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Lesson 1 - Introduction to Critical Thinking4 Topics
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Lesson 2 - A theology of Critical Thinking - Jesus as Model3 Topics
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Lesson 3 - Principles of Critical Thinking3 Topics
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Lesson 4 - A Case Study - Thinking Critically about Culturally Responsive Communication4 Topics
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Lesson 5 - Assignment Overview and Conclusions3 Topics
Supporting Concepts for Culturally Responsive Communication
ECO December 15, 2020
SUPPORTING CONCEPTS FOR
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE COMMUNICATION
In this section of the course, we will learn about supporting concepts related to culturally responsive communication.
To review:
- The first step in culturally responsive communication is becoming aware of your own cultural position,
- and the second step is gaining insight into how other cultural “ways of knowing” impact communication,
- the final (and ongoing) step is to become aware of how hard culturally responsive communication actually is, especially when you are part of the dominant cultural group.
White Privilege
Peggy Mcintosh made the term “White Privilege” famous in her article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.”
TASK – take ten minutes to skim through this journal article – click button to go to article:
White Blindness
“White blindness to the difference race makes in people’s lives has a powerful effect on schools and other institutions in white dominant societies. It keeps white people from learning about the role that their privilege plays in personal and institutional racism.”
Hickling-Hudson, Anne & Ahlquist, Roberta. (2003). Contesting the curriculum in the schooling of Indigenous children in Australia and the USA: from Eurocentrism to culturally powerful pedagogies. Comparative Education Review. 47.
White Privilege + White Blindness = Implicit Bias
Implicit Bias
“Implicit biases are thought processes that happen without you even knowing it. Little mental shortcuts you might not agree with, and sometimes those shortcuts are based on race…saying someone has an implicit bias is different from calling someone a racist.”
Source – see video from the NYT.
TASK – watch the first and second videos from the New York Times about implicit biases. The second video should start after the first one finishes. Click button below to begin. This should take about 6 minutes.
Making Sense of the New Definition of Racism
It is important to recognize that the concepts introduced above (white privilege/blindness and implicit bias) are fairly new for most people. If you are unfamiliar with these terms, don’t be unsettled. These concepts are fairly new in modern culture.
The reason for this is that the concepts flow out of a redefinition of racism.
The new definition moves the concept of racism away from individual racist actions toward corporate systems.
As Peggy Mcintosh puts it:
not in invisible systems conferring dominance on my group."
Video: Supporting Concepts
Test Yourself - Do You Have an Implicit Bias?
All of this can feel a bit theoretical unless you interact with the ideas on a personal level. One way you can do this is by taking an Implicit Bias Test.
Warning, this task can be a little unsettling. Be sure that you do the test when you feel emotionally stable and ready for it.
TASK – Click the button below to take an Implicit Bias Test from Harvard. This task will take about 15 minutes. You will have to provide a little bit of personal information in order to do the test, but it is well worth it. Do the test on Race and any others that interest you.
TASK – Post on the discussion board by clicking the button below. This should take you about 20 minutes.
You will be asked the following questions: What were your results for your implicit bias test? Do they surprise you? Do you feel like they are accurate?
Keep in mind as you respond that having an implicit bias does not automatically make you racist. They are not equal. If this feels untrue, re-watch the NYT videos above.