Unconscious biasis was the lesson in the TED interview held
by Yassmin Abdel-Magied. The name of her lecture was what does my headscarf
means to you?
I enjoyed this piece because Yassmin and myself share some
of the same prejudices.
I wear several hats and I can adapt to all environments and
have been judge by my mere appearance.
Because I am African American lady who has grown up in one
of Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods when people find out where I am from they
look at me differently. It doesn’t matter that I am not a product of my
environment nor that I hold a executive position and my company or even that
I’m educated I’m instantly judge on where I am from.
I dress how I want to dress not how this society says I
should dress, someone may look at me one day and mumble “she’s dressed like a
boy” but who cares if I’m on my way to home depot to purchase supplies for a
home improvement project. Or “look at her” she has way to much cleavage
showing, or why is her hair like that?
If someone actually took the time to have a conversation
with me they would be surprised. I can change a tire, paint a car and change my
own oil in my car all whilst I have a perfect manicure. Why are people so
surprised about my skills once they know me?
Structural change takes time so we need t change the world
one person at a time. Yassmin thinks it’s a good idea if we mentor someone
different. Mentoring someone different will allows all parties to learn about
each other with out biases opinions. We are at the point in society where this
does exist there is no way around it but we have to move past it.
