Newswise — Around 1910 to 1970, approximately six million Black individuals undertook the Great Migration, leaving the American South in search of better economic prospects, education, and refuge from racial violence and discrimination. Recent studies have unveiled a significant connection between this historic event and present-day disparities and subconscious prejudices.
In a recently published article in Social Psychological and Personality Science, researchers have revealed that the current implicit bias held by White individuals at the county level is linked to the proportion of Black residents who lived in that county during the Great Migration, particularly around 1930. The findings lend support to the Bias of Crowds theory, which highlights how unequal environments or circumstances can contribute to collective levels of implicit bias.
Lead author Heidi Vuletich from the University of Denver emphasized that their research reveals the enduring effects of historical racism, showing that its consequences extend beyond the past. The study highlights how prevailing systems and structures often remain unquestioned and unchanged, potentially perpetuating negative historical legacies.
To conduct the study, researchers examined over 1.6 million responses from White individuals who participated in the Implicit Association Test on Project Implicit. This test measures the associations between racial categories like "Black" and "White" and evaluations such as "Good" and "Bad." The respondents were located across 37 states and 1,981 counties in the North and Western regions of the United States. The results indicated that in counties with higher Black populations during the mid-20th century, present-day White individuals exhibited a stronger implicit preference for White individuals over Black individuals.
Additionally, the researchers examined data from nearly 215,000 Black individuals who took the Implicit Association Test but did not observe the same associations as seen in White respondents concerning historical legacies. Dr. Vuletich highlights the significance of comprehending these responses as they offer insights into the psychological mechanisms and situational factors influencing bias due to environmental influences.
Dr. Vuletich further elaborates that this data can serve as valuable input for developing strategies to address racial inequities in the future. Despite explicit forms of racism becoming less prevalent, implicit biases persist and are evident even in individuals who advocate for equity and inclusivity.
Dr. Vuletich points out that currently, organizations, governments, and institutions primarily concentrate on altering individuals' thoughts and behaviors as a means to address bias.
"Our research strongly supports the importance of shedding light on the impact of structures and systems in fostering bias within our communities."
Even though this study emphasizes the community-level aspect of bias, Dr. Vuletich underscores the significance of individuals examining their own prejudices on a personal level.
"Our findings do not absolve individuals from the responsibility to diminish their biases. However, they strongly urge people to actively pursue structural solutions and enact change."
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