Introduction
Engaging with the community on racism through education and counseling is among the key elements for constructive outcomes. However, it is important to understand and address some potential hindrances to productive interactions. Every society has established beliefs, norms, and perceptions that shape their view of other individuals (Miller & Tallie, 2021). Some biases and misconceptions are deeply engraved in people’s minds that it would be challenging to accept new information on racism without first demolishing the inordinate thoughts for the audience’s understanding of diversity.
Significant Obstacles and Biases
Affinity and confirmation biases are two of the most crucial hindrances in community sensitization on racism. According to Prins (2019), unconscious biases, including the affinity to particular beliefs and the desire to maintain and confirm preconceived ideas, are critical obstacles to knowledge gain and change. In this case, educating the community on racism and its manifestations may be hindered by the audience’s preconceived ideas about their race’s predominance and the inability to reach an equal level with all races.
Possible Outcomes of Education and Enlightenment
Having overcome the above obstacles, the community would be able to hear, understand, and confront racism. One of the possible results is that individuals will begin to eliminate old ideas of themselves and others, opening up their minds to tolerance (Kelly, 2021). In addition, communities will start to interact freely, regardless of color. In essence, enlightenment will remove the veil concerning personal identities and cause increased discussions on the need for diversity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, education is a vital engagement approach that can help communities develop positive perceptions of all races. Since race is a social construct deeply rooted in culture and passed from generation to generation, cognitive biases remain a significant obstacle in constructive interaction. Once these hindrances are overcome, people may now benefit from a renewed mind that would enable them to erase their negative perceptions and embrace change.
References
Kelly, S. (2021). A storyteller makes ancient Native American tales new again. Cornell Chronicle. Web.
Miller, C., & Tallie, T. J. (2021). A Juneteenth dilemma, freedom and self-determination. The News Magazine of the American Historical Association. Web.
Prins, B. (2019). Blog – Our unconscious biases and insider-outsider group roles in business. LinkedIn. Web.