There is a lot of discussion today about racism and I happened on this medical article.
http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/2007...src=RSS_PUBLIC
Basically the study participants were shown mock hiring recommendations from companies, in which a clearly underqualified individual was hired over an excellent candidate, along racial lines. In other words, the underqualified black candidate was hired when the boss was black, and the underqualifed white candidate was hired when the boss was white.
The study groups were then immediately given cognitive tests to assess their level of mental acuity.
The black study participants who had just seen the covertly racist hiring practices in the first part were adversely effected: distracted and unable to focus on the tests they were being given.
The white participants who had seen racism directed against white applicants during the first part weren't as effected. They didn't recognize it, so it seems. If the racism was made obvious to them: if the bosses' comments were something like "he's just a typical white prep school boy" THEN the white group became impaired in their test taking ability.
But the subtle racism that was so obvious and damaging to the black participants was lost on their white counterparts.
If you were able to follow all that. It's kind of convoluted.
http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/2007...src=RSS_PUBLIC
Basically the study participants were shown mock hiring recommendations from companies, in which a clearly underqualified individual was hired over an excellent candidate, along racial lines. In other words, the underqualified black candidate was hired when the boss was black, and the underqualifed white candidate was hired when the boss was white.
The study groups were then immediately given cognitive tests to assess their level of mental acuity.
The black study participants who had just seen the covertly racist hiring practices in the first part were adversely effected: distracted and unable to focus on the tests they were being given.
The white participants who had seen racism directed against white applicants during the first part weren't as effected. They didn't recognize it, so it seems. If the racism was made obvious to them: if the bosses' comments were something like "he's just a typical white prep school boy" THEN the white group became impaired in their test taking ability.
But the subtle racism that was so obvious and damaging to the black participants was lost on their white counterparts.
If you were able to follow all that. It's kind of convoluted.