The Science of Racism: Shedding Light on a Complex Issue
Keon West, a social psychologist at Goldsmiths, University of London, has delved into the realm of racism through a scientific lens in his latest book, The Science of Racism. Rather than relying on personal anecdotes, West compiles data from numerous empirical studies to paint a comprehensive picture of the complexities surrounding contemporary racism.
While acknowledging the inadequacies in society’s efforts to combat racism, West emphasizes the importance of understanding the psychological mechanisms that individuals employ to mask their racist behaviors. By raising awareness of these implicit biases, he believes that progress can be made in dismantling systemic racism.
In an interview, West addresses concepts like reverse racism and systemic racism, offering insights into how scientific methods can help identify and address various forms of racism effectively. By shifting the focus from debating the existence of racism to actively addressing it, West aims to drive meaningful change in public discourse.
Amarachi Orie: What is racism?
Keon West: There are two definitions that I think are useful. There’s one that’s useful for running the scientific experiments: racism is any…
