The hidden biases in the Colour of Our Skin

A commonly told story about skin colour in my family was that darker skin meant you were akin to a field worker/farmer, and consequently of lower class, whereas lighter skin meant the complete opposite. It is however funny to see this ideal challenged in a Western context, where the desire to be tanned year round means hitting the beach frequently during the summer and slapping on Bondi Sands in the winter (or a combination of both).

Whilst these anecdotes about skin colour never influenced me to pursue whiter skin myself, our recent episode with Devni Wimalasena has pushed me to examine the influence of these stories on my own biases and actions. The importance of constantly reflecting on the potential for hidden biases and their impact on our behaviours cannot be understated. It's far too easy and convenient to consume information without challenge, and to continue to perpetuate negative childhood learnings as we have done our entire lives. Recognising negative biases is the first step towards actively committing to change, eventually manifesting in positive behaviour shifts.

I'm sure what I've written isn't something new to you, but much like our recent conversation with Devni for me, hopefully it serves as a reminder to reflect on your biases in order to mediate any hidden negative attitudes before they materialise as harmful behaviours.

- Jeff