Bias in Our Everyday Lives

SCHS- One School, Different Student Experiences

Kelvin Pulse Survey: February, 2024

Question- “I feel safe at school”

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Question- “Students at my school are nice to each other”

Different experiences in everyday life…

In April 2018, there was a high profile incident at Starbucks in which an employee called the police on two African-American men who were waiting for a colleague and had asked to use the bathroom without making a purchase. The incident garnered a lot of attention as an example of everyday bias people of color face. Starbucks employees were required to attend training on racial bias.

This video was part of their training.

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Table Talk-

What stood out for you while watching the video?

How do you think the people in the video feel about having to face this bias in their everyday lives?

Can you relate to what the people in the video are saying, or not? Please explain.

What does the phrase, “being allowed in doesn’t always mean being welcomed?”

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Key terms…

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Bias: An inclination or preference either for or against an individual or group that interferes with impartial judgment. Bias can be conscious (explicit or overt and intentional) or unconscious (implicit or unintentional

and based on assumptions and “norms”), but both are potentially harmful regardless of intent.

Implicit Bias: The unconscious attitudes, stereotypes and unintentional actions (positive or negative) towards members of a group merely because of their membership in that group. These associations develop over the course of a lifetime beginning at a very early age through socialization and exposure to direct and indirect messages. When people are acting out of their implicit bias, they are not aware that their actions are biased. In fact, those biases may be in direct conflict with a person’s

explicit beliefs and values.

Discrimination: The denial of justice, resources and fair treatment of individuals and groups (often based on social identity), through employment, education, housing, banking, political rights, etc.

Discrimination is an action that can follow prejudicial thinking. Discrimination can be legally sanctioned (de jure) or can exist despite nondiscrimination laws or policies in place (de facto).

So What Can We Do About It?

Individual Reflection Questions

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“What can you do to make our public spaces—our schools, our parks, our stores, our restaurants more welcoming for all?”

“Who do we want to be?”

What ideas do you have for Sage Creek?

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