Jennifer L. Eberhardt, PhD: Revealing Anti-Black Implicit Bias in Basic Visual Processing

From the moment that we are taught to define blackness as "characterized by hostility or angry discontent" (Merriam Webster: Black definition 9a) and darkness as "arising from or showing evil traits or desires" (Merriam Webster: Dark definition 3a) - we are being given the language of prejudice and the tools to enact anti-Black implicit bias. We are asking the Merriam-Webster editorial staff to recognize their power as an institution that plays a critical role in the reconstruction of a deadly anti-black/anti-dark bias. Empirical evidence collected by Jennifer L. Eberhardt, PhD reveals the negative impact that referring to Black, Dark and their iterations through deadly definitions (“Black” definitions: 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 + 14) (“Dark” definition 3) can have on Black people in particular and all people in general. It is time for us to end the demonization of blackness and the fear of darkness. #theblackfip#merriamwebster