to association with corporate is
meant to association with corporate is
meant to association with corporate is greed you would receive me through that
greed you would receive me through that
greed you would receive me through that filter oftentimes at the unconscious
filter oftentimes at the unconscious
filter oftentimes at the unconscious level and it would color for you every
level and it would color for you every
level and it would color for you every single word that comes out of my mouth
single word that comes out of my mouth
single word that comes out of my mouth so that’s how implicit bias works these
so that’s how implicit bias works these
so that’s how implicit bias works these rapid and automatic mental associations
rapid and automatic mental associations
rapid and automatic mental associations that shape and mold behavior every
that shape and mold behavior every
that shape and mold behavior every single day oftentimes in ways that we’re
single day oftentimes in ways that we’re
single day oftentimes in ways that we’re not even aware of oftentimes in ways
not even aware of oftentimes in ways
not even aware of oftentimes in ways that do harm to others so there are
that do harm to others so there are
that do harm to others so there are three reasons three reasons why focusing
three reasons three reasons why focusing
three reasons three reasons why focusing on implicit bias at this particular
on implicit bias at this particular
on implicit bias at this particular moment in time isn’t
moment in time isn’t
moment in time isn’t important and why I believe that a focus
important and why I believe that a focus
important and why I believe that a focus on implicit bias to help move this
on implicit bias to help move this
on implicit bias to help move this country forward so number one an
country forward so number one an
country forward so number one an implicit bias focus gives us a much more
implicit bias focus gives us a much more
implicit bias focus gives us a much more expansive diagnosis of the challenges
expansive diagnosis of the challenges
expansive diagnosis of the challenges that we face in this country with
that we face in this country with
that we face in this country with respect to difference what do I mean we
respect to difference what do I mean we
respect to difference what do I mean we know from the work of esteemed scholars
know from the work of esteemed scholars
know from the work of esteemed scholars Mazarin banaji and Anthony Greenwald
Mazarin banaji and Anthony Greenwald
Mazarin banaji and Anthony Greenwald that a significant amount of the harm
that a significant amount of the harm
that a significant amount of the harm being experienced and transmitted in
being experienced and transmitted in
being experienced and transmitted in this country with respect to racial bias
this country with respect to racial bias
this country with respect to racial bias and other lines of difference we know
and other lines of difference we know
and other lines of difference we know that a significant amount of that harm
that a significant amount of that harm
that a significant amount of that harm stems from implicit forms of bias in
stems from implicit forms of bias in
stems from implicit forms of bias in addition to explicit forms of bias yet
addition to explicit forms of bias yet
addition to explicit forms of bias yet the majority of the tools that we use
the majority of the tools that we use
the majority of the tools that we use surged rest bias are designed to address
surged rest bias are designed to address
surged rest bias are designed to address explicit forms not the implicit so in
explicit forms not the implicit so in
explicit forms not the implicit so in essence what we have in this country is
essence what we have in this country is
essence what we have in this country is a mismatch a disconnect between how we
a mismatch a disconnect between how we
a mismatch a disconnect between how we diagnose challenges around difference in
diagnose challenges around difference in
diagnose challenges around difference in how we treat them an implicit bias
how we treat them an implicit bias
how we treat them an implicit bias approach gives us a much more expansive
approach gives us a much more expansive
approach gives us a much more expansive diagnosis and a much more expansive
diagnosis and a much more expansive
diagnosis and a much more expansive toolbox and my belief is that if we get
toolbox and my belief is that if we get
toolbox and my belief is that if we get the diagnosis right we will get the
the diagnosis right we will get the
the diagnosis right we will get the treatment right if we continue to get
treatment right if we continue to get
treatment right if we continue to get the diagnosis wrong we will get the
the diagnosis wrong we will get the
the diagnosis wrong we will get the treatment number two implicit bias is
treatment number two implicit bias is
treatment number two implicit bias is both predictive and it’s preventive
both predictive and it’s preventive
both predictive and it’s preventive predictive in the sense that a person
predictive in the sense that a person
predictive in the sense that a person can go to the website for project
can go to the website for project
can go to the website for project implicit take any one of the online
implicit take any one of the online
implicit take any one of the online implicit association test and receive a
implicit association test and receive a
implicit association test and receive a test result that can serve as a
test result that can serve as a
test result that can serve as a predictor of discriminatory behavior
predictor of discriminatory behavior
predictor of discriminatory behavior it’s preventive in a sense that there
it’s preventive in a sense that there
it’s preventive in a sense that there are emerging and promising strategies
are emerging and promising strategies
are emerging and promising strategies coming out of the science community that
coming out of the science community that
coming out of the science community that suggests with internal motivation and
suggests with internal motivation and
suggests with internal motivation and habitual practice we can do things to
habitual practice we can do things to
habitual practice we can do things to reduce our vulnerability to act on our
reduce our vulnerability to act on our
reduce our vulnerability to act on our biases and I believe that that is what
biases and I believe that that is what
biases and I believe that that is what the country needs right now we need a
the country needs right now we need a
the country needs right now we need a prevention approach
prevention approach
prevention approach around issues of bias and difference
around issues of bias and difference
around issues of bias and difference versus an emergency-room response right
versus an emergency-room response right
versus an emergency-room response right now we have an emergency-room response
now we have an emergency-room response
now we have an emergency-room response we wait for stuff to happen then we rush
we wait for stuff to happen then we rush
we wait for stuff to happen then we rush to the emergency room
to the emergency room
to the emergency room we need a prevention approach an
we need a prevention approach an
we need a prevention approach an implicit bias gives us that lastly in
implicit bias gives us that lastly in
implicit bias gives us that lastly in number three implicit bias where an
number three implicit bias where an
number three implicit bias where an implicit bias approach helps to reduce
implicit bias approach helps to reduce
implicit bias approach helps to reduce the shame and the shaming that’s
the shame and the shaming that’s
the shame and the shaming that’s associated with talking about and
associated with talking about and
associated with talking about and addressing issues of bias often
addressing issues of bias often
addressing issues of bias often researcher brené Brown draws an
researcher brené Brown draws an
researcher brené Brown draws an interesting distinction between guilt
interesting distinction between guilt
interesting distinction between guilt and shame
and shame
and shame she says guilt says I made a mistake and
she says guilt says I made a mistake and
she says guilt says I made a mistake and I can do something about it shame says I
I can do something about it shame says I
I can do something about it shame says I am a mistake this is who I am
am a mistake this is who I am
am a mistake this is who I am I’m a horrible human being there’s
I’m a horrible human being there’s
I’m a horrible human being there’s nothing I can do about it I’m gonna
nothing I can do about it I’m gonna
nothing I can do about it I’m gonna always be this way and what I want to
always be this way and what I want to
always be this way and what I want to submit to you is that my belief is that
submit to you is that my belief is that
submit to you is that my belief is that one of the biggest challenges that we
one of the biggest challenges that we
one of the biggest challenges that we have in this country and how we address
have in this country and how we address
have in this country and how we address issues of bias is that we engage in self
issues of bias is that we engage in self
issues of bias is that we engage in self shaming and if we’re honest sometimes we
shaming and if we’re honest sometimes we
shaming and if we’re honest sometimes we intentionally and unintentionally shame
intentionally and unintentionally shame
intentionally and unintentionally shame others and my belief is that as long as
others and my belief is that as long as
others and my belief is that as long as we continue to do that human beings
we continue to do that human beings
we continue to do that human beings would never feel the motivation that
would never feel the motivation that
would never feel the motivation that they need to do the self change work or
they need to do the self change work or
they need to do the self change work or the broader societal change work that we
the broader societal change work that we
the broader societal change work that we need to do an implicit bias approach
need to do an implicit bias approach
need to do an implicit bias approach addresses this because it makes the
addresses this because it makes the
addresses this because it makes the central question not are you racist or
central question not are you racist or
central question not are you racist or not racist
not racist
not racist are you sexist or not sexist an implicit
are you sexist or not sexist an implicit
are you sexist or not sexist an implicit bias approach makes the central question
bias approach makes the central question
bias approach makes the central question how do we get our actions and behaviors
how do we get our actions and behaviors
how do we get our actions and behaviors how do we align our actions and
how do we align our actions and
how do we align our actions and behaviors with our consciously held
behaviors with our consciously held
behaviors with our consciously held egalitarian beliefs released for those
egalitarian beliefs released for those
egalitarian beliefs released for those people who do hold egalitarian beliefs
people who do hold egalitarian beliefs
people who do hold egalitarian beliefs and my belief is that many people do so
and my belief is that many people do so
and my belief is that many people do so that
that
that why this work is important at this
why this work is important at this
why this work is important at this particular moment in time and in closing
particular moment in time and in closing
particular moment in time and in closing I want to leave you with a quick idea
I want to leave you with a quick idea
I want to leave you with a quick idea the late child psychologist Urie
the late child psychologist Urie
the late child psychologist Urie bronfenbrenner once said that every
bronfenbrenner once said that every
bronfenbrenner once said that every child needs at least one adult in his or
child needs at least one adult in his or
child needs at least one adult in his or her life who is irrationally crazy about
her life who is irrationally crazy about
her life who is irrationally crazy about him or her raise your hand if you’ve had
him or her raise your hand if you’ve had
him or her raise your hand if you’ve had that at any point in your life and so
that at any point in your life and so
that at any point in your life and so you know what it feels like my belief is
you know what it feels like my belief is
you know what it feels like my belief is that not only does every child need that
that not only does every child need that
that not only does every child need that but every human being needs at least one
but every human being needs at least one
but every human being needs at least one of the human being in their life who is
of the human being in their life who is
of the human being in their life who is irrationally crazy about him or her and
irrationally crazy about him or her and
irrationally crazy about him or her and the only way that we’re gonna have that
the only way that we’re gonna have that
the only way that we’re gonna have that is if we do the internal change work
is if we do the internal change work
is if we do the internal change work that we need to do to make the external
that we need to do to make the external
that we need to do to make the external change work possible thank you very much
change work possible thank you very much
change work possible thank you very much [Applause]
”
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