Bias is inside everyone—it’s just part of being human.
But there are steps we can take to understand and counter our biases, so that we become more inclusive and empathetic at work, at school and beyond.
That’s the message of a new exhibition debuting later this week at the Boulder Jewish Community Center. The show, called “The Bias Inside Us,” explores the science and impact of implicit bias, or the subconscious attitudes and prejudices we all carry around—often without even realizing it.
The traveling exhibition will be on view at the Boulder JCC from February 22 through March 23. It was developed by the Smithsonian Institution to spark a national conversation about bias, empathy and inclusion. It’s meant to be interactive and engaging for visitors of all ages, from school children to seniors and everyone in between.
“The Bias Inside Us” draws on the work of psychologists Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald, who defined the term “implicit bias” after studying unconscious and conscious mental processes.
The exhibition is divided into six sections, which use photos, testimonials, videos and interactive activities to unpack and demystify the concept of bias. After the introduction, you’ll learn about the science of bias, as well as explore examples of bias in real life. You’ll learn about the consequences of bias, as well as how to retrain your brain and “check” our own biases in your everyday life. Finally, you’ll be invited to reflect on everything you’ve learned.
Beyond the exhibition itself, “The Bias Inside Us” also includes programming like panels, discussions and performances to keep the conversation going. (And if you can’t make it to the exhibition or would just like to learn more, there’s also an interactive online exhibit, too.)
“Since our founding, the Smithsonian Institution has explored the question of what it means to be an American,” says Lonnie G. Bunch II, the secretary of the Smithsonian. “That means not only celebrating our accomplishments and achievements, but also confronting the entirety of our past as a nation and helping us remember the forgotten.”
He adds: “The voices and stories of many of us were omitted from our national narrative, and we see the impacts of this systemic pattern in the challenges we face today. The Smithsonian is committed to sharing those untold stories, and to helping communities everywhere confront our past in order to improve our future.”
Boulder is one of just a handful of communities that was selected to participate in the project. The initiative kicked off in January 2021 and has traveled to 40 communities across the country since then. In Colorado, it also ran at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery late last year. And it just wrapped up a stint at Canyon of the Ancients in Dolores.
In Boulder, some of the key events surrounding the exhibition include:
- Local Theater Company: Chasing Breadcrumbs by Michelle Tyrene Johnson – February 20 – March 9 at the Dairy Arts Center
- The Triumphant Spirit Gallery Opening – 5:30-7:00 p.m. March 6 at the Boulder Jewish Community Center
- “The Bias Inside Us”: Cultural Organizations Summit – 4:00-5:30 p.m. March 6 at the Boulder Jewish Community Center
- Exploring Ableism: A Guided Tour & Community Discussion – 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. March 9 at the Boulder Jewish Community Center
