Vernã Myers begins her Ted Talk, How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly towards them, talking about violence and brutality black men have been faced with through history and in our present time. She explains that as a nation we still have a strong bias against young black men. She explains bias as the story we have made up for people before we know who they are. Everyone has biases and Myers explains that that is okay, it’s just a part of us, what’s not okay is when we let our biases cloud and guide our judgment, assumptions, attitudes, and actions. We have to be deliberate in our efforts to not let our biases affect us. Her call to action involves three steps that will help us reform our images of young black men, to protect them and open
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She says we don’t need good people we need real people. You have to become aware and acknowledge your biases if you wish to change them. Everyone has biases and pretending that you don’t is just adding to the everlasting problem. She notes that once a bias is recognized we can begin to reset our automatic assumptions and misconceptions.
Her second step involves moving towards young black men, not away from them. Meyers explains that you have to be conscious and deliberate about this. Moving towards your discomfort will promote growth and expansion which will lead to authentic relationships, and the destruction of stereotypes. This will allow you to see the holistic person not the pre judgment you have made before you knew who they were.
Her third step is when you see something you have to say something; even if it is to someone you love. Myers explains that older generations tend to make inappropriate and inaccurate comments and it is our job to correct them and educate them, especially when children are present. Children are very impressionable and they listen to what’s being said, which is why it’s so important to teach them celebrate peoples differences and avoid stereotypes to break the racist and violent cycle our society is stuck in. She concludes her speech by explaining that these steps will help society see young black men for who they are, not who we have made them out to …show more content…
I was neutral for both race and sexuality; however, I seemed to have a negative bias towards older people. This result was somewhat shocking, I knew I had a preference for young children but I did not know that I had a preference for younger people over older people. This bias could pose a possible problem in the event that a child in my class lives with a grandparent, or had older parents. However now that I am aware of my bias I can face it.
My action plan for overcoming my bias will include spending more time with older people. One reason that I suspect this may be one of my biases is because I don’t have a lot of experience interacting or spending time with older people. Step one of my action plan will involve spending more time with older people in my community and in my family. Once I have some more experiences and interactions with older people I think I will be more comfortable and confident when working
She says we don’t need good people we need real people. You have to become aware and acknowledge your biases if you wish to change them. Everyone has biases and pretending that you don’t is just adding to the everlasting problem. She notes that once a bias is recognized we can begin to reset our automatic assumptions and misconceptions.
Her second step involves moving towards young black men, not away from them. Meyers explains that you have to be conscious and deliberate about this. Moving towards your discomfort will promote growth and expansion which will lead to authentic relationships, and the destruction of stereotypes. This will allow you to see the holistic person not the pre judgment you have made before you knew who they were.
Her third step is when you see something you have to say something; even if it is to someone you love. Myers explains that older generations tend to make inappropriate and inaccurate comments and it is our job to correct them and educate them, especially when children are present. Children are very impressionable and they listen to what’s being said, which is why it’s so important to teach them celebrate peoples differences and avoid stereotypes to break the racist and violent cycle our society is stuck in. She concludes her speech by explaining that these steps will help society see young black men for who they are, not who we have made them out to …show more content…
I was neutral for both race and sexuality; however, I seemed to have a negative bias towards older people. This result was somewhat shocking, I knew I had a preference for young children but I did not know that I had a preference for younger people over older people. This bias could pose a possible problem in the event that a child in my class lives with a grandparent, or had older parents. However now that I am aware of my bias I can face it.
My action plan for overcoming my bias will include spending more time with older people. One reason that I suspect this may be one of my biases is because I don’t have a lot of experience interacting or spending time with older people. Step one of my action plan will involve spending more time with older people in my community and in my family. Once I have some more experiences and interactions with older people I think I will be more comfortable and confident when working