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Is it possible to be a racist and not even know it? Not only is it possible, but it happens every day.
Due to Canada’s legacy of colonization, racism is woven into the fabric of our society. So while we may not think of ourselves as racist, we have been culturally conditioned to have certain beliefs—regardless of whether we’re aware of them. This can result in the phenomenon of “unconscious racism.”
In this article, we’ll look at what unconscious racism is and how it presents itself in everyday life. We’ll also delve into some resources we can use to unpack our own unconscious biases to fight racism and make Canada a safer and more equitable place for all.
What is unconscious racism and implicit bias?
Experts say we are all a bit racist—even when we’re trying hard not to be. This is due to something called “implicit bias.” This term describes what happens when racial assumptions and stereotypes are present in our minds. They can then manifest in our behaviours. These are not thoughts and ideas we keep to ourselves because we know they’re wrong. Implicit bias happens when we’re not even aware of it, often despite our best intentions.
It may also mean making assumptions about a person because of their race. For example, two recent studies demonstrated implicit bias against black boys and black men. The first study found that black boys were perceived as “less innocent” than white boys and were more likely to be seen as guilty and face police violence. The second study revealed that black men are perceived as bigger and more threatening than white men—even when they’re the exact same size. Participants also judged black men to be more capable of causing harm than white men, and that police were more justified in using force to subdue them.
Implicit bias and the unconscious racism it leads to are insidious for several reasons. For starters, biased thoughts lead to biased behaviours. Whether or not we intend to or want to, we often act in line with our biases—even when they don’t align with our professed beliefs. And because we’re usually unaware of them, they’re much harder to mitigate. After all, if you’re not aware that you’re doing something wrong, how can you stop yourself from doing it?
Many people who struggle with unconscious racism would be distraught to know that their thoughts and behaviours are consistent with those of overt racists. Law school professor Cynthia Lee tells Vox, “The social science research demonstrates that one does not have to be a racist with a capital R, or one who intentionally discriminates on the basis of race, to harbour implicit racial biases.”
Cultural conditioning and unconscious racism
No one grows up in a vacuum. We grow up surrounded by people, ideas, behaviours, and other influences. Over time, we can adopt these influences as our own. The takeaway? For better or for worse, the people in your environment can influence your values and behaviour. This is called cultural conditioning. It will help us better understand how our implicit biases and unconscious racism develop.
If you’re raised in a community where people are open and respectful towards others, you’re more likely to be the same way. Now, suppose you grow up surrounded by people wary of or disrespectful toward others; you’re more likely to share this same outlook and way of being. In sum, the people, ideas, and behaviours that influence us directly inform our view of the world. Cultural conditioning occurs regardless of whether you’re consciously aware of it.
The same is true in the context of race. If you are born into a culture that sees whiteness as superior (as is the case in Canada, where systemic racism is pervasive), your cultural conditioning may make you feel as if non-white people are inferior. This, in turn, can make you ignorant of the lived experiences of racialized people.
Just because we don’t have a choice in which environment and culture we’re born into doesn’t mean we can’t fight unconscious racism. Educating ourselves on implicit bias and cultural conditioning is the first step in taking control and making a positive difference. “Until we can see the unconscious and deceptive realities of living in a culture historically mired in racism that continues to perpetuate racist beliefs in direct and indirect ways, we can’t change them. The goal is to unearth what we learned and think about its validity. We then use that information to change,” proposes Psychology Today.
Ways that unconscious racism can present itself
Unconscious racism plays out across many aspects of life, including schools, workplaces, healthcare, and the criminal justice system. Some examples of unconscious racism manifesting in real life include the following:
Unconscious racism plays out across many aspects of life, including schools, workplaces, healthcare, and the criminal justice system. Some examples of unconscious racism manifesting in real life include the following:
• Instinctively, crossing the street when you see a Black man walking your way because you perceive him to be dangerous.
• Complimenting a classmate of Asian descent for their “perfect English” based on the assumption that English wouldn’t be their first language
• Harsher sentencing for racialized juveniles than for white juveniles based on unconscious stereotypes that they are less innocent and more culpable
• Choosing to interview a job candidate with an “English-sounding” name over one with an “ethnic” sounding name even though they are both qualified because you, consciously or unconsciously, feel the person with the “English” name would be a better “fit”
As discussed earlier, part of the problem with addressing our own implicit racial bias and unconscious racism is that we’re unaware of it. One way to broaden your perspective and understanding is to take the Harvard University’s Implicit Association Test (IAT).
During your IAT, you’ll spend 10-15 minutes sorting and organizing images and words to determine whether implicit bias is present and to what degree. By taking this test, you’ll gain a greater understanding of your own implicit biases and how they influence your beliefs, actions, attitudes, and decisions when it comes to your interactions with minority groups.
Unconscious racism in the workplace
Unconscious racism influences workplace outcomes even before a candidate is hired. Forty percent of employers say they are more likely to interview job applicants with English-sounding names—with everything else (education, skills, and experience) being equal. Because of this name bias, some recruitment agencies remove names from applications.
Employees of colour also suffer financially compared to their white coworkers due partly to unconscious racism, which sees white workers as more deserving of higher income. According to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, racialized Canadians earn just 81 cents to the dollar compared to other Canadians.
Unconscious racism has a lasting impact. It can hinder the ability of racialized people to get a job or equitable compensation. This can prevent them from providing for themselves and their families and creating generational wealth. For organizations, unconscious racism can prevent them from hiring outstanding candidates and stand in the way of diversity, which is critical for innovation in the workplace. Rather than surrounding ourselves with people who think exactly like we do, diversity encourages us to think differently, leading to new thoughts and ideas.
Learn and unlearn: Resources to fight racism and unconscious bias
As mentioned earlier, Harvard’s Implicit Test is one resource we can use to better understand our own beliefs and biases.
There are also many helpful books, such as Anthony G. Greenwald’s and Mahzarin R. Banaji’s Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People. Using data from the Implicit Association Test, the book explores the hidden biases we all carry and how we can move towards conscious awareness of our biases.
Another excellent read on the topic? Tim Wise’s Between Barack and a Hard Place: Racism and White Denial in the Age of Obama, which explains how the success of individuals like Obama makes it hard for white people to see that racism is still a very real and serious problem.
Another excellent read on the topic? Tim Wise’s Between Barack and a Hard Place: Racism and White Denial in the Age of Obama, which explains how the success of individuals like Obama makes it hard for white people to see that racism is still a very real and serious problem.
CanadaLife also offers free resources to help you further educate yourself on unconscious racism and implicit bias.
Fight racial injustice and discrimination
This is where the Anti-Racism Fund comes in. It brings together more than 50 registered Canadian charities that support anti-racism initiatives such as advocacy, research, education, intersectionality, healthcare, community building, and more. These groups are doing amazing work, but they can’t do it alone. That’s where YOU come in. To help support their critical efforts and to do your part to help bring racism to an end, make your donation to the Anti-Racism Fund today.