WELCOME TO THE NEW "ILLUMINATING SOLUTIONS" NEWSLETTER
JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020
JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020
Positive, inspiring, and uplifting messages provided by the BPOS Foundation founder, Elizabeth J. Rice.
The Gorilla in the Room: Intentional Blindness or Disciplined Focus?
On June 21, 2010, Christopher Chabris assistant professor of psychology at Union College related a study done in 1990 at Harvard University. During that time he was the recipient of the Nobel Prize for his new landmark experiment ‘’Gorillas in Our Midst”. This experiment showed that when you are focused on an activity with focused discipline that something else entering your area of concentration can be looked at briefly but not seen. Students were throwing a ball back and forth and as the gorilla appeared in the room they never saw it because they were so focused on passing the ball back and forth. They had been told to count the number of times the ball was passed between them. This experiment had me thinking about this same kind of experiment done under different circumstances. Suppose a white lady and a black man walked into the room one after the other quickly and left. Would they have seen either person? If so, which one and why? I can’t answer what would happen here, but it’s an experiment for someone to do.
I, along with many, have been the recipient of my own intentional blindness experiences especially during the Jim Crow era. I would like to give another interpretation of the gorilla in the room from my own personal experiences. I think this intentional quality goes too far with people of a certain genetic persuasion more so than others. Some have been taught from birth not to see certain individuals, not to associate with people of color, not to see them as equals in some cases not to see them as human, therefore, not to engage with them at all.
I remember distinctly growing up in a small, racist town, going to the department store in this town, and waiting to purchase something for my mother. Many white women came in after me and were served immediately with a smile on the retailer’s face. I was brought up with manners by my parents and so after being denied service once and then getting ready to be denied for the second time, I put myself in front of the lady retailer who was working that day and said, “I was here first” and she, with a smile on her face, looked at me and said in a demeaning way “I saw you, you'll have to wait your turn, I have to serve these ladies first”. I was angry. I was shocked and I went home to tell my mother what had happened. She told me that this was an example of racism or “intentional blindness” and then I realized I had for myself experienced racism in the Jim Crow South.
Ironically, in that same town, my father, Dr. Johnson being the only dentist in the town, serviced whites and blacks without a thought. They didn't care about the color then. He didn’t care either, he was there to help. All they wanted was their teeth fixed.
As I grew up and was active in civil rights at my college, I had the opportunity to represent my school on national television at which time I was representing the South as a young lady active in the sit-ins. I was told by Dave Garroway, a well-known host, no longer with us, and Florence Henderson, now deceased, that I would be debating several segregationists from the South and not to be intimidated. The cameras were rolling and here we were on national television as I waited for what these white men with angry faces had to say to me and the young black man with me from another Black College.
The question of the day was “Why do you think you deserve to be a first-class citizen?” I was taken back a bit, but I did my best to answer their question. I said, “Why not? I deserve it as much as you, my ancestors built this country and worked for you and took care of your children, but we have not been treated with the respect we deserve”. I can't remember everything I said, but I did challenge them. It brought back the memory of that lady in the department store and how she saw me. I was the gorilla in the room.
It was intentional blindness for her to ignore me just like it has been for years for many white people to turn a blind eye to the plight of those they feel are beneath them, not willing to help in the time of need as any decent person would. I learned that day the world is not made up of “cream cheese and strawberries” and that we have to forge our way in the kindest way meeting all people one on one as they present themselves to us. I have learned in my many years that if you stand in your own truth, meeting people in a kind way, sending out love to all humanity you meet and take the time to know people, you may have some very thoughtful friends that have your best interest at heart.
I have met many people along my journey who want only the best for me and work as much as they can for my success as well as their success. I have met others with a dark cloud over their life. With these, I don’t engage. This is just the way they are. If you happen to be in the room, a social area, wherever you are when a gorilla appears, don’t be intentionally blind because you didn't see them or because you chose not to see them. There's so much more to do, there are so many kind people to see. Why waste your time and your efforts on people who have made up their mind never to change? The time will come when they least expect it and they will need someone's help other than those that constantly are around them. My question to you is what will you do when this situation confronts you? Will you help or, will you ignore, or will you analyze quickly the situation and respond in a spiritual loving way?
If you spread love, love comes back to you tenfold. Remember this, God works in mysterious ways. An Angel could be waiting to bless you under that gorilla suit. Look at all the blessings you would have missed. Until next time.
May the Blessings Be,
Elizabeth
(BPOS Foundation Inc.)
I, along with many, have been the recipient of my own intentional blindness experiences especially during the Jim Crow era. I would like to give another interpretation of the gorilla in the room from my own personal experiences. I think this intentional quality goes too far with people of a certain genetic persuasion more so than others. Some have been taught from birth not to see certain individuals, not to associate with people of color, not to see them as equals in some cases not to see them as human, therefore, not to engage with them at all.
I remember distinctly growing up in a small, racist town, going to the department store in this town, and waiting to purchase something for my mother. Many white women came in after me and were served immediately with a smile on the retailer’s face. I was brought up with manners by my parents and so after being denied service once and then getting ready to be denied for the second time, I put myself in front of the lady retailer who was working that day and said, “I was here first” and she, with a smile on her face, looked at me and said in a demeaning way “I saw you, you'll have to wait your turn, I have to serve these ladies first”. I was angry. I was shocked and I went home to tell my mother what had happened. She told me that this was an example of racism or “intentional blindness” and then I realized I had for myself experienced racism in the Jim Crow South.
Ironically, in that same town, my father, Dr. Johnson being the only dentist in the town, serviced whites and blacks without a thought. They didn't care about the color then. He didn’t care either, he was there to help. All they wanted was their teeth fixed.
As I grew up and was active in civil rights at my college, I had the opportunity to represent my school on national television at which time I was representing the South as a young lady active in the sit-ins. I was told by Dave Garroway, a well-known host, no longer with us, and Florence Henderson, now deceased, that I would be debating several segregationists from the South and not to be intimidated. The cameras were rolling and here we were on national television as I waited for what these white men with angry faces had to say to me and the young black man with me from another Black College.
The question of the day was “Why do you think you deserve to be a first-class citizen?” I was taken back a bit, but I did my best to answer their question. I said, “Why not? I deserve it as much as you, my ancestors built this country and worked for you and took care of your children, but we have not been treated with the respect we deserve”. I can't remember everything I said, but I did challenge them. It brought back the memory of that lady in the department store and how she saw me. I was the gorilla in the room.
It was intentional blindness for her to ignore me just like it has been for years for many white people to turn a blind eye to the plight of those they feel are beneath them, not willing to help in the time of need as any decent person would. I learned that day the world is not made up of “cream cheese and strawberries” and that we have to forge our way in the kindest way meeting all people one on one as they present themselves to us. I have learned in my many years that if you stand in your own truth, meeting people in a kind way, sending out love to all humanity you meet and take the time to know people, you may have some very thoughtful friends that have your best interest at heart.
I have met many people along my journey who want only the best for me and work as much as they can for my success as well as their success. I have met others with a dark cloud over their life. With these, I don’t engage. This is just the way they are. If you happen to be in the room, a social area, wherever you are when a gorilla appears, don’t be intentionally blind because you didn't see them or because you chose not to see them. There's so much more to do, there are so many kind people to see. Why waste your time and your efforts on people who have made up their mind never to change? The time will come when they least expect it and they will need someone's help other than those that constantly are around them. My question to you is what will you do when this situation confronts you? Will you help or, will you ignore, or will you analyze quickly the situation and respond in a spiritual loving way?
If you spread love, love comes back to you tenfold. Remember this, God works in mysterious ways. An Angel could be waiting to bless you under that gorilla suit. Look at all the blessings you would have missed. Until next time.
May the Blessings Be,
Elizabeth
(BPOS Foundation Inc.)