Peace at Any Price? Rewriting Our Family’s Bias Scripts

Episode 35 explores the roots of bias inside our households. Jonelle opens with eye-opening research: babies only exposed to their own race 90 percent of the time start favoring faces like theirs by six to nine months, and children aged five to twelve already show a pro-white bias on implicit tests. The hosts note that just one ten-minute, color-conscious conversation with a parent can reduce anti-Black bias in kids by 61 percent. Building on those figures, Karen and Jonelle scrutinize their family scripts (the “peace at any price” kindness motto and the belief that hard work always equals success), showing how such narratives silence dissent, mask privilege, and entrench racism. They model a respectful family discussion about trans athletes that moves past discomfort into understanding, illustrating how practice and patience can rewrite inherited bias. Listeners are invited to examine their own family mottos and begin rewriting the stories they live by.

Calls to Action

• Reflect: Ask your family to name its kindness motto, then share what you discover with us on Instagram @whitewomenwakeup.
• Practice: Hold a ten-minute, color-conscious chat with a child or teen and email your takeaways to [e-mail].
• Share: Send this episode to a friend who needs support in starting courageous conversations at home.

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