Yale professor to lead race relations program for Wittenberg Series

Yale University Professor of Psychology John Dovidio. CONTRIBUTED

Yale University Professor of Psychology John Dovidio. CONTRIBUTED

NOTE: The event has been moved to Room 105 at the Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning.

Yale University Professor of Psychology John Dovidio has studied United States race relations between black and white people for more than 40 years.

He said he has seen improvement and sees room for more.

Dovidio will share his insights into biases and advice for going forward in the program, “Why Can’t We All Get Along? – The Challenges of Race Relations in America” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Wittenberg University’s Bayley Auditorium.

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This IBM Endowed Lecture in the Sciences is the final program in the 2018-2019 Wittenberg Series. Admission is free.

Dovidio has found that for black residents, things have gradually improved economically, infant mortality rates are better, and health care has improved in the last 50 years. But whites are still far ahead and biases haven’t disappeared, he said.

“It still exists, it still affects the lives of people,” he said. “People are basically good, they want to do the right thing. Biases lead to miscommunication and a place no one wants to be.”

Biases can be implicit and unconscious, and sometimes people are not aware of them even if their intentions are good.

In working with people in Europe and other countries, Dovidio found they are surprised at the fissure in black-white relations here. But they have their own biases against their own countrymen at times from different geographical areas.

“It’s not about blaming, it’s about trying to understand,” he said. “You can’t wish it away, there’s no instant cure and it’s hard to unlearn. Opening people’s eyes and understanding a problem is important.”

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He recalls receiving numerous calls after President Obama’s first election in 2008 from media people who thought that was a sign race relations were on an even level. Instead, Dovidio cautioned while it’s important to celebrate mileposts, we’re not there yet.

Dovidio offers two ways to improve race relations: To correct the potential of having biases and to gain experiences long-term that can undermine those views.

In short, actions and not words, he said. He suggests members of different races spend time with each other to better understand one another.

“Good people with the right info will do the right things,” Dovidio said. “I’m optimistic. Progress is never linear. As humans, we learn from our mistakes.”


HOW TO GO

What: Wittenberg Series, John Dovidio, “Why Can’t We All Get Along? – The Challenges of Race Relations in America”

Where: Changed to Room 105 at the Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning

When: Wednesday, March 27, 7:30 p.m.

Admission: free

More info: www5.wittenberg.edu/news/08-14-18/2018-19-witt-series-events

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