The Sentinel

'American' most often associated with white English speaker

Many Americans unconsciously link being "American" with whiteness and English fluency, a bias that starts in early childhood, research shows.

by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Illinois News Connection

CHICAGO - With Donald Trump in the White House, Illinois and the nation face new challenges about who "belongs" in the United States.

Nationality has become a flashpoint, and studies show folks tend to have an implicit bias about who fits the bill for being "American." Experts say many associate the term "American" with white people who speak English - even if they initially say otherwise.

University of Chicago psychology professor Katherine Kinzler said people don't always consciously exclude individuals from being American, and can be vocal about how ridiculous the notion of being white to be American sounds.

"And yet," she said, "those same people, when given a more subtle task - of 'what they think of when they think of what it means to be American' - they might just be a little bit faster to identify somebody who's white and who speaks English as being American, versus somebody else."

Formed biases are more often a result of social and cultural attitudes rather than political messages.

She said humans categorize others using cognitive shortcuts, which can cause prejudice and stereotypes, and lead to real-world consequences such as determining hiring decisions and ultimately making individuals feel like they don't belong.

Studying the development of social attitudes in kids, Kinzler said she found young children initially perceive English speakers as "more American." As they grow older, they then associate both English speakers and white faces with American identity. Kinzler said children often pick up on the statistical realities of their world, which can also color their beliefs.

"So they might be noticing, 'Who are the people I come in contact with? Who are the people that my parent talks to, who come over for dinner? Who are the people in my school? What access to resources do they have?' And so forth," she said. "And so, kids are paying attention to the social realities of their world and kind of adding it up."

While it's impossible to control everything children are exposed to, Kinzler suggested parents try to broaden their early experiences by exposing them to diverse ideas, languages, people and places, especially from a young age. She said formed biases are more often a result of social and cultural attitudes rather than political messages.

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Guest Commentary |
He could live another 20 years, President Trump and venous insufficiency

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

Glenn Mollette

President Trump probably doesn’t want any pictures taken with his feet on his desk. Maybe he never puts his feet on his desk. His recent diagnosis of a venous blood supply problem warrants such a recline two or three times a day.

Millions of Americans, especially seniors, deal with ankle and lower leg swelling caused by the flow of blood from the lower leg not returning to the heart as adequately as it did earlier in life. It’s not a debilitating issue unless it’s ignored in which case a blood clot could develop in the lower leg or behind the knee.

Blood clots are not good as they are not good for the veins. Even worse, a blood clot in the lower leg can travel to the upper part of the body which could be fatal. Thousands of Americans die every year from blood clots that travel to the heart or cause strokes which can be debilitating and fatal.

The smart thing for our President to do is to put his feet up on his desk for ten minutes or so three or four times a day. He can do so when he is talking on his telephone or if he is having a casual meeting. Doctors typically recommend compression socks. There are different grades of compression socks. Some are very light and go on very easy while others are like fighting a war to put on because the compression is so tight. Most people don’t particularly enjoy compression socks. However, many testify that once you are used to them you feel better because your legs aren’t swelling as much during the day.

Besides compression socks and elevating your legs it’s good not to stand in one spot for too long. Walking is great, but just standing in one position can negatively impact the lower leg and the flow of blood as it returns to the heart. Sitting too long creates the same problematic scenario.

The President is doing the right thing by taking an aspirin a day to avoid clotting issues. Most people who develop a blood clot often end up on blood thinner for a while or a lifetime.

Alcohol makes your blood slicker. It doesn’t make it thinner as reported by a family physician.

A few years back, I had a pulmonary embolism after receiving my third covid shot so I have some experience to draw from on this.

President Trump can potentially live another robust 20 years or more. However, it’s reality, he is getting older and has to take care of himself.

About the author ~

Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.

The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

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