Are We Born Racist?

by SMITH, JEREMY A.MARSH, JASON

• ISBN13: 9780807011577
• ISBN10: 0807011576
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2010-06-29
• Publisher: Beacon Press

Summary

Where do our prejudices come from? Why are some people more biased than others? Is it possible for individuals, and society as a whole, to truly defeat prejudice?Scientists have explored these questions for years, andAre We Born Racist?brings their discoveries to a general audience for the first time, as leading scientists, psychologists, educators, and many others discuss why and how our brains form prejudices, how racism hurts our health, steps we can take to mitigate prejudiced instincts, and what a post-prejudice society might actually look like. Writers inAre We BornRacist?illustrate the deep psychological roots of prejudice, detectable even in our brain activitywhile also proving that we can change our responses to these biases.With its groundbreaking scientific basis and multidisciplinary approach,Are We Born Racist?will appeal to positive psychology enthusiasts, educators, readers of books on race and antiracism, parents, medical professionals, students in a wide range of disciplines, and many others who seek practical, research-based tools for overcoming prejudice.

Author Biography

Jason Marsh is editor-in-chief of Greater Good magazine and coeditor, with Jeremy Adam Smith and Dacher Keltner, of The Compassionate Instinct. Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton holds a PhD from Columbia University and is currently associate professor of psychology at the University of California-Berkeley. Smith is author of The Daddy Shift (Beacon / 2121-7 / $16.00 pb); his writing has appeared in the Nation, San Francisco Chronicle, Utne Reader, Wired, and elsewhere. The editors live in the San Francisco area.

Table of Contents

The New Psychology of Racism
Introduction: The Editors	p. 3
Are We Born Racist?	p. 7
Prejudice versus Positive Thinking	p. 17
Framed! Understanding Achievement Gaps	p. 24
When Racism Makes Us Sick	p. 34
The Unhealthy Racist	p. 41
The Egalitarian Brain	p. 45
Overcoming Prejudice
Introduction: The Editors	p. 55
How to Talk with Kids about Race	p. 58
Promoting Tolerance and Equality in Schools	p. 64
The Perils of Color Blindness	p. 71
Overcoming Prejudice in the Workplace	p. 75
Policing Bias	p. 80
ôPeople Understand Each Other by Talkingö	p. 88
Strengthening Our Multiracial Society
Introduction: The Editors	p. 99
Success Strategies for Interracial Couples	p. 103
The Bicultural Advantage	p. 111
ôHow Can You Do That to Your Children?ö	p. 120
Me and My Nose	p. 125
Double Blood	p. 130
Truth + Reconciliation	p. 136
Acknowledgments	p. 141
Resources	p. 142
Contributors	p. 146
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