Keon West, a social psychologist from Goldsmiths, University of London, dives deep into the science behind racism. He discusses how scientific methods reveal the persistence of racist beliefs and behaviors since the Civil Rights era. The conversation touches on racial discrimination in hiring practices and its profound effects on children's perceptions of identity. West also tackles systemic biases in police interactions and critiques workplace diversity training, advocating for informed strategies to foster genuine change in combating racism.
Racial bias significantly influences hiring practices, revealing that interview decisions are often driven by perceived racial identity rather than qualifications.
Children as young as three manifest racist attitudes, highlighting that societal perceptions and biases are ingrained early in their development.
Deep dives
The Impact of Racial Bias in Hiring
Research shows that racial bias significantly affects hiring practices. In experiments where identical CVs were sent out with only the name changed to sound either white or black, the 'white' CVs received more callbacks and better offers. This pattern persists even when considering other racial groups, with hiring rates showing a clear hierarchy based on the perceived race of applicants. It underscores the systemic nature of discrimination, revealing that the interview process is not just about qualifications but is deeply influenced by racial identity.
Children's Perceptions of Race
Studies indicate that children as young as three are capable of exhibiting racist attitudes and preferences. Research involving doll selection highlighted that Black children often chose white dolls, associating them with higher status and desirability. Additionally, observations of teacher behavior reveal that they disproportionately focus on Black children for negative behaviors, regardless of actual conduct. This suggests that racist perceptions are socially ingrained from a very young age, affecting how children view themselves and others.
The Connection Between Race and Police Brutality
Evidence indicates that race is a key factor in incidents of police violence in the United States. Studies show that Black victims of police shootings are disproportionately unarmed compared to their white counterparts, who may be armed yet remain unharmed. Simulated environments further demonstrate a tendency among participants to mistakenly shoot Black individuals who are not carrying weapons. This bias in decision-making underscores the severe and systemic racial prejudices that persist in law enforcement practices.
Challenges in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives face substantial hurdles in effectively reducing racial biases in workplaces. The impact of mandatory bias training is often inconsistent and may even backfire, leading to increased resistance among employees. Research suggests that voluntary training is more effective, as it attracts individuals who are already interested in improving their behaviors. Ultimately, successful DEI efforts require standards and best practices to ensure that interventions are grounded in scientific findings rather than good intentions alone.
In order to better understand why racism still exists, it helps to study it like a science. Keon West, social psychologist at Goldsmiths at the University of London, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his rigorous research into racist beliefs, the results of social experiments that show how far we’ve moved the mark since the Civil Rights era and what we can definitively say about prejudice today. His book is “The Science of Racism: Everything You Need to Know but Probably Don’t—Yet.”