Having just reread the 8th principle, I’m wondering why some people find it to be such a big ask to get behind it. Maybe it’s easier for me because I grew up in the South around a more racially diverse community than I encounter in my current life. I had some wonderful and scary experiences with people of color but I definitely harbored some resentment from the bad encounters, feeling bullied by African American kids when I was young. I remember thinking, if I’m a little racist, it’s because of those kids taking out their frustrations on me.

Fast forward to about 10 years ago – my wife got me to take an implicit bias test created by Harvard, and I was surprised and in disbelie that I could still be steeped in such biases. I took it again…same result. I feel like that was the first time I realized I had some work to do. I did not have the framework to tell myself that at that time, but I became more self-aware that I may be reacting differently to situations I’m faced with at work or in public depending on a person’s race. I think that is what the 8th principle is asking us to do – turn the corner on this and be honest with yourself. Maybe you are not as unbiased as you thought you were. Next step – get prepared to address bias when the opportunity presents itself in your world. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.

Steve Bennett