Working Through Unconscious Bias

Although I am a Diversity and Inclusion employee communications writer who has been educated and trained on recognizing bias, I’m beginning to realize that this is a lifelong exploration process. While taking a multicultural competency course this summer, I discovered that bias can be situational. We may think we are not judging others, but unconscious bias emerges when we least expect it.

My grandparents were U.S. immigrants, who fled their Eastern European countries of origin during the Holocaust. As a result of their historic trauma and because of their fear of persecution and elimination, they judged everyone based on their nationality. They then passed that behavior on to my parents. I, however, always have been eager to learn about a broad range of customs, cultures, beliefs and practices, which results in many questions when I meet new people. My openness, career path and cultural curiosity led me to believe I was immune to bias.

Unfortunately, I still notice that my parents’ judgments subconsciously appear in my head, regardless of my efforts to quiet the noise.  I am human and inadvertently mis-speak sometimes or avoid asking questions, fearing that they won't land as I intended. Robin DiAngelo talks about these situations in White Fragility. One key takeaway is that standing by and doing nothing is worse than making a misstep.

In How to be an Anti-Racist, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi says that we can go a great distance toward better understanding each other and respecting our differences by asking questions and sharing our stories. It is the stories that inspire change, which is the hope for future equity.

One of the best gifts I can give a company is to help share the stories inside their organization that highlight ways diverse employees build a richer culture. By asking key questions and listening keenly, I can help employees verbalize a story in a way that is relatable. This allows others to see examples and form deeper connections.

I’m hoping my story will inspire others to consider expanding their awareness, education and interpersonal skills. This will lead to greater engagements in your personal and professional communities. If you’re thinking about sharing your own story, I’m happy to help.