They May Perceive Themselves as Blue, Not Black
Social psychologist Adam Waytz has frequently noted that when people are in groups, they tend to lose their sense of self-awareness; therefore, they identify with the group at large rather than their personal selves. In other words, a Black officer may not completely perceive himself or herself as Black when they are on the job. Instead, they simply identify as a police officer and, therefore, are just as likely as any other officer to act on racially charged biases when dealing with Black suspects.
Even Then, It’s Not the Personal Perception That Matters Most
The very idea that a person’s own race can determine the racism behind their actions is one that makes the inaccurate assumption that the perception of one’s self is the key factor in racial discrimination. Instead, the focus should be how race impacts one’s perception of others. “But social psychologists and criminal justice experts say this question fundamentally misunderstands how institutional racism affects everyone, regardless of race,” Vox explains. “Racial bias isn’t necessarily about how a person views himself in terms of race, but how he views others in terms of race, particularly in different roles throughout his everyday life. And systemic racism, which has been part of the U.S. since its founding, can corrupt anyone’s view of minorities in America.”
