The University of California, San Francisco defines unconscious bias in the following way:
“Unconscious biases are social stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their own conscious awareness. Everyone holds unconscious beliefs about various social and identity groups, and these biases stem from one’s tendency to organize social worlds by categorizing. Unconscious bias is far more prevalent than conscious prejudice and often incompatible with one’s conscious values.”
Some observations based on this definition:
- Everyone holds unconscious beliefs
- Everyone tends to categorize social and identity groups
- Unconscious biases often do not align with conscious values
Translation: We are all biased – and racist – even though we may not want to be.
We cannot move forward towards greater awareness, understanding and healing until we all – this means you – accept this observation as truth.
As always, healing starts with the truth.
Rise Higher,
The Leadership Playbook 