Quote:
Originally Posted by blueash
And if you were black and were very aware of the real issues of driving while black, walking while black, shopping while black, you also would be very aware that even without any conscious discriminatory intent our culture and the person who called the cop had just a bit of extra alertness and extra suspicion when it was a black person who was picking some weeds. If you don't understand that view of how it happens too often and impacts the black experience in America you are not listening. It has been Oprah and Condoleezza not just those you don't know like this landscaper. No one is color blind in our society, not those on the left either. And for anyone to state that this man's color did not play a role in the aroused suspicion of the neighbor is ignoring reality.
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I agree that we all unconsciously discriminate, and what more, on several levels, not just race. Examples:
I took an on-line test that just flashed pictures and words, and by the length of time it took to choose one or the other, the test was able to ascertain I was mildly discriminatory towards smokers (and I was a smoker until four years ago). Before taking that test I would have told you flat out that I had absolutely nothing against smokers. A test of my unconscious beliefs showed otherwise.
There was a post a few days ago about tattoos and our prejudgements of those that have them. Some people see nothing wrong with tattoos at all. Others see some tattoos and think they are okay, but skulls and blood tattoos freak them out. I know two men that will not date any woman they know has a tattoo.
When we look at a person our subconscious takes all of our experiences and impressions and beliefs and makes an instantaneous judgement. That is human nature, and it is not all bad; it saves us from walking into dangerous situations (or perceived dangerous situations). It also helps us to connect with someone we think may be a friend or even love interest.
Do we make mistakes? Of course. Do some people have some very skewed impressions and beliefs that render their judgements poor? Sure. Are some people so accepting and naive that they put themselves in harms' way? Yep.
It is what it is. We can try to overcome our own personal prejudgements, but as that test pointed out to me, it is harder than we think.