Podcast link: https://soundcloud.com/user-110817248/tcf-blog-week-7/s-TOrnU

Podcast transcript:

I have implicit bias.

You have implicit bias.

We all have implicit bias.

And we all can learn from it.

On Tuesday of this week, the Fellows took on the Board. We paraded in, smiled for a bit, introduced ourselves (which I completely botched)…then they fired a few questions at us. One of the board members asked us a question along the lines of what we would think about or say to a CEO top businessman executive like himself if we were seated next to him on a plane.

Cue the fellows side-glancing, no one knowing quite how to answer.

To paraphrase my answer, I said something like “because of the way I was raised and grew up, I have some predisposed notions and judgements about the big corporates, but I would do my best to save my assumptions and really get to know them because they may be doing good for the community with their money, and I would encourage them to make sure they’re creating space at the table for all voices to be heard.”

And I stand by that answer, but I think I felt pressured not to say how I really feel, which would have been a lot more harsh.

My gut reaction is to think “you’re part of the problem!” But I don’t know that. I don’t know where they came from, who they are, what they do…but I do know that regardless of all that, I do believe if you have a lot of money, you should be helping people.

I think the reason why were uncomfortable answering this question was twofold:

One side is that it felt like a test, and we don’t want to be disrespectful. I mean, this is the Board of the Columbus Foundation, and we are the fellows! It’s hard to respectfully say “well as long as you’re trying to be a good person than it’s fine to be rich.” But obviously, these people are working on a board for an amazing cause, so we can assume that they are putting their money where it matters.

On the other hand, we were in the room for all of 5 minutes. I think if we had been given more time to warm up, mingle, sit in a smaller room around a table and chat, we would have been much more inclined to give honest and insightful responses.

Me, on the job, behind the camera, at Per Scholas, Per Usual. 

Bringing this conversation back to my original theme of bias, this event really just got me thinking about my implicit bias, and how I do automatically judge rich people. I believe that as long as we are cognizant of our biases, that is the first step to getting over them. If we pretend like they do not exist, we’re erasing any chance of growing beyond them. And all I’m trying to do in this life is grow. 

See you next week.

Guess what!! The Columbus Foundation Fellowship Outings are the most fun ever!!