Ethnic United States since the Civil War

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Michael Trotti
History Department
412 Muller
 (607)274-1591

Venture C

 

Harvard University has developed a fascinating -- and disturbing -- series of tests to discover how we unconsciously (or implicitly, as they call it) are oriented to link some things/people/groups with some ideas more than others. To put it more simply, how we are all implicitly racist, sexist, or otherwise prejudiced. It is simply fascinating. It is also very quick (should take less than 10 minutes). The therapy any liberals might need to undergo thereafter might take substantially longer. (a joke)

Take the demonstration "Implicit Test on Race" -- and others if you would like (there are ones on gender, sexual orientation, skin tone, and others) -- and respond to the experience. I will hand out a few pages from Malcolm Gladwell's Blink which discusses this test to give you some context.

 

 

"Black and White" by Three Dog Night, 1970s

The ink is black, the page is white,
Together we learn to read and write.
The child is black, the child is white,
The whole world looks upon the sight,
The beatiful sight. . .

[the liberal dream . . .]

 

  1. Go to the "Project Implicit" Website -- this will open a new tab and you can toggle back and forth
  2. Click on "Go to Demonstration Tests" link
  3. Click that you "I Wish to Proceed"
  4. Find on the long list of IAT's (Implicit Association Tests) the one for "Race IAT ("black-white" IAT)
  5. Click on "Click Here to Begin"
  6. Take the test (should take from 5 to 10 minutes)

 

 

In a page or so, respond to this experience in any way that is helpful.

Check the syllabus for the due date

 

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This website is occasionally maintained by Michael Trotti.
(Last update: 22 April 2009).