Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2010
Abstract
This Essay begins with a confession. In taking implicit association tests ("IATs") designed to measure my unconscious attitude toward two particular demographic groups, I discovered that I, an African-American, harbored a "slight automatic preference" for Europeans over blacks and for "other people" over "Arab-Muslims." Both of these results were contrary to my professed or conscious assertions of neutrality. Why would a pro-integration scholar who seeks to promote cross-racial understanding and inclusion exhibit such implicit biases? And why is it that a majority of others who take these tests register similar implicit biases? The point of my confession is to underscore the fact of widespread unconscious bias. Unfortunately, a large body of evidence from experimental psychology demonstrates such bias on the part of whites and minorities against racial minorities, especially African-Americans. This is in contrast to a dramatic reduction in explicit or reported bias against blacks. Indeed, there is much evidence to support the conclusion that "a nondiscriminatory or colorblind identity is... important to most white Americans."
Publication Citation
2 Duke F. L. & Soc. Change 125-139
Scholarly Commons Citation
Cashin, Sheryll, "To Be Muslim or "Muslim-Looking" in America: A Comparative Exploration of Racial and Religious Prejudice in the 21st Century" (2010). Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works. 1691.
https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/1691