Our Brains on Race

Recently I read Are We Born Racist? New Insights from Neuroscience and Positive Psychology, a collection of short essays originally published in Greater Good Magazine. It's a highly accessible overview of recent findings documenting the prevalence of implicit, or unconscious, bias, and offering concrete steps to ameliorate the prejudices our brains form.

There are so many juicy ideas packed into this slim volume, divided into three sections: The New Psychology of Racism, Overcoming Prejudice, and Strengthening Our Multiracial Society.

The book has inspired a series of posts sharing some of the information I gleaned from the essays and adding my thoughts to the conclusions reached by the authors and editors.

Here's what I'm planning to post over the next month or so:

1. The Research on Bias

2. We Can Change Our Minds

3. Noticing Race: Conversations and Strategies

4. Reviewing Picture Books About Race (6 titles)

5. Trying Too Hard

6. Smile

7. Getting to Know You: What Groups Can Do

Please join in the conversation.