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The IAT test revealed that I had no automatic preference between black and white people. Conducting the analysis required someone to be careful and to know how to answer the questions uncompromisingly. I think that the tests are intended to determine whether someone has biased thoughts and perceptions concerning race and ethnicity. They had four different sections including black, white, good, and bad. The tests can reveal someone’s perceptions concerning race. For instance, it can disclose if someone associates white people with good characteristics and black people with bad traits.

 I was pleased with the results because they demonstrated that I am not quick to judge a person based on the color of their skin. I do not determine whether a person is good or bad depending on whether he or she is white or black. This assertion is indeed true because I think I am more drawn towards people based on how they act as well as their personalities regardless of their ethnicity, race, or color. Furthermore, I think that the tests aimed to show the stereotypes that a person has regarding race. If someone has the generally accepted beliefs that black people are associated with bad traits, then the tests will reveal this

The concept of race has changed over the years from a biological to a social construct, which refers to the superficial physical differences that society considers substantial. Race is not a genetic thought as some people might wrongly believe, but it is a social idea. On the other hand, ethnicity constitutes a shared culture and national origin, which represents the beliefs, practices, and values. It includes language, traditions, and religion.

Prejudice refers to the beliefs, attitudes, feelings, and thoughts that someone has concerning a particular group. It is the prejudgment that one has concerning a group, without prior experience interacting with the group. Prejudice is biased thinking, and it is not specific to race. Racism is a strong type of bias that a person uses to justify the beliefs that one race is superior to others. Racism also refers to the practices employed by the racial majority to disadvantage ethnic minority. Racism can be institutionalized when it is embedded within the society.

Discrimination consists of the actual practices and actions against a particular group. People can be discriminated against because of their race, ethnicity, religion, health, age, and other distinguishing indicators. It takes many forms, and it is present in diverse sectors such as unfair treatment in employment, education opportunities, health, and discriminatory housing practices and others. Discrimination can be practiced by an individual, or it can be institutional. Institutional bias happens when society promotes a group over the others or when it has laws and practices that work against other groups. For instance, many white people in the US receive certain benefits because of the color of their skin, and they can avoid some disadvantages.

Minority groups are subordinate groups in a society that do not have power. They are not determined on the skin color or nation of origin. The groups are singled out from the rest of the society, and they are not treated equally. They may be singled out because of their physical characteristics and capabilities such as age, or because of their culture and other defining features. Such groups are subject to collective discrimination. The ability to exercise power determines whether a person belongs to a minority group. A group can constitute the majority in terms of population, yet lack the power to make decisions or hold authority. That group will be considered a minority despite having the largest quantity in the community. Other than a lack of authority, other characteristics that define a minority group include unequal treatment, distinguishing physical and cultural features, involuntary membership of the group, high rate of in-group marriage, and awareness of subordination.

In some cases, some of the individuals or groups belonging to the minority can choose to give up their identity and adopt or take up the characteristics of the dominant culture, a process known as assimilation. Assimilation does not have much impact on the dominant culture, but it leads to loss of culture as those in the minority are absorbed in the majority culture. Although some of the immigrants have chosen to assimilate, they continue to face discrimination and, in some cases, racism from the dominant culture, who might not think much about their efforts to unify. The dominant culture will see the difference between those in racial and ethnic minority groups who choose to amalgamate.

Some people belonging to mixed race can choose to pass off as one race. For instance, a person from black and white heritage can appear to be whiter in skin color and decide to pass off as white while neglecting the black culture. Some people practiced this action before the abolition of slavery because it enabled them to get the benefits associated with being white. The socioeconomic advantage is an essential pulling factor that encourages people to pass. However, choosing to do this neglects one heritage, and it leads to a loss of identity for the person.

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