American society teaches everyone to be racist – but you can rewrite subconscious stereotypes
Progress toward a more just and equitable society may be on the horizon. Since the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in May, around the United States, millions of people have taken to the streets, statues have been felled, leaders have been fired and pressured to resign, and activists-turned-politicians have gained traction in prominent political races.
But until people recognize that racism is wired into the American mind, we believe that few of these efforts are likely to actually reduce racist behavior.
Our work provides a way to understand how race and society influence the brain. One of us (Waddell) is a sociologist who researches social inequality; the other (Pipitone) is a psychologist who examines the biological implications of human behavior.
Our respective work...