Know how your unconscious mind is stereotyping

Implicit bias can be a part of your unconscious mind, it creates an opinion without you knowing. The mindset you’ve created and how you think without thinking. It’s a fascinating idea, how your mind can do all this thinking and judging without you even knowing.

But sometimes, it’s good to step back and realize what you are actually thinking about.

If you take an implicit test, whether it will be on race, skin-tone, Native or Asian IAT test, the results will allow you to become more aware of yourself and your underlying unconscious mind. These types of fast paced test created an eye-opening result to me, they provided a way for me to improve myself and my perspectives on things.

I did not expect the results I received, but I’m glad I took the test. In my opinion, these tests are important to take every once in a while, they provide a type of third perspective on your point of views. They allow you to self-evaluate, and educate yourself on your unconscious actions.

When it comes to talking about implicit bias, I feel comfortable enough in myself to talk about it with others, but some people might not feel the same way. I feel very open minded to the idea of it, I would love to hear and talk about with others on how they see themselves after taking some implicit bias tests or their opinions on the impact implicit bias can have.

Just like talking about white privilege, people have to be able to talk about it and allow themselves to hear other’s thought processes. Being able to talk about it has its advantages, especially in a public setting.

In the article, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh, she talks about how her education gave her no insight on seeing herself as an advantaged person. She didn’t realize how much white privilege she truly had.

From coming from Howell, a primarily white community I grew up thinking I didn’t have much of a bias mindset. But, within the last two years, after moving out to Rochester I have become more self-aware in my mindsets.

In an education environment, it should be taught about what implicit biases mean, how to change them and how they affect us. We should be taught how to identify the traits of ourselves that are implicit bias and

Changes to a cultural understanding of an idea can take decades to happen, but if, as a community, we start now, even if we start small, we can build a more well-rounded, self-aware and welcoming environment for all.