Addressing Bias in Modern Times

By Peyton Stewart | Published on  

Some years ago, I found myself on an airplane with my five-year-old son, who was brimming with excitement about our journey. As we settled into our seats, he eagerly scanned the surroundings, taking in every detail and observing the fellow passengers.

It was during this innocent exploration that he spotted a man who, in his eyes, resembled his father. I glanced over to see this man, and truth be told, there was no resemblance between him and my husband. However, I soon realized that my son’s observation was not about physical similarities but rather about something more deeply ingrained in our society.

As I looked around the plane, it became evident that this man was the only black individual among us. In that moment, I realized that I had to have a conversation with my son about the fact that not all black people look alike. But before I could initiate the discussion, he uttered words that left me stunned.

“I hope he doesn’t rob the plane,” he said innocently. Taken aback, I questioned him, seeking to understand where such a statement had come from. My son, with a tinge of sadness in his eyes, confessed that he didn’t know why he had said it or why he had even thought it.

This incident served as a stark reminder of the severe racial stratification that permeates our society. Even a five-year-old could grasp the distorted associations between blackness and crime that society had imposed upon him. The narratives we encounter, the racial disparities we witness—they shape our minds and influence the way we perceive the world around us.

It was during my research that my team and I made a disconcerting discovery. Exposure to black faces caused individuals to perceive blurry images of guns more clearly and rapidly. Bias not only skews what we see but also dictates where we direct our attention. We found that when prompted to think about violent crime, people’s gaze was drawn towards black faces, diverting attention from white faces.

The influence of bias extends its insidious tendrils into various aspects of our criminal justice system. Our analysis of a vast dataset of death-eligible defendants revealed a disturbing pattern. Those with a greater level of blackness in their physical features were over twice as likely to receive a death sentence, particularly when their victims were white. Shockingly, this effect persisted even after controlling for the severity of the crime and the attractiveness of the defendant.

Education is not immune to the grip of bias either. My colleagues and I discovered that teachers, albeit unintentionally, expressed a desire to discipline black middle school students more severely than their white counterparts for similar repeated infractions. Furthermore, teachers tended to view black students as a collective entity, attributing the misbehavior of one student to all, perpetuating an unjust cycle.

Our minds have a natural inclination to create categories as a means to comprehend the world. Categorization aids us in making quick judgments and navigating our surroundings effortlessly. However, these categories also reinforce bias, blinding us to the realities beyond our preconceived notions.

So, what can be done to combat this deeply rooted bias? We are all susceptible to its influence, but there are conditions that can both increase and muffle its effects. Allow me to share an inspiring example that sheds light on how we can confront bias head-on.

Many of you may be familiar with Nextdoor, the tech company that aims to foster stronger and safer neighborhoods through an online platform. However, they faced a problem: racial profiling was becoming distressingly prevalent among users. The mere sight of a black man in an otherwise predominantly white neighborhood often triggered unwarranted suspicions, even in the absence of any evidence of wrongdoing.

Recognizing the need for change, Nextdoor made a courageous decision to introduce friction into their system, consciously slowing people down. By implementing a simple checklist, they encouraged users to pause and reflect on their assumptions. The checklist included items such as considering the specific behavior that led them to view someone as suspicious, focusing on physical features rather than relying solely on race and gender, and educating users about the prohibition of racial profiling.

Through the addition of this friction, Nextdoor successfully reduced racial profiling incidents by an impressive 75 percent. This demonstrates that we can implement measures to counter bias in more situations than we might initially believe.

Taking inspiration from Nextdoor’s approach, we collaborated with the Oakland Police Department to address the issue of unnecessary stops. By prompting officers to ask themselves whether a stop was intelligence-led—meaning if there was prior information connecting the person to a specific crime—we witnessed a significant decrease in stops made across the city. African-American stops alone decreased by a notable 43 percent. Importantly, this reduction did not compromise public safety; crime rates continued to decline, making the city safer for all its residents.

Incorporating technology into the fight against bias can also yield promising results. Body-worn cameras, now mandatory for many police departments, provide a valuable resource for analyzing routine interactions between officers and citizens. By leveraging machine learning techniques, we can gain insights into the dynamics of these encounters. Astonishingly, our analysis revealed that even in professional interactions, police officers tended to communicate less respectfully with black drivers compared to their white counterparts. The language officers used alone was sufficient to predict the race of the driver they were addressing.

Regrettably, the majority of the footage captured by these cameras remains underutilized, failing to serve its potential purpose in understanding and training officers. It is crucial that we harness the power of this technology to scrutinize routine stops, to sort out the factors that transform an ordinary encounter into a tragic one, as we have witnessed in cases like that of George Floyd.

These incidents, these encounters, are not mere statistics or isolated events. They affect the lives of real people, like my eldest son, who, at the tender age of 16, became acutely aware that his presence invoked fear in others. His smile became a tool for self-preservation, a means to ease the discomfort and quell the apprehension that his skin color stirred within those confined in elevator spaces with him.

To challenge bias, we must first acknowledge its presence within ourselves. Whether we step onto an elevator, board an airplane, or navigate through any other facet of life, it is imperative that we examine our assumptions and question the evidence that underlies them. By urging our schools, courts, and law enforcement agencies to undertake the same introspection, we can strive towards a fairer and more equitable society.

Only by addressing and dismantling bias can we ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals, regardless of their race or background.

Imagine a scenario where the severity of a crime and the attractiveness of a defendant were taken into account, yet the color of their skin played a significant role in determining their fate. Sounds unjust, right? Unfortunately, this is a harsh reality that persists within our criminal justice system.

In my research, I delved into a large dataset of death-eligible defendants, and what I discovered was deeply troubling. Those who possessed more distinctively black physical features were more than twice as likely to receive a death sentence, particularly when the victims were white. This striking disparity persisted even after controlling for the severity of the crime and the defendant’s physical appearance. It became apparent that the more black an individual appeared, the higher the likelihood of being deemed “death-worthy.”

Bias, it seems, has infiltrated every aspect of our criminal justice system. But it doesn’t stop there. In the realm of education, bias rears its head as well, albeit in a more subtle yet equally damaging manner.

In one study conducted by my colleagues and me, we revealed a disheartening trend. Teachers expressed a desire to discipline black middle school students more harshly than their white counterparts, even when the infractions were identical and repeated. What’s more, we observed that teachers often treated black students as a collective entity, attributing the actions of one student to the entire group. This unjust practice only perpetuated an unfair cycle of punishment and stigmatization.

It is clear that bias, whether conscious or unconscious, pervades our society and influences our perceptions, judgments, and decision-making processes. But how do we break free from this cycle of injustice?

Awareness is the first step. By acknowledging the existence of bias within ourselves and our institutions, we open the door to change. We must confront the narratives that have seeped into our minds, portraying certain racial or ethnic groups as criminal, violent, or dangerous. These narratives not only shape our perceptions but also perpetuate the racial disparities we witness in our criminal justice system and classrooms.

Education and awareness alone, however, are not enough. We must take action to address and rectify the impact of bias. It requires a collective effort from schools, courts, and law enforcement agencies to scrutinize their practices, policies, and decision-making processes. This means actively working towards fairer and more equitable systems that prioritize justice and equality for all individuals, irrespective of their race.

We have the tools at our disposal to effect change. Technology, such as body-worn cameras worn by police officers, presents an opportunity to analyze and understand the dynamics of routine interactions. By employing machine learning techniques, we can gain insights into the language used and behaviors exhibited during these encounters. This knowledge can serve as a foundation for training officers and dismantling the biases that taint their interactions with the public.

Moreover, reducing unnecessary stops and improving the quality of the stops that do occur can also contribute to a more just system. By prompting officers to question whether a stop is intelligence-led, we can encourage them to consider prior information linking the individual to a specific crime. This approach, as observed in the Oakland Police Department, led to a significant decrease in overall stops, with African-American stops dropping by an encouraging 43 percent. Importantly, public safety was not compromised; in fact, crime rates continued to decline.

By striving for accountability, transparency, and fairness, we can begin to dismantle the structures that perpetuate bias within our criminal justice system and education. Each step we take toward a more equitable society brings us closer to a future where individuals are judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

In our quest to create safer and more inclusive communities, we often encounter a formidable obstacle: bias. Bias lurks within our minds, influencing our perceptions and actions, often without our conscious awareness. However, by introducing friction into our systems, we can disrupt bias and pave the way for a fairer society.

Let’s start with an example from Nextdoor, the popular tech company dedicated to building stronger neighborhoods. Despite their noble mission, Nextdoor faced a troubling issue: racial profiling. Many users, upon spotting a black individual in their predominantly white neighborhoods, would make snap judgments and suspect them of wrongdoing, even in the absence of any evidence.

To address this pervasive bias, Nextdoor made a bold decision—to slow people down and encourage thoughtful reflection. They implemented a simple checklist, asking users to pause and consider why they found a person suspicious, focusing on specific behaviors rather than relying solely on race or gender. Nextdoor also provided a clear definition of racial profiling, emphasizing its prohibition.

By adding this friction, Nextdoor achieved remarkable results, reducing racial profiling incidents by an impressive 75 percent. This serves as a powerful reminder that we can introduce measures to counter bias in various situations, even those that may seem ingrained or resistant to change.

Taking inspiration from Nextdoor’s approach, the Oakland Police Department embarked on a journey to address bias in their law enforcement practices. Recognizing the need to reduce unnecessary stops and improve the quality of interactions with the public, the department incorporated a pivotal question into their officers’ decision-making process: “Is this stop intelligence-led?”

By encouraging officers to critically evaluate whether they had prior information connecting a person to a specific crime, the department instilled a moment of pause—a precious opportunity to reflect and consider the rationale behind each stop. The impact was profound. The number of stops made by officers significantly decreased, with African-American stops alone experiencing a substantial 43 percent drop. Importantly, this reduction in stops did not compromise public safety; crime rates continued to decline, making the city safer for everyone.

These examples from Nextdoor and the Oakland Police Department demonstrate the power of adding friction to combat bias. By implementing small yet impactful changes, we can challenge ingrained assumptions and encourage more thoughtful decision-making.

So, how can we apply these lessons in our everyday lives? It starts with being aware of our own biases and actively seeking to disrupt them. We can pause and reflect before making snap judgments or assumptions about others. We can engage in meaningful conversations, educate ourselves, and challenge the narratives that perpetuate stereotypes.

In our schools, workplaces, and institutions, we must strive for inclusivity and equitable practices. By scrutinizing policies and procedures, we can identify areas where bias may inadvertently seep in and take proactive measures to address them. Hugging diversity and fostering an environment where different perspectives are valued is vital in dismantling bias and creating a more just society.

It is a collective effort—one that requires ongoing commitment and a willingness to confront our own biases and those embedded in the systems we inhabit. By adding friction to our thought processes, interactions, and decision-making, we can disrupt bias and pave the way for a future where equality and fairness prevail. Together, we can build communities where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued.

In our pursuit of a more just society, technology has emerged as a powerful ally in the fight against bias. By harnessing the capabilities of body cameras and machine learning, we can shed light on the intricate dynamics between law enforcement officers and citizens, opening new avenues for understanding and addressing bias.

Body-worn cameras have become a familiar sight in police departments across the country. These devices serve as a valuable resource, capturing encounters between officers and individuals, both in everyday interactions and the most extreme and tragic incidents. They have the potential to provide us with crucial insights into the realities of these encounters and the biases that may influence them.

Working alongside an interdisciplinary team at Stanford, we have embarked on an exciting journey, utilizing machine learning techniques to analyze large volumes of footage from these body cameras. Our objective is to gain a deeper understanding of routine traffic stops, revealing hidden patterns and biases that may shape these encounters.

Remarkably, our analysis has revealed a disheartening reality. Even when officers behave professionally, their language and demeanor differ when interacting with black drivers compared to white drivers. In fact, merely by analyzing the words used, we can predict with a striking accuracy whether an officer is speaking to a black or white driver. This evidence highlights the subtle ways in which bias can permeate interactions, even when individuals may not be consciously aware of it.

Despite the wealth of information these body cameras provide, much of the footage remains untapped and underutilized. We must recognize the immense potential they hold, not only as a means to hold individuals accountable but also as a valuable resource for understanding and training law enforcement officers.

To truly release the power of this technology, we must establish frameworks that promote the thoughtful and responsible use of these recordings. Police departments must prioritize the analysis of this footage, using it to gain insights into their own practices and biases, and to inform ongoing training programs. By doing so, we can transform these recordings into tools for learning, growth, and the pursuit of unbiased and fair interactions.

It is crucial that we continue to invest in the development of machine learning algorithms specifically tailored for analyzing body camera footage. These algorithms can help us identify patterns and subtleties that may elude human perception, paving the way for a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics at play during police-citizen encounters.

The potential of technology in combating bias extends beyond law enforcement. It can be harnessed in various sectors to shed light on systemic inequalities and discriminatory practices. However, we must remain vigilant and critically evaluate how technology is implemented to ensure it serves as a force for positive change.

In our collective journey towards justice, technology can serve as a powerful tool. By leveraging the capabilities of body cameras and machine learning, we can sort out the complex interplay between bias and our criminal justice system. Let us seize this opportunity to foster transparency, accountability, and a society where every individual is treated with fairness and dignity.

As we navigate the complexities of bias in our society, it becomes clear that the pursuit of justice and equality requires a multi-faceted approach. We must recognize and challenge the biases that influence our perceptions, decision-making processes, and institutions. Through the stories and lessons shared in this journey, we reveal the power of awareness, friction, and technology in combating bias.

From the personal anecdotes that highlight the insidious nature of bias in our daily lives to the examination of its impact on our criminal justice system and education, we gain valuable insights into the mechanisms at play. We see how bias can shape our perceptions of others and perpetuate unfair treatment based on race.

However, we also witness the potential for change. Nextdoor’s implementation of friction, the addition of thoughtful pauses and checklists, demonstrates how simple yet impactful measures can reduce racial profiling incidents. Similarly, the Oakland Police Department’s focus on intelligence-led stops showcases the power of reflection and questioning in combating unnecessary bias.

Technology, too, emerges as a promising ally in this fight. Body cameras, when utilized effectively and responsibly, can provide a valuable resource for understanding and addressing bias within law enforcement. By harnessing the power of machine learning, we gain deeper insights into the subtle ways bias can manifest, enabling us to challenge and rectify these disparities.

But the journey does not end here. Creating a truly just society requires ongoing commitment and collective action. We must continue to challenge our own biases, educate ourselves, and engage in meaningful dialogue. Institutions, from schools to courts to police departments, must actively examine their practices, policies, and decision-making processes to dismantle bias at its core.

Through awareness, reflection, and the wise use of technology, we have the potential to build a more equitable future. A future where every individual is treated with dignity, regardless of their race, and where bias no longer blinds us to the realities of our shared humanity.

Let us take these lessons to heart, armed with the knowledge that change is possible. Together, we can create a society where justice, fairness, and compassion prevail, leaving no room for the biases that divide us.