Subtle (and Not-so-Subtle) Racism

Malcolm Gladwell's latest book, Blink, includes a fascinating chapter on the racial bias in favor of white people that exists in the subconscious of most Americans, regardless of race. Apparently, this bias often reveals itself in subtle ways that go unnoticed. Sometimes, however, the bias is less subtle, as demonstrated by Trent Lott's recent slip of the tongue. The former Senate majority leader said, regarding the President's next Supreme Court nominee:

I want the President to look across the country and find the best man, woman, or minority that he can find.

I don't want to pick on Senator Lott too much, because I think many of us are guilty of racist inclinations that we might not even be aware of. Still, given his past actions and remarks, Trent needs to be a little more careful.