Blank Spots
Almost everyone has blank spots. Blank spots are assumptions and judgements that people make about others, sometimes without even realizing it. People generally make meaning from past experiences, often without being aware that they are doing it. Cultural and personal factors also influence how people understand the world around them.
Blank spots can lead to negative stereotypes, which impose limits on students, staff, and members of school/district communities such as family members and other contributors. Recognizing and acknowledging your blank spots are important steps to becoming anti-racist.
Here are some examples of blank spots:
- Assuming a job candidate with an accent is less capable of doing the work and will not understand how the school system works
- Assuming parents who do not show up for meet-the-teacher opportunities do not care about their child’s learning
- Assuming a student who does not speak up in class does not care about school
- Assuming a bus driver, whose first language is not English, is a bad driver
Reflection
Everyone has implicit biases.
- Why do you think it is important for you to explore your implicit biases?
- How can recognizing “blank spots” improve the work you do as a member of the school/district community?
