What is your race preference?
A provocative question, asking which race a person prefers.
I have just finished a book by Malcolm Gladwell called "Blink" which I found a fascinating read, and I was captured by this question in one section of his book where he talks about a test a person can take to show what they unconsciously feel toward African-Americans and European-Americans.
By far, most people who take the test have a strong or moderate automatic preference for European-Americans. Gladwell himself, who wishes otherwise, also gets a result of preferring European-Americans, and he writes in his book that many African-Americans make automatic positive associations with European-Americans. Of course, there is debate surrounding the validity of these tests -- as all tests telling us what we really think versus what we say we think would.
Whatever the criticisms, the idea behind it is captivating. Someone wants to find out what really goes on in our heads. Are we the type to automatically flinch at the African-American walking down the street when it's late and we're alone, even if we say we view blacks and whites as equal? Can we find out? And if we can, will we be brave enough?
And when we find out we do, will we then do what it takes to overcome the instinctive response?
If you'd like to try it out yourself, there are demonstration tests you can take at www.implicit.harvard.edu. There are a variety of tests you can take, and you needn't fill out any kind of form with your name or contact information. The one mentioned here is the Race IAT.
I would love to hear what you all think of such a test and its implications.
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That is a difficult question to answer. The USA as a whole, has a lot of tension among the different races that make up this country. I agree that Arab Americans are usually not easily accepted, because of the religious extremists in their race giving them a bad reputation. Every race has their set of crazy or extreme people, and that tends to be what people of another race judges the other person on. Some people tend to get caught up in the pride of their race and who they are/ where they come from, and not think about how they may negatively be portraying their self and their race. It is sad that people are judged on an idiot that gave a bad connotation to their race or religion, but for some reason that's what always happens. I guess it all boils down to people being stubborn and set in their ways, and having too much pride to open up to others.
I believe that most of the racism in today's world is towards Arab's. My professor in my class told me a story of how a young Arab man was in his class and at first a lot of his students didn't trust the Arab man because of the way he dressed. My professor said as the semester went on and the other students in the class became familiar with the student, they realized that he was one of the nicest people that they had ever met. However, if the class had gone on the stereotype of Arabs they would have never given this guy a chance.
Interesting topic. I would hope that most people would say that their race preference is what they are.
The media and entertainment industry have influenced how people feel towards African-Americans. I realize racism still exists in our society but I hope we continue to make progress towards judging people as individuals. The fact that someone is black, white, or hispanic would not make me flinch. That same person dressed in a hooded sweatshirt on a dark street would make me flinch.
I think people are influenced by their environment. I grew up in the inner city so I an accustomed to interacting with all races on a fairly regular basis. I can understand how someone from a predominantly white suburb but be uncomfortable roaming around a predominantly black neighborhood. I also would understand the same discomfort if the roles were reversed.
I bet not many people in the USA would say that their race preference is Arab, and yet, there are many wonderful Arabs living in America and all over the world who fight for and advocate peace.
There are Arabs who are writing books, writing plays, making music, raising families, fighting for justice in an unjust world, and trying really hard to get Americans to view them as a valid part of the human race.
Thanks, Michael! Those are great thoughts. It is important to remember that a writer such as Gladwell, just like ourselves, are thinking from a perspective that is shaped not just by race but economics and geography.
"Unique American Racism"
Have you ever been to the Caribbean?
If so you might have realized that the majority of the population is Black and from African descent.
During Law school I took a class in the Cayman Islands actually called "Offshore Financing and Tax Havens" If you are unfamiliar with the reputation of Cayman islands it was featured in the movie "The Firm." Tom Cruise is a young lawyer who joins a law firm only to realize it has a dark and sinister side.
Well like Tom Cruise I learned more than just how to hide rich people and the Mob's money from the IRS. I learned about another Culture.
A culture where the Black people on this island have not experienced the level or history of racism present in America. Furthermore a culture with a standard of living higher than the average American. How does this relate to the test mentioned about preference of race?
I think it might be interesting giving that test to people of European decent on an island like the Caymans. What would the outcome be? How much of our racism and bias is based on economics, national origin, current country and movie's?
If you want to explore this issue more watch the movie "White Man's Burden" or read the book "Black Like Me." Let me know what you think and how this relates to the American View of racism.