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'Unconscious' Racism Holds Obama Back

Many 'deflect' biases to more PC concerns like inexperience

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 5, 2008 10:07 AM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama’s race could be holding him back in polls by some 6 points, a poll suggests, but it’s not necessarily because of racists, Nicholas Kristof writes in the New York Times. More likely, it’s an unconscious matter of “aversive racism”—decisions made based on race by people who don’t think they’re racist, a phenomenon shown in decades of research.

Aversive racists’ “doubts tend to be attributed not to the person’s race—because that would be racism—but deflected to other areas that can be talked about, such as lack of experience,” says a psychologist. More than half of whites have such biases, experiments show. “But another lesson, a historical one, is that we can overcome unconscious bias,” Kristof notes. Prejudice against Catholics dropped after JFK was elected; experts speculate the same could happen with race.

Unconscious racial biases are more likely to hurt Obama than open racism, Kristof writes. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Obama waves to supporters as he arrives at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Obama speaks at a rally at Victory Landing Park in Newport News, Va., Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

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'Unconscious' Racism Holds Obama Back

Many 'deflect' biases to more PC concerns like inexperience

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Barack Obama • race relations • Election 2008 • the race card • Nicholas Kristof

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'Unconscious' Racism Holds Obama Back

Many 'deflect' biases to more PC concerns like inexperience

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • race relations • Election 2008 • the race card • Nicholas Kristof

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Cain's Policies Are the Real Scandal

Eugene Robinson finds them 'unworkable' and 'goofy'

Most Popular National Politician Today Is ...

Hillary Clinton, as 'buyer's remorse' plagues a third of the country

Gingrich: Obama So Terrible Blacks Will Vote for Us

Gingrich doubles down on 'food stamp' president jab

Sarah Palin on 2008 Loss: 'I Wasn't at Top of Ticket'

Asked about losing to Barack Obama while in India

2008 All Over Again: Obama to Base Campaign in Chicago

First reelection bid outside DC in recent memory

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

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More News

What is Newser?