Book Club - The Conversation - Part 3 Prep
PART THREE (Chapters 5-6)
Tuesday, April 20th 6:30pm-7:30pm
Join The Conversation on Zoom:
Link: https://zoom.us/j/97370478411?pwd=bk9tN1pxNTdMdDdtUE04WWlJQmN5QT09
Meeting ID: 973 7047 8411
Passcode: 236153
Access past sessions and view the schedule for upcoming Zoom book club meetings here > https://www.theyellowbirdtable.com/the-conversation
Pt. Three (4/20/21) Prep
Session Two: Chapters 5 & 6
Chapter Five: How Does “Threat” Perpetuate Racial Inequality?
Chapter Six: What Are the Psychological and Evolutionary Origins of All Intergroup Biases?
Introduction/Overview:
As we discuss chapters five and six, I’d like for all of us to think about - as jarring as this information may seem - if this is something that you’ve felt before, witnessed, or acted on. And, how has your thought process changed and/or if there are things that you’ve come to terms with or willing to acknowledge?
Chapter Five: How Does “Threat” Perpetuate Racial Inequality?
What were your takeaways from this chapter?
Structural threat and psychological threat (as defined on pg. 73). Dr. Livingston discusses how the success of a black person/black people (p. 74), black leaders (p.75), and mere competence of black leaders - esp black male leader (pg. 76) all propose threats to white people. Why do you think that is?
Dr. Livingston outlines from empirical research how black people often downplay their achievements (p.76), can be punished for celebrating their achievements, having confidence, or even arrogant because of it (p.78), and that black people are rewarded for being humble, deference, and using disarming mechanisms as to not appear as more or better than (p.79). Let’s discuss where you’ve seen this play out or your own personal experiences.
Pg. 80, the second paragraph really hit home for me in explaining certain experiences. Is this a new learning for anyone?
Dr. Livingston describes paths to invention when feelings of threat are involved, really getting to the ‘heart and soul’ of racism and how the construct of threat plays into this (p.86) - do you agree?
Chapter Six: What Are the Psychological and Evolutionary Origins of All Intergroup Biases?
Using optimal distinctiveness theory (p.88), Dr. Livingston defines assimilation and differentiation and how these social constructs contribute to intergroup biases. How does this play into intergroup/social group biases?
Stereotypes & shortcuts - how does the way our minds are wired to focus and distinctiveness (p.95) and use distinctiveness mechanisms explain how we negatively stereotype, contributing to biased/racist thoughts and actions (p. 96,98)?
