The Paradox of denial, implicit bias, cognitive dissonance, and moral licensing when confronting racism.

A former friend of mine loves to call White people racists.   He paints us all as racists.  He says even the ones who aren’t racist are racist by default by not being actively anti-racist enough, and there is nothing we can do to overcome the things others have done to Black folks in this country.   He says that “White people should know what they’re not allowed to say. Or do.  Or think”.   He sees a White racist behind every bush and attributes every bump in his road of life to racism, despite the fact he leads an incredibly privileged life.    

Interestingly, my friend often quoted a “Blackism” used by his parents and family as he was growing up:  “Don’t bring her home if she can’t use your comb”, which was a warning that he was supposed to date ONLY Black women.     It seems he was raised by a family of proud Black racists and now he’s continuing the tradition.   Racist parents invariably raise racist children.   The cycle continues and hate begets hate.   Intolerance begets intolerance.

He argues that he is not a racist because racism can only be perpetuated against marginalized groups by a dominant racial group.  This argument ignores interpersonal dynamics and the historical context of racism and is a deliberate attempt to deflect any consequences for his own actions. 

He is one of the many Black people in this county who, when they are confronted with accusations of their own racist actions, are unable or unwilling to admit their culpability.  Actually, the accusation makes his blood boil   People like him love to call White people racists, but are instantly enraged when the they act the very same way, then deny their involvement or affiliation with any kind of racist ideologies or behaviors. This denial presents a paradoxical challenge in the fight against racism because they are so unwilling to admit and/or confront their own words and/or actions. 

My former friend believes that all his immoral and illegal actions are justified because his feelings were hurt by perceived racism, so it excuses anything he decides to do in retaliation.    Kind of like if someone at your bank hurts your feelings or insults you, you tell yourself you don’t have to pay your mortgage or your car payment any more.   This is like an angry adolescent saying “She turned me down at the dance, so I’m going to tell everyone she’s a slut” or “My friend hurt my feelings, so I can steal from him.”  Right.  

Racism is a deeply ingrained social issue that persists in contemporary society, and encompasses beliefs, attitudes, actions, and systems that promote or perpetuate discrimination, prejudice, and inequality based on race and can manifest at both individual and institutional levels. Individual racism refers to personal beliefs, biases, and discriminatory actions, while institutional racism involves systemic practices, policies, and structures that perpetuate racial inequalities.    Signs of individual racism are often subtle, nuanced, and revealed in personal actions. Microaggressions, racial profiling, and discriminatory statements such as “I hate white people”, and pre-judgments of White people reveal the existence of ingrained racism, despite explicit and vehement denials.

An intriguing and perplexing aspect of this phenomenon is the almost universal denial of racism by individuals accused of holding racist beliefs or engaging in racist behaviors.  We’ve all seen the White Supremacists on TV arguing that they are not racist, they’re just proud to be White.   It is interesting that the racist Black people use the same buzz words and verbiage to justify that they are not racist either; just proud to be Black.   Kettle, meet pot.

Belonging to a particular racial or social group can influence an individual's denial of racism. Group identity and loyalty may overshadow personal introspection, leading to the rejection of accusations of racism.  Such is the defense that many Black folks have accidentally or deliberately used to justify their own racists acts as non-racist.  It’s simply Black pride and they are loyal to the Black “pack” above all else.

The problem, aside from him being the flip side of the White supremacist coin is that these people are incredibly ignorant and downright stupid, in spite of many of them having received a first-rate college education.     The ingrained hate and anger overcome any kind of common sense and objectivity.    Much of this can be chalked up to “Moral licensing”, which occurs when individuals believe that engaging in one or morally positive actions absolves them of responsibility for their immoral actions. This bias can lead individuals to deny their racism based on past "good" behaviors or associations. 

White folks for years have used tokenistic experiences or interactions with individuals from marginalized groups as evidence of their non-racism. Tokenism and exceptionalism allow them to dismiss their own racism and disregard their own biases.  You hear them say “but I have a Black co-worker” or “I have a Black friend”, or “my children’s Godparent is Black,” or “I have Black students in my class.”  Like a game of chess, the Black players use the same tokens as the Whites. 

The concept of cognitive dissonance helps explain how individuals reconcile their self-perception as non-racist with accusations of racism. The discomfort caused by the inconsistency between their beliefs and actions leads to defensive denial.     Individuals often construct a positive self-image that aligns with societal norms and values. Admitting to racism contradicts this desired self-image, leading to denial as a protective mechanism.

Privilege, particularly economic privilege, is a crucial component of racism. Acknowledging one's privilege can be challenging, and denial may arise as a response to protect and maintain the benefits associated with privilege. Awareness of privilege can trigger defensive reactions, such as denial, because it challenges their belief in meritocracy and personal achievements. These reactions further perpetuate racism by maintaining the status quo.

Implicit biases are unconscious associations and stereotypes that individuals hold, which can influence their perceptions, judgments, and behaviors. Unconscious racism contributes to denial, as individuals may genuinely believe they are not racist while still exhibiting biased behaviors.  They are blinded to their own actions because of their beliefs.

Self-perception bias refers to the tendency to interpret and remember one's actions in a way that aligns with one's self-perception. This bias can lead individuals to perceive their actions as non-racist, even when they are objectively racist.  Acknowledging racist beliefs or behaviors can threaten an individual's sense of identity and self-worth. Denial acts as a defense mechanism to preserve a positive self-image and protect against internal discomfort.

Individuals' racial attitudes and beliefs are often shaped by their upbringing, cultural background, and societal influences. Family values, peer interactions, and community norms can contribute to the development of racist beliefs or denial of racism.

Is it possible for any racist to look inside and see his own racism?  Is there some kind of Racists Anonymous and a twelve-step program that can fix what is broken in these people?    

That is the paradox, and it is devilishly simple because the data exist but the presentation of data requires objective choices.  A racist claims objectivity while ignoring his own subjective racist actions, using inconsistent methodologies and utilizing information and perspectives ONLY from his own contemporaries or family members who are always on the same racist page.   

When the minister preaches to his choir, he isn’t looking for, and won’t accept any kind of dissent.