Understanding Bias

Understanding and Identifying Bias PowerPoint Notes and Activity ...

  • Why were the responses so different?
  • Do you think the passersby were racist? Did they hold stereotypes? Implicit biases?
  • What would you have done?

 

 

Stereotypes operate in a similar way in forming implicit biases. Stereotypes can operate as primers and prevent us from accurately perceiving situations and people.

What does it mean that our perception can be so easily fooled? In the scenarios above, what were the doctor, teacher, employer and woman on the elevator primed to see? How about the passersby at the park? In each case, what might they fail to see or understand as a result of their implicit biases?

 

Our brains constantly discard and invent information to build a reality that feels right to us, based on experience and context. These neural tricks are necessary – without them, we’d be incapacitated by all the information coming at us all the time. In most situations, these shortcuts do their job well but they’re not perfect. When it comes to racial understanding in America, our unconscious biases are filtering our impressions and limiting our ability to fully engage.

Noughts and Crosses

Noughts & Crosses-has many similarities to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Using the ‘Parallel Issues’ information below, briefly discuss the issues which arise in both plays:

Prejudice – Both families dislike the other because of what they represent. For example, the noughts were seen as ‘the unworthy underclass’; the Crosses as ‘the snooty upper-class’. The Montagues and Capulets both represent the enemy to the other family because of a past feud between the two. Connected to this is idea is the question: Can anyone become a ‘someone’?

Stereotypes – Some members of the Capulets/Montagues and noughts/Crosses do not know one another personally, yet still dislike one another. This is because they have generalised and put everyone in the same category.

Difficult decisions – Many difficult decisions have to be made. Both Romeo and Juliet decided to go against their families’ wishes and pursue a life of happiness together. Equally Sephy and Callum decided to defy their parents by continuing to meet one another.

 

White Privilege

Jane Elliot’s experiment shows how easy it is to learn prejudice…and how angry a group of white women become after just a two hour long experiment…imagine if you endured this for a lifetime:

Trevor’s Noah’s analysis of Amy Cooper’s call to the police and George Floyd’s death/the violent reaction of the population:

Let’s talk about white privilege: 

 

White privilege explained as a “race”:

The problem with “All Lives Matter”:

What it’s like to grow up as a black American and the anxieties/realities that black people live with every day:

Systemic Racism

 

Why all of the violence?

Harlem

What happens to a dream deferred?
      Does it dry up
      like a raisin in the sun?
      Or fester like a sore—
      And then run?
      Does it stink like rotten meat?
      Or crust and sugar over—
      like a syrupy sweet?
      Maybe it just sags
      like a heavy load.
      Or does it explode?
Disaster Relief in San Diego Wildfires vs Hurricane Katrina

Jay-Z’s song “Minority Report” which addresses the treatment of African Americans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

“The damage here along the Gulf coast is catastrophic
There’s a frantic effort underway tonight to find survivors
There are an uncounted number of the dead tonight.”

“People are being forced to live like animals.”

“Please… send stuff here. We are desperate.”

“No one says the federal government is doing a good job.”

“…and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people …”

“No water… yeah, and I fought for my country for years.”

“We need help. We really need help.”

“In Baghdad, they-they drop, they airdrop – water, food to people
Why can’t they do that for their own people?”

“…the same idiots can’t get a bottle of water into a
Major American city in three days are trying to win a war”

[Verse 1: Jay-Z]
People was poor before the hurricane came
Before the downpour poured, it was like when Mary J. sang
Everyday it rains, so everyday the pain
Went ignored and I’m sure ignorance was to blame
But life is a chain, cause and effected
Niggas off the chain, because they affected
It’s a dirty game, it’s whatever is effective
From weed to sellin’ ‘caine, gotta put that in effect, shit
Wouldn’t you loot? If you didn’t have the loot
Baby needed food and you was stuck on the roof
And helicopters swoop down just to get a scoop
Through his telescopic lens, but he didn’t scoop you
And the next five days, no help ensued
They called you a refugee because you seek refuge
And the Commander-in-Chief, just flew by
Didn’t stop, I know he had a couple seats
Just rude Jet blue, he’s not, jet flew by the spot
What if he ran out of jet fuel and just dropped
Huh, that woulda been somethin’ to watch
Helicopters doin’ fly-bys to take a couple shots
Couple portraits, then ignored ’em
He’d be just another Bush surrounded by a couple orchids
Poor kids, just ’cause they was poor kids
Left them on they porches, same old story in New Orleans
Silly rappers, cause we got a couple Porsches
MTV stopped by to film our fortresses
We forget the unfortunate
Sure, I ponied up a mil’ but I didn’t give my time
So in reality I didn’t give a dime
Or a damn, I just put my monies in the hands
Of the same people that left my people stranded
Nothin’ but a bandit, left them folks abandoned
Damn, that money we gave was just a band-aid
Can’t say we better off than we was before
In synopsis, this is my Minority Report
Can’t say we better off than we was before
In synopsis, this is my Minority Report

[Verse 2: Ne-Yo]
So many times I’m, coverin’ my eyes
Peekin’ through my fingers, tryin’ to hide my
Frustration, at the way, that we treat
(Seems like we don’t even care)
Turn on the TV, seein’ the pain
Sayin’ such a shame, then tryin’ to go on with my life
Of that, I too am guilty
(Seems like we don’t even care)
So we send a little money, tell ’em it’s alright
To be able to sleep at night
You will pay that price, but some of these folks
Has lost they whole life
(Seems like we don’t even care)
And then it wasn’t on the nightly news no mo’
Suddenly it didn’t matter to you no mo’
It went on and almost nothin’ changed
What the hell were they there for?
(Seems like we don’t even care)

[Outro – more news excerpts (Ne-Yo)]

Bush: “Buses are on the way to take those
People from New Orleans, to Houston”
(Seems like we don’t even care)

“They lie”

“People are dying, at the Convention Center” (ohh)

“Their government has failed them” (ohh)

Kanye West: “George Bush doesn’t care about black people”

(Seems like we don’t even care)
(Seems like we don’t even care)Image may contain: text that says 'Here's an example of how white privilege sounds You keep saying "It's horrible that an innocent black man was killed, but destroying property has to stop" Try saying "It's horrible that property is being destroyed, but killing innocent black men has to stop" You're prioritizing the wrong part.'

 

Macklemore’s “White Privilege II”

Pulled into the parking lot, parked it
Zipped up my parka, joined the procession of marchers
In my head like, “Is this awkward?
Should I even be here marching?”
Thinking if they can’t, how can I breathe?
Thinking that they chant, what do I sing?
I want to take a stance cause we are not free
And then I thought about it, we are not we
Am I in the outside looking in,
Or am I in the inside looking out?
Is it my place to give my two cents?
Or should I stand on the side and shut my mouth?
No justice, no peace, okay, I’m saying that
They’re chanting out, Black Lives Matter,
But I don’t say it back
Is it okay for me to say?
I don’t know, so I watch and stand
In front of a line of police that look the same as me
Only separated by a badge,
A baton, a can of Mace, a mask
A shield, a gun with gloves and hands that gives an alibi
In case somebody dies behind a bullet that flies out of the 9
Takes another child’s life on sight
Blood in the streets, no justice, no peace
No racist beliefs, no rest ’til we’re free
There’s blood in the streets, no justice, no peace
No racist beliefs, no rest ’til we’re free
Blood in the streets, no justice, no peace
No racist beliefs, no rest ’til we’re free
There’s blood in the streets, no justice, no peace
No racist beliefs, no rest ’til we’re free
Blood in the streets, no justice, no peace
No racist beliefs, no rest ’til we’re free
There’s blood in the streets, no justice, no peace
No racist beliefs, no rest ’til we’re free
Oh, what are you doing Ben? What are you doing here?
“Probably shouldn’t be here, you have white supremacy, don’t fuckin’ come here. — You don’t give a shit about us. — ‘Black Lives Matter, ‘ say it. — Wow. — ‘Black Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter.’ — You should not have done that. Why the fuck would you do that? — You always react. Just let it go, man. — White racist. — It’s the Grammys!”
Ben, think about it.
You’ve exploited and stolen the music, the moment
The magic, the passion, the fashion, you toy with
The culture was never yours to make better
You’re Miley, you’re Elvis, you’re Iggy Azalea
Fake and so plastic, you’ve heisted the magic
You’ve taken the drums and the accent you rapped in
Your brand of hip-hop, it’s so fascist and backwards
That Grandmaster Flash’d go slap it, you bastard
All the money that you made
All the watered down pop-bullshit version of the culture, pal
Go buy a big-ass lawn, go with your big-ass house
Get a big-ass fence, keep people out
It’s all stolen, anyway, can’t you see that now?
There’s no way for you to even that out
You can join the march, protest, scream and shout
But they see through it all, people believe you now?
You said publicly, “Rest in peace, Mike Brown”
You speak about equality, but do you really mean it?
Are you marching for freedom, or when it’s convenient?
Want people to like you, want to be accepted
That’s probably why you are out here protesting
Don’t think for a second you don’t have incentive
Is this about you, well, then what’s your intention?
What’s the intention? What’s the intention?
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Hands up? Don’t shoot!
Pssst, I totally get it, you’re by yourself
And the last thing you want to do is take a picture
But seriously, my little girl loves you
She’s always singing, ‘I’m gonna pop some tags’
I’m not kidding, my oldest, you even got him to go thrifting
And ‘One Love, ‘ oh my God, that song, brilliant
Their aunt is gay, when that song came out
My son told his whole class he was actually proud
That’s so cool, look what you’re accomplishing
Even the old mom like me likes it, cause it’s positive
You’re the only hip-hop that I let my kids listen to
Cause you get it, all that negative stuff it isn’t cool
Yeah?
Yeah, like, all the guns and the drugs
The bitches and the hoes and the gangs and the thugs
Even the protest outside, so sad, and so dumb
If a cop pulls you over, it’s your fault if you run
Huh?
So, they feel that the police are discriminating against the… the black people? — I have an advantage? Why? Cause I’m white? (laughs) What? (laughs) No. — See, more people nowadays are just pussies. Like, this is the generation to be offended by everything. — ‘Black Lives Matter’ thing is a reason to take arms up over perceived slights. — I’m not prejudiced, I just… — 99% of the time, across this country, the police are doing their job properly.
Damn, a lot of opinions, a lot of confusion, a lot of resentment
Some of us scared, some of us defensive
And most of us aren’t even paying attention
It seems like we’re more concerned with being called racist
Than we actually are with racism
I’ve heard that silences are action and God knows that I’ve been passive
What if I actually read a article, actually had a dialogue
Actually looked at myself, actually got involved?
If I’m aware of my privilege and do nothing at all, I don’t know
Hip-hop has always been political, yes
It’s the reason why this music connects
So what the fuck has happened to my voice if I stay silent when black people are dying
Then I’m trying to be politically correct?
I can book a whole tour, sell out the tickets
Rap entrepreneur, built his own business
If I’m only in this for my own self-interest, not the culture that gave me a voice to begin with
Then this isn’t authentic, it is just a gimmick
The DIY underdog, so independent
But the one thing the American dream fails to mention
Is I was many steps ahead to begin with
My skin matches the hero, likeness, the image
America feels safe with my music in their systems
And it’s suited me perfect, the role, I’ve fulfilled it
And if I’m the hero, you know who gets cast as the villain
White supremacy isn’t just a white dude in Idaho
White supremacy protects the privilege I hold
White supremacy is the soil, the foundation, the cement and the flag that flies outside of my home
White supremacy is our country’s lineage, designed for us to be indifferent
My success is the product of the same system that let off Darren Wilson – guilty
We want to dress like, walk like, talk like, dance like, yet we just stand by
We take all we want from black culture, but will we show up for black lives?
We want to dress like, walk like, talk like, dance like, yet we just stand by
We take all we want from black culture, but will we show up for black lives?
Black Lives Matter, to use an analogy, is like if… if there was a subdivision and a house was on fire. The fire department wouldn’t show up and start putting water on all the houses because all houses matter. They would show up and they would turn their water on the house that was burning because that’s the house that needs the help the most. — My generation’s taken on the torch of a very age-old fight for black liberation, but also liberation for everyone. Injustice anywhere is still injustice everywhere. — The best thing white people can do is talk to each other, having those very difficult, very painful conversations with your parents, with your family members. — I think one of the critical questions for white people in this society is, ‘What are you willing to risk? What are you willing to sacrifice to create a more just society?’
Your silence is a luxury, hip-hop is not a luxury
Your silence is a luxury, hip-hop is not a luxury
Your silence is a luxury, hip-hop is not a luxury
Your silence is a luxury, hip-hop is not a luxury
What I got for me, it is for me
What we made, we made to set us free
What I got for me, it is for me
What we made, we made to set us free
What I got for me, it is for me
What we made, we made to set us free

 

https://www.mercerislandschools.org/cms/lib3/WA01001855/Centricity/Domain/640/Ta-Nehisi%20Coates%20PDF.pdf

I, Too

I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America.

Theme for English B

Langston Hughes – 1902-1967

The instructor said,

    Go home and write
    a page tonight.
    And let that page come out of you—
    Then, it will be true.

I wonder if it’s that simple?
I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem.
I went to school there, then Durham, then here
to this college on the hill above Harlem.
I am the only colored student in my class.
The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem,
through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas,
Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y,
the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator
up to my room, sit down, and write this page:

It’s not easy to know what is true for you or me
at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I’m what
I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:
hear you, hear me—we two—you, me, talk on this page.
(I hear New York, too.) Me—who?
Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.
I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.
I like a pipe for a Christmas present,
or records—Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like
the same things other folks like who are other races.
So will my page be colored that I write?

Being me, it will not be white.
But it will be
a part of you, instructor.
You are white—
yet a part of me, as I am a part of you.
That’s American.
Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me.
Nor do I often want to be a part of you.
But we are, that’s true!
As I learn from you,
I guess you learn from me—
although you’re older—and white—
and somewhat more free.

This is my page for English B.

Noughts and Crosses Quiz: Chapters 4-8

https://forms.gle/5dW6WwoGwJF9AMCU9

Here is the link to the quiz for Chapters 4-8. I’m sorry about the delay—the “rentrée” with the 6eme took some extra time and attention!

Please try to complete this quiz before the end of the day this Wednesday, the 20th of May.

 

 

For next Thursday, the 28th of May, be prepared for a quiz on Chapters 9 – 15.

 

Here is a link to the PDF of the book in case you need it again:

https://withdarkness.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/noughts_and_crosses_by_malorie_blackman.pdf

Noughts and Crosses

Please read the Prologue, + Chapters 1,2, 3 using this pdf:

https://withdarkness.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/noughts_and_crosses_by_malorie_blackman.pdf

You might prefer to also order the book from the internet and/or buy and listen to the audiobook from an app like audible.

A google forms quiz will be posted on the blog on Thursday, May 7th.

 

Introduction to the book:

Sephy is a Cross – a member of the ruling class. Callum is a nought – a member of the underclass who were once slaves to the Crosses.

The two have been friends since early childhood. But that’s as far as it can go. Until the first steps are taken towards more social equality and a limited number of Noughts are allowed into Cross schools… Against a background of prejudice and distrust, intensely highlighted by violent terrorist activity by Noughts, a romance builds between Sephy and Callum – a romance that is to lead both of them into terrible danger…

 

 

Comment below: What famous Shakespeare play do you think this book is based on?

Calling all musical lovers — more free theatre!

If anyone is interested in musicals, Andrew Lloyd Webber is calling all musical lovers! Starting this Friday, the youtube channel “The Shows Must Go On!” will be releasing a full-length, smash-hit musical every Friday at 7 pm for you to watch for free!

Last night, “Jesus Christ Superstar” was posted, and it will be available for 48 hrs only.

If you post a review below, I will give you an extra grade.

 

Social Distancing Haiku

NPR (National Public Radio in the USA) has asked people to write Haiku about their social distancing experience. For more examples like the haiku above, go to: https://www.npr.org/2020/04/05/826623641/processing-social-distancing-with-haiku

Write your own social distancing haiku! Just stick this simple 3-line format:

5 syllables,

7 syllables,

5 syllables

 

— and share it with us in the comments below!

 

 

For those who are unfamiliar, Haiku is a form of poetry, first made popular in Japan, which has become appreciated around the world.

The most basic definition of haiku is a three line poem where the 1st and 3rd lines are 5 syllables and the 2nd line is 7 syllables. Traditionally, haiku are about nature and usually use seasonal or weather words.

Written in present tense, haiku is meant to be “in the moment,” taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary. Poetic devices like metaphor, simile, rhyme, etc are not used. Haiku is meant to be simple. Capitalization is not necessary, and punctuation is minimal or not there at all as haiku are meant to feel open, almost unfinished. The poetry in haiku is created by juxtaposing the two parts to create resonance.