A Playlist on Implicit Bias
by 2024 DPF Peace Intern Maggie B. Lewis
A Playlist is a way of engaging with an idea or topic. They can be used as small group discussion starters, for personal devotions, or as a place to jump into a subject.
On the subject of Implicit Bias, here is:
…Something to Break the ice
Small Group Game: Where Do I Stand?
Without giving away the name or ending objective of the game, introduce the idea that each person has similarities and differences. What music we like, what color eyes we have, where we shop, or our favorite places to visit are all examples of ways our perspectives come together to create a unique and beautiful world.
Next, instruct the campers to group themselves by eye color, shirt color, or other simple visual appearance features without talking to get the game started. As the activity continues, make the questions less about visual appearances and more about underlying personality or behavior patterns, still sorting themselves without talking. As this goes on, the campers will have a much harder time getting into correct groupings because of the assumptions and prejudice that naturally exist within everyone.
Finish the activity by having campers sit or stand for a cool down time where the point of the game is revealed and any questions can be asked.
Categories to sort themselves into: (increasing in difficulty)
eye color - brown, green, blue, etc.
shirt color - black, red, blue, green, purple, pink, etc.
hair length - short, medium, long, etc.
grade in school
order of birth with siblings - first, middle, last, only
favorite meal time - breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks
favorite music group/genre - any
…Something to Discuss
Instructions: I am going to say a word and I want you to raise your hand and tell me what matching thing you associate with it in a pair, for example, if I were to say peanut butter, many of you may immediately think of jelly!
Salt - Pepper
Macaroni - Cheese
Batman - Robin
Biscuits - Gravy
Cookies - Milk
What's cool about these pairs is that they aren't always associated with each other, but, many times, people in our culture associate them with each other.
For example, 2024 Peace Intern Maggie Lewis’ mom would say Mayonnaise if I asked her to associate something with peanut butter because that's one of her favorite snacks! Or if you were to ask Maggie’s Australian-born dad to associate something with biscuits he may say tea because English people mean cookies when using the word biscuit.
This means that while we may think our experiences and understandings of the world are the 'right' ones, that doesn't mean they are the norm for all people and certainly there is no exact right way to understand cultural or societal norms.
Definition of Implicit Bias:- subconscious feelings, attitudes, prejudices, and stereotypes an individual has developed due to prior influences and imprints throughout their lives
…Something to Watch
Implicit Bias video from PBS (2-3 mins long)
- This video gives a detailed definition of implicit bias while also providing viewers with real-world examples of how this bias can be used in both positive and negative scenarios.
Implicit Bias Definition video from NEA (1-2 mins long)
- This video provides viewers with a more basic understanding of implicit bias and then goes further to explain the psychological effects and understandings of implicit bias
…Something to Wonder
I wonder what some of our implicit biases are.
I wonder how we can combat those biases and reframe our ways of thinking to better understand the people and things around us.
…Something to Read
How to Identify and Overcome Your Implicit Bias
https://online.maryville.edu/blog/addressing-implicit-bias/
Further information on what implicit bias is and how it can affect us in everyday life. Included in this article is a section entitled ‘Identify and Evaluate Your Own Biases’ that details steps to understanding your own biases on a more specific level as well as steps to overcoming them as much as possible.
Implicit bias: What you can (and can’t) do about it
https://bigthink.com/the-learning-curve/implicit-bias/
This article/interview with psychologist Valerie Purdie Greenaway details more in depth what implicit bias in practice, but, more specifically, this article describes what implicit bias is not. This important distinction highlights that implicit bias is not the same as racism, but instead is a broader term that reflects the inherent prejudice every person has.
…Something to Do
Take an Implicit Association Test
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatouchtest.html
Implicit bias tests to detect what specific biases you may have. Included in this link are multiple sorts of tests, including those about race, gender, age, and sexuality. (Must be over 18 to participate)
What If I Say the Wrong Thing? 10 Tips for Culturally Effective People
https://www.vernamyers.com/2017/07/14/what-if-i-say-the-wrong-thing-10-tips-for-culturally-effective-people/
This article gives 10 tips for helping to combat the biases you discover within yourself. From conversations tips to self motivation, this article reminds us that giving ourselves grace while learning new things is important. In the end, we must continue to work on learning more about the world around us while also learning to love ourselves through the process.
…Something to Pray
Holy God, Three in One, you call us your very own.
You pray that we would all be one.
And yet, we put up walls that separate us from one another and from you.
We divide ourselves by class, by race, by politics, by ability, by gender identity.
We exclude people because they look, act, or think differently than we do.
And when we do not love our neighbors, we are not loving you, who created us all.
This is not your will for us.
Forgive us, God, for causing harm to our neighbors and ourselves.
Help us to turn toward one another.
May we build bridges instead of walls so that we can come together.
May we draw the circle wide so that all can experience your amazing love.
— Prayer written by Maggie Jarrell, West End United Methodist Church