I took the skin-tone bias test and got “no automatic preference.” I am curious as to what results I would have gotten at a younger age, when I was much more influenced by others, especially the people I grew up around.
I think that implicit bias has a stronger hold over people than we’d like to think, mainly due to the fact that it is “implicit” – something implied. It is something that anyone can bring to the table in an interview or selection process. Everyone has biases, which many can overcome. But unfortunately, many people may not realize they have biases. It is due to a multitude of things: where/when a person grew up, the people around them, education, society, media, etc. Each of these can affect a person’s biases and how they interact with others. Biases can absolutely affect which candidate is chosen. A Black woman who is extremely qualified may be passed over for a white man with less qualifications because the interviewer had a bias against Black people and/or women. This in and of itself invalidates the selection made there. The interviewer let their own bias get in the way of choosing a more qualified employee.
One thing that I think I could personally try to counteract my own implicit bias, is to analyze my own emotions and reactions to people who may be different than me. It only takes a few moments to pull yourself back from a situation and take a look at your reaction to another person. Why did that thought pop into my head? Where is this coming from? How can I change the reaction I have to people who are different than me? While stereotypes are inundated throughout our society, and may never truly go away, I take a look at what stereotypes I implicitly believe and question their roots and if they have any ground or fact. It is important to recognize differences, as everyone you meet is their own individual, while at the same time understanding that we are all people who deserve to be treated with kindness and equity.
