"Prejudice is a great time saver: You can form opinions without having to get the facts." E. B. White
Prejudice is
described as an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without
knowledge, thought, or reason. For its many negative outcomes, it can also be
seen as a universal trait tied to our very human instinct to survive.
By nature, we
are attracted to our own kind and more inclined to perceive the “other,” as bad
or frightening. The challenge is to recognize this impulse and determine if
fear or negative judgment is justified.
Like any defense
mechanism, prejudgment is meant to protect us. Similar to the other defenses, like
denial, displacement and dissociation, used to an extreme, it endangers us and
works against our survival. We fare better—psychologically, socially,
culturally and economically—in an accepting, rather than a condemning,
environment.
We only have to
study democratic versus dictatorial governments to learn that we thrive in
environments of tolerance and fairness and suffer in their absence. Democracies
involve the people and are more likely to be humane and according to R.W.
Johnson (The Observer, September 2007) make better decisions as did Churchill
and Roosevelt compared to Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin. Especially in our global age that brings
us ever-closer to each other, confronting prejudice fosters peace and harmony.
Conversely,
societies that breed prejudice are oppressive. Tragically, dictators like
Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin capitalized on this tendency of human nature in
order to inspire fear and prejudice in their citizens and further their
despotic power.
Sadly, even in
open, developed nations like our own, where we have supposedly progressed
beyond tribalism, individuals learn prejudice from our upbringing and
surroundings.
.
Go Set A Watchman, Harper Lee’s recently published novel, can
serve to increase our awareness of the complexity of people and prejudice. In
the classic story, Atticus Finch, an attorney, battled injustice regardless of
personal cost. In the new book, he is portrayed as a complex person who is
capable of heroic acts as well as harboring feelings of white supremacy.
Forcing
prejudice to step out of the closet is a first step to contend with it. In essence we prejudge constantly and
too rarely have the opportunity to grasp the complexity of every individual we
meet. I naturally assume a great deal about someone with whom I haven’t
exchanged a single word. As I speak to them I realize how far off base my
assumptions most often are.
Mr. M. tells me
about his niece who met prejudice in Japan because she was only half-Japanese.
Over time, however, she became a major force in the community and was regarded
kindly as a “sister.” When she
didn’t come home after work one night, the neighbors were concerned. Upon her
safe arrival the next morning, they cheered her as if they were celebrating a
national holiday.
The goal is to
increase our awareness with:
Education
Exposure/proximity
Travel
Necessity
(economic advantages)
Recognition of
our common origins: a long time ago, we all descended from one man and one woman
Conclusion: Opening our minds to receive new information and process the complex problem of prejudice, ultimately enriches our lives and reinforces our survival.
