Unravelling the concept of unconscious bias

Abstract

The author warns against accepting the concept of unconscious bias (measured by a supposedly scientific cognitive function test) as the explanation for racism and the terrain on which it should be combatted. Using the writings of Sivanandan, in which he distinguished between attitude, action and state or institutional racism, she traces the different ways over time in which racism has been camouflaged by the use of words such as xenophobia or disadvantage, and hails the landmark acceptance of institutional racism in 1999. Returning racism to individual attitude (if unconscious) means not distinguishing between the ways in which racism affects classes and communities differentially, not distinguishing between ‘the racism that kills’ and ‘the racism that discriminates’, and suggests, wrongly, in a non-materialist way, that bias creates rather than reflects structured and institutional racism.