Unpacking and Transforming Your Biases For A Better Community | Denise Hernandez | TEDxSanAntonio

Summary

The speaker recounts a transformative leadership workshop that challenged their preconceptions and fostered camaraderie among diverse students. They delve into implicit biases, citing the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and its revelations about unconscious attitudes. The talk explores how these biases manifest in employment, education, and criminal justice, using examples like the 'resume experiment' and teacher biases. The speaker advocates for awareness and action against systemic oppression, urging individuals to confront their biases and hold leaders accountable for change.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Early experiences, such as a leadership workshop, can challenge perceptions and foster unexpected camaraderie among diverse groups of individuals.
• 🤔 Implicit biases are unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that affect our understanding and behavior, often contradicting our declared beliefs.
• 📊 The Implicit Association Test (IAT) helps to uncover our unconscious biases, which can be surprising and unsettling but are crucial for self-awareness.
• 🏢 Employment discrimination is prevalent, with studies showing that white applicants are often favored over equally qualified applicants of color.
• 🏫 Teachers' biases can significantly impact students, with research indicating that they may spend more time interacting with male students and prompt them to think more deeply.
• 👮‍♂️ Racial biases in the criminal justice system lead to disproportionate targeting and use of force against people of color, contributing to systemic oppression.
• 🔍 Recognizing and confronting our individual biases is the first step towards dismantling systemic oppression and promoting equality.
• 🌐 Community engagement and cultural understanding are key to breaking down barriers and fostering a more inclusive society.
• 🌟 Individual empowerment and the pursuit of self-improvement can contribute to broader societal change, even in the face of deeply ingrained prejudices.
• 🌈 Embracing diversity and learning from one another can lead to personal growth and positive social impact, as demonstrated by the speaker's experiences in San Antonio.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the leadership workshop attended by the speaker?

The purpose of the leadership workshop was to bring together a diverse group of students to participate in team-building activities and share stories, ultimately challenging their perceptions of each other and fostering a sense of camaraderie.

How did the speaker's experience at the leadership workshop change their perspective on their peers?

The speaker's experience at the workshop challenged their initial skepticism about the diverse group of students being leaders. It led to a breakthrough moment where they realized the shared humanity and struggles among the students, which helped shape their life and passion for reaching out to others beyond superficial judgments.

What is an implicit bias, and how does it affect our understanding?

Implicit bias refers to the unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that affect our understanding and behavior without our conscious knowledge. These biases can influence our actions and decisions in both positive and negative ways, often contradicting our declared beliefs.

What is the Implicit Association Test (IAT), and why was it created?

The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a psychological test designed by Dr. Anthony Greenwald and colleagues to measure the strength of a person's automatic preferences for one thing over another. It was created to better understand how unconscious attitudes may differ from our conscious beliefs and to reveal disconnects between them.

How does implicit bias manifest in the job market according to the script?

Implicit bias in the job market can lead to discrimination where applicants with white-sounding names receive more callbacks and interview opportunities than those with names perceived as belonging to racial minorities, even when qualifications are identical.

What is the school-to-prison pipeline, and how does it relate to implicit bias?

The school-to-prison pipeline refers to the policies and practices that push children and youth from schools into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. It is related to implicit bias as teachers' unconscious biases can lead to disproportionately harsh treatment and lower expectations for students of color, which can contribute to their involvement with the criminal justice system.

How do racial biases affect the outcomes of police interactions as mentioned in the script?

Racial biases can lead to quicker and more frequent use of force against black individuals compared to white individuals during police interactions. This bias is evident in studies showing that black targets are shot more quickly and often than white targets.

What steps can individuals take to combat implicit biases according to the speaker?

Individuals can combat implicit biases by understanding and confronting their own biases, which can start with taking an implicit attitude test. Dismantling these biases requires ongoing, conscious effort and holding oneself and others accountable.

Why does the speaker consider themselves a 'realistic optimist'?

The speaker considers themselves a 'realistic optimist' because, despite acknowledging the likelihood that prejudices like racism and sexism may never be completely eradicated, they remain hopeful and inspired by the impact of individual empowerment and the potential for positive change.

How does the speaker's love for San Antonio influence their perspective on community and diversity?

The speaker's love for San Antonio is rooted in a mission larger than themselves and is influenced by the city's unique blend of beauty and diversity. They believe that by looking past personal comfort and limits, individuals can learn from each other, seek change, and make a real positive impact within their communities.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Leadership Workshop Experience

The speaker recounts a pivotal experience in middle school where they were selected to attend a leadership workshop, which initially seemed like an opportunity to skip school. The day involved diverse students in team-building exercises, leading to a profound moment of shared vulnerability and understanding. This event challenged the speaker's preconceptions about their peers and fostered unexpected friendships, highlighting the power of such experiences to shape one's perspective and passion for connecting with others beyond superficial judgments. The narrative segues into a broader discussion on implicit biases, introducing the Implicit Association Test (IAT) developed by Dr. Anthony Greenwald, which reveals unconscious attitudes that can diverge from our professed beliefs.

05:01

🌐 Tackling Systemic Bias and Inequality

The second paragraph delves into the pervasive impact of implicit bias on societal structures such as employment, education, and criminal justice. It cites the example of Jose Zamora, whose job prospects improved significantly after changing his name to sound less Hispanic, illustrating the insidious nature of racial bias in hiring practices. The paragraph also addresses the 'school-to-prison pipeline,' highlighting how children from disadvantaged backgrounds are disproportionately affected by systemic issues that intertwine crime, poverty, and educational shortcomings. The speaker emphasizes the need for awareness and action to dismantle systemic oppression, advocating for individual empowerment and collective responsibility to effect change. The narrative concludes with a call for realistic optimism, recognizing the ongoing struggle against prejudice while celebrating the potential for positive impact through understanding and empathy.

Keywords

💡Leadership Workshop

A Leadership Workshop is an event designed to develop leadership skills and qualities among participants. In the video, the speaker recounts being selected as a pre-teen to attend such a workshop, which was a pivotal moment in challenging their perceptions and shaping their life. The workshop involved diverse students, indicating its aim to foster leadership across different social groups.

💡Implicit Biases

Implicit biases refer to the unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding or actions towards people. The video discusses how these biases can operate below the level of conscious awareness and influence our behavior towards others. The speaker uses the example of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) to illustrate how these biases can be measured and how they can lead to discriminatory practices.

💡Implicit Association Test (IAT)

The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a psychological test designed to measure a person's automatic preferences for one group over another. The video mentions the IAT as a tool for understanding one's own unconscious biases, particularly in relation to race. The speaker's personal IAT results are used to highlight the disconnect between conscious beliefs and unconscious attitudes.

💡Systemic Oppression

Systemic oppression refers to the ways in which societal systems and institutions perpetuate discrimination and inequality against certain groups. The video discusses how small, everyday decisions influenced by implicit biases can accumulate over time, leading to systemic oppression. The speaker connects this concept to broader social issues like employment discrimination and the school-to-prison pipeline.

💡School-to-Prison Pipeline

The school-to-prison pipeline is a term used to describe the policies and practices that push students, particularly minority and low-income students, out of schools and into the criminal justice system. The video provides a heartbreaking example of a child being told by his teacher that he would end up in jail, illustrating the impact of teacher biases and societal expectations on young lives.

💡Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice refers to the system through which offenders are apprehended, charged, convicted, and punished. The video touches on racial disparities within the criminal justice system, noting that certain racial or ethnic groups are more likely to be targeted by law enforcement and to receive harsher sentences, highlighting the role of implicit biases in these outcomes.

💡Racial Bias

Racial bias is a form of prejudice based on race, which can manifest in discriminatory behavior or attitudes. The video discusses racial bias in various contexts, including employment, education, and law enforcement. It emphasizes the impact of these biases on individuals and communities, and the need for awareness and action to combat them.

💡Accountability

Accountability implies the responsibility to report, explain, and be answerable for one's actions. In the video, the speaker calls for holding individuals and institutions accountable for their actions, particularly in relation to addressing implicit biases and systemic oppression. This includes holding elected officials and community leaders responsible for their roles in perpetuating or mitigating these issues.

💡Cultural Festivals

Cultural festivals are events that celebrate the traditions, arts, and customs of a particular culture or community. The video mentions attending cultural festivals as a way to appreciate and learn from diverse cultures, suggesting that such experiences can help break down barriers and foster understanding among different groups.

💡Community Leaders

Community leaders are individuals who have influence and responsibility within a community, often working to address local issues and improve the well-being of community members. The video emphasizes the role of community leaders in addressing systemic oppression and implicit biases, suggesting that they have a duty to promote equality and justice within their communities.

💡Realistic Optimist

A realistic optimist is someone who maintains a positive outlook on the future while also acknowledging the challenges and realities of the present. The speaker identifies as a realistic optimist, expressing hope for progress in addressing issues like racism and sexism, while also recognizing the ongoing struggle and the need for sustained effort.

Highlights

Selected for a leadership workshop as a pre-teen, the speaker was initially skeptical about the diverse group of attendees.

Team building activities revealed unexpected connections and shared experiences among the workshop participants.

A powerful moment of solidarity was experienced when participants shared personal stories of abuse.

The workshop led to lasting camaraderie and changed perceptions among the attendees.

Implicit biases were discussed as unconscious attitudes that can affect our understanding in both positive and negative ways.

The Implicit Association Test (IAT) was introduced as a tool to understand our unconscious attitudes.

The speaker's IAT results revealed an opposite attitude to the majority, challenging common biases.

Discrimination in hiring was illustrated through the story of Jose Zamora, highlighting the impact of names on job opportunities.

Studies show that white applicants with criminal records are more likely to be hired than black applicants without records.

Economists have found a 14% favor for white applicants over Latino applicants, indicating systemic bias in employment.

Gender bias in education was discussed, with teachers spending more time speaking to and prompting male students.

Children of color are adversely affected by teacher biases, contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline.

The speaker shared a heartbreaking story of a child who was told by teachers that he would end up in jail.

Items mistaken as weapons by police officers were highlighted, leading to serious injury or death of unarmed victims.

Racial bias studies show that black targets are shot more quickly and often than white targets.

The speaker calls for understanding and confronting our individual biases as a first step towards change.

Accountability of elected officials, community leaders, and ourselves is emphasized in dismantling systemic oppression.

The speaker identifies as a realistic optimist, acknowledging the long-term challenge of eradicating prejudices.

The importance of individual empowerment and self-improvement in the context of community and societal change is discussed.

The speaker's love for San Antonio and its diverse, beautiful community is expressed, highlighting the city's potential for positive impact.

Transcripts

[Music]

hi good

morning when I was in the eth grade I

was selected by teachers and

administrators to leave class for the

day to attend a leadership Workshop as a

pre-teen I was naturally pretty excited

to miss class all day no matter the

reason on the morning of the Class Clown

couple gang members athletes smart kids

and other kids I had never spoken to

before boarded the bus alongside me I

was immediately very skeptical how were

any of these kids leaders for that

matter how was I one through the course

of the day we were separated into

various team building activities where

we shared stories and laughed toward the

end of the workshop we were asked to

stand in a single line

shoulder-to-shoulder if you like pizza

please take a step forward we all took

our step progressively the questions got

more and more difficult if you or if

anyone you know has ever been abused

please take a step forward when a few

Brave kids took their step the room went

silent one of the most popular kids in

my class stood forward and he later

began crying a gang member stood forward

and kids I had never even spoken to

before stood forward we comforted each

other and allowed the space to teach us

following that day those of us who

attended the workshop shared a special

kind of camaraderie we said hi to each

other in the Halls helped each other in

class and formed relationships that we

wouldn't have made possible

otherwise this was the first major

breakthrough moment for me me when that

challenged my perceptions of the people

I was surrounded by every single day and

this one day ultimately helped shape my

life and f a passion to reach others

beyond the

surface so most of us will not generally

admit that we are prejudiced in any way

we think I'm a good person and good

people aren't prejudiced but the fact

remains every single person in this room

and Beyond holds implicit biases or

different ideals attitudes and

stereotypes that affect our

understanding completely unconsciously

in both positive and negative

ways often our declared beliefs don't

reflect our implicit biases doeski wrote

there are things which a man is afraid

to admit even to himself and every

decent man has a number of such things

stored away in his mind the implicit

attitude test was created by by social

psychologist Dr Anthony Greenwald and

his colleagues to better understand our

unconscious attitudes and how they how

they disconnect from our uh our

conscious ones so the iats are time

tests that set positive and negative

associations in different categories

such as age weight gender sexual

orientation and race so let's take a

look at my example at my results for an

example so 75% of people who take the

white black race IAT result that they

have more favorable feelings for white

people over black people I happen to be

in the minority that has an opposite

attitude and while these tests are

shocking and often upsetting what they

reveal is a critical base understanding

for where we fit in Broad Community

Solutions so I'm going to overview some

of our most basic social Necessities

employment education and criminal

justice so maybe you've seen the viral

YouTube video about a man named Jose

Zamora and he applied for hundreds of

jobs on Craigslist and he was UN

successful in receiving any call backs

he decided to remove one letter from his

name applied to the same jobs with the

same exact resume a week later

Joe was receiving call backs and

interview opportunities like none he'd

seen before and this sort of

discrimination happens more often than

we realize sociologist David peder's

hiring AIT audit experiments show that

those applicants white applicants who

say that they have a criminal record are

more likely to be hired the comparable

black applicants with no criminal record

and furthermore black applicants with a

criminal record are only hired for 5% of

the

time economists also study these results

and they have found a 14% favor for

white applicants over Latino applicants

so despite similar skill sets and

experience minorities have a harder time

finding job opportunities and these

employers most likely don't recognize

that they are perpetrators of their own

implicit

biases knowledge is power but what

happens when teachers don't recognize

their own implicit biases before

interacting with teachers and and with

their students in the

classroom Dr Myra and David Sader are

leading experts of gender bias and

education and they've studied teacher

biases for decades and hours of

classroom observation and they found

that teachers spent up to two-thirds of

their time speaking to their male

students and are more likely to allow

their male students to speak over their

female students furthermore teachers

prompt boys to think deeper while girls

are praised for being quiet children of

color are absolutely adversely affected

by their teachers biases in a

heartbreaking story in a series by the

New York Times one young man eie Banks

tells the story of a child he mentored

and the young child asks his mentor is

jail a good place to be his me he asked

because his dad was in jail and it was

somewhere he could get food and not be

hungry and it was a place where at 5

years old his teachers told him he would

end up I hear heartbreaking similar

stories from kids I work with all the

time the school to prison pipeline

continues to work against poor often

lcolor communities where crime poverty

and failing school syst systems

intersect we see what happens when we

fail to care for our children's needs

inside of the classroom and outside in

their communities and

neighborhoods so I want you to take a

second and look at this slide and think

to yourself how are all of these items

related okay now I'm going to tell you

so they're actually all related because

they've been mistaken as Weapons by

police officers and these quick

judgments ultimately led to Serious

injury or death of the unarmed

victims the stere stereotype that of

color adults and children are both less

innocent and more aggressive is seen

when in racial bi studies when black

targets are shot more quickly and more

often than white Targets in 2015 alone

Latinos were the second largest group

killed by La enforcement and overall

Native Americans are killed at a faster

rate than any other race or ethnicity I

would love to live in a world where I

could Proclaim all lives matter and know

it to be a reality in every sense in our

communities and our everyday

interactions and absolutely in our

school and Judicial Systems but that is

not the truth and not by a long shot so

how did we get to this place research

suggests in every day small interactions

we make decisions based on our implicit

biases and these small decisions add up

over time and form patterns and

perpetuate systemic

oppression again we like to believe

we're good people who treat others

equally but the disconnect is very real

so how do become the good people we hope

to be and think we are well first we

must understand our individual biases

and confront them headon and this can

begin with an implicit um attitude test

but dismantling them takes explicit

everyday work to change systemic uh

oppression we can begin with holding

accountability of our elected officials

of our community leaders and absolutely

of ourselves and each other we have so

much work to do and so many footsteps to

follow

so I like to consider myself a realistic

Optimist and I know that sounds like an

oxymoron but I'm not naive in my

understanding that we may never get rid

of racism sexism agism or most other

prejudicial isms and especially not in

this lifetime but I do see the impact of

individual empowerment every single day

and how understanding ourselves helps us

better understand and appreciate each

other while the research about our

implicit biases is relatively new it

shouldn't take science to teach us that

we should always be working on making

ourselves better and helping others in

the

process as an indigenous San Antonio

Chana my love for this city is boundless

and rooted in a mission so much larger

than myself I have seen some of the best

of the city and the worst from all five

spurge championships um yeah cultural

Revival and economic boom to political

corruption police brutality and

gentrification

our communities are so uniquely

beautiful and diverse we can go out and

meet people from all over the world

while still running into old friends

from our

Ros when we begin to look past ourselves

our comfortability and our limits both

unconscious as not is when we can begin

to learn from each other seek each other

change ourselves and make real positive

impact we can attend multitudes of

cultural festivals goia the night away

enjoy bak and big red in a family own

restaurant visit worldclass museums and

enjoy coffee with our city

leaders the world is watching what

better place than here and what better

time than now thank you