We all have a responsibility to recognize our unconscious biases.
Everyone has biases. Some are unconscious. Yet despite the fact that implicit biases are automatic and unintentional, they can cause profound damage to groups who experience systemic racism and discrimination or oppression. Menaker says it’s crucial that jurors know implicit and subtle biases exist and monitor their behavior for signs of prejudice.
“You can be a ‘good’ person and still be swayed by your own implicit biases,” says Menaker. “It’s up to all jury members to fight against making racially biased decisions when they are deciding the fate of a person who is a different race than they are.”
