Thinkers know better than to be racist. It's generally understood that racists are, well, not thinkers. It's not that racists are necessarily stupid--it's that they are ignorant.
We like to think that racists are choosing to hang on to their bias because they don't know any better. Those of us who are educated--or who think--can overcome any bias through information and intention. Right?
Tell that to our brains.
A recent study done at Dartmouth College presents some interesting ideas about racism and the brain. According to the widely published results of this research, racism can actually cause stupidity. Even professors from esteemed universities like Stanford are quoted as saying such things as "Racism really does make people stupid."
Well, that makes for an interesting sound bite, but it's a bit misleading. Here's what happened: white test subjects with a bias against black faces performed poorly on a cognitive skills test after being interviewed by an African American person. The more biased the subjects were (based on their scores on the Harvard implicit association test), the worse they did.
What's fascinating about this study is that it is the first to show through magnetic resonance imaging that there is a particular area of the brain associated with efforts to say or do the right thing. This "executive control" portion of the brain showed increased activity during both the implicit association test and the interview. Those who had scores indicating a greater bias showed the most activity in their brains in this area as they struggled to refrain from making racist choices or offensive remarks. As this poor little section of the brain was overloaded, subjects were temporarily unable to perform thinking tasks.
So, really, the compelling notion here isn't simply that racism makes you stupid. It's that the presence of someone about whom we feel a bias affects our ability to think. If you live in a fairly homogenous community, your bias--and the "executive control" part of your brain--isn't really tested. However, if on a daily basis you interact with people toward whom you have a racial bias, your thinking becomes impaired, at least temporarily.
What does this mean long term? Are racist individuals in integrated communities "dumbed down" because their overtaxed brains can't cope? Is there a cumulative effect? A whole lot more research needs to be done to learn more about this.
No intelligent person wants to acknowledge that they may have a bias in terms of race. We know in our minds that it is unfair, unwarranted, and detrimental to have a negative view of someone on the basis of race. We also know it's politically incorrect. We like to think we're smart enough to outwit any insidious form of racism that may be lurking in the back of our brains.
Well, our brains don't know that. These tests measure what's going on in our brains, not what we want to have going on. The results can be quite shocking.
The good news is that there's a part of our brains that is trying to behave properly! This study was done with educated, intelligent, fairly progressive white students at Dartmouth College. Though it isn't mentioned in the report, it's likely that these students didn't consider themselves racist. What happens if the same study is conducted with those who readily admit their prejudice?
If we know better, and we want to avoid being racist, how do we go about doing so? We assume that more contact with individuals of other races will help us overcome our prejudices, but that sometimes backfires. Integrated communities are rarely racism-free. Contact doesn't eliminate racism--greater understanding and positive relationships do.
Think about your brain and your own bias regarding race. The first step is to be honest: virtually every single person on the planet has a racial bias of some kind. The next step is to take a test to find out for yourself where you stand.
And then? What next?
We learn racism. We know enough about the brain and how it works to recognize that whatever we learn we can also unlearn.
Absorb everything you can about other ethnicities and cultures. Read, travel, see movies, listen to music, try new foods--do everything possible to develop a voracious curiosity and robust enthusiasm for people of all races. Stimulate your brain in an effort to render that "executive control" area irrelevant.
Train your mind while building relationships with individuals of other races. Outsmart your brain's racism by becoming colorblind.
Thinkers know better than to be racist. The challenge is to free our brains of lingering doubts. Immerse yourself in the richness of the world. It'll make you smarter--and more excellent--in every way.
About The Author
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse. Her work has inspired thinkers in over 70 countries around the world. She serves up a satisfying blend of clarity, comfort and comic relief in her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage. To subscribe, visit http://www.massageyourmind.com.
http://www.massageyourmind.com
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carYou may be facing a type of disappointment, frustration, loss,... Read More
? Make a list of all your accomplishments in life... Read More
Can you do something for me?Tell me?Please don't think tomorrow.What?Yeah,... Read More
Every time something doesn't go quite right (rather frequently for... Read More
Do you realize that what we believe about ourselves, affects... Read More
Most of what we've been taught about how to be... Read More
The other day I bought an unusual piece of software:... Read More
One of my class fellows was really tensed, when asked... Read More
Henry Ford, after he had achieved great success, was the... Read More
What is a paradigm? In my own words, a paradigm... Read More
Our initial reaction when hitting a setback or a "roadblock,... Read More
I am often astounded at what and why people believe... Read More
I get emails and questions from people all the time... Read More
A Model of the dysfunctional, unconscious human psyche. A way... Read More
There are times in all of our lives where our... Read More
Normally I race around multitasking. I am always thinking about... Read More
Have you ever thought about you have a lot to... Read More
There is a growing appreciation of the impact of psychic... Read More
Look at this glass on the table in front of... Read More
Drinking damages the soul; being lustful damages the vitality; greed... Read More
Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Is the glass... Read More
You've heard the buzzwords: Attitude is everything! Change your perspective!... Read More
Who are you?We all know that we are composed of... Read More
You've probably heard this idea at one time or another.... Read More
So how do we find meaning? The first step is... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..One of my class fellows was really tensed, when asked... Read More
Philippians 4:6-do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,... Read More
There was some sunshine this weekend while I was writing... Read More
I'm getting calls from folks who say, "I hear you... Read More
A joke is a way of getting people to laugh.... Read More
One of the first things that I work on with... Read More
Do you wish you had high self-confidence? Some of us... Read More
Unhappy moods can be like comfortable sweaters, those old ones:... Read More
Fear is a double-edged sword. It can hold you back... Read More
Have you ever thought about you have a lot to... Read More
I was playing tennis today with one of my tennis... Read More
An old Joni Mitchell song reminds us, "don't it always... Read More
Occasionally people will ask me how I keep a positive... Read More
In speaking of comparison we need to be aware that... Read More
During these times of uncertainty in the outside world, look... Read More
It is widely believed that just anybody has the intrinsic... Read More
There are times that we encounter fearful thoughts that can... Read More
Your mindset is a strong factor in achieving any type... Read More
Thinkers know better than to be racist. It's generally understood... Read More
Yuk!One thing, I really have a problem with is criticism.... Read More
You are the only one that can give confidence to... Read More
John Ryder awakens feeling rested, refreshed, and sensing a calm... Read More
Say aloud:I AM. I AM Consciousness. I AM the creator... Read More
Maureen worked in an office with twenty other people, processing... Read More
Sometimes we are in a position to look into the... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |