The Bias Inside Us

The Bias Inside Us—an exhibition and community engagement project from the Smithsonian—is an exploration of the social science, psychology, and consequences of implicit bias. Bias is an innate human trait; we all have it. Being aware of our bias can help us recognize their influence and impact on our behaviors and worldview. The Bias Inside Us offers an opportunity to learn how to challenge bias in the world through awareness of one’s own bias.

The four-year project, developed with a national advisory council and Smithsonian experts, is a community engagement effort that considers the connections between implicit bias and group dynamics, how they can lead to explicit acts of bias and hatred by individuals and whole societies, and what we as individuals can do about it. Selected communities participate in The Bias Inside Us process after assessing their own readiness to engage in the project and submitting proposals to show how this project will be used to build capacity. Ten communities are selected each year; a Smithsonian-led project team will work with community leaders and teachers to develop a customized plan for community-initiated programming. The exhibition is the centerpiece of local activities for four weeks, free of charge, to allow for in-depth programming, as well as to allow surrounding communities to participate. When the exhibition moves to the next community, the Smithsonian remains engaged to provide resources and support as communities continue to explore ways to reduce individual and group bias and increase community empathy.

You may visit the exhibition website here.