As if you don’t have enough to do, REP is assigning homework? Not exactly. We’ve identified a few “must-read” pieces that explain the fundaments of the post-civil rights, race equity movement. Everything is annotated to help you find what you need quickly. Any suggestions, additions, or comments? Have a great site or article that you want to share? We’d love to hear from you.
“Must Reads”
Gary Blasi, Advocacy Against the Stereotype: Lessons for Cognitive Social Psychology, 49 UCLA L. Rev. 1241 (2002).
- Summary: “[Blasi] provide[s] a brief overview of the…science regarding stereotypes and prejudice, and then sketch[es] some of the implications for lawyers and other advocates.” Targeted at practitioners, this is the “must-read” article about implicit bias. Interested in a more complete synopsis of this piece? Take a look at the Equal Justice Society.
Anthony G. Greenwald, Linda Hamilton Krieger, Implicit Bias: Scientific Foundations, 94 Cal. L. Rev. 945 (2006).
- Summary: “This Article introduces implicit bias–an aspect of the new science of unconscious mental processes that has substantial bearing on discrimination law.”
Jon Hanson, Kathleen Hanson, The Blame Frame: Justifying (Racial) Injustice In America, 41 Harv. C.R.-C.L. L. Rev. 413 (2006).
- Summary: This easy-to-understand article explores how “social psychology and related fields … explain how people who imagine themselves fair and just routinely blame the victims of inequities and excuse the perpetrators or passive observers.” To illustrate this point the authors use several “real-word” examples taken from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Susan Kiyomo Serrano, Dismantling the Intent Doctrine and Healing Racial Wounds, The American Constitution Blog (March 1, 2005).
- Summary: A wonderful two page introduction to the “intent doctrine” and the relevant social science theory.