Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Social science, psychology and consequences of implicit bias are at the heart of the Smithsonian Institute exhibit now at the Cape Fear Museum, which concludes Sunday, Oct. 23.

Wilmington was one of three cities in the southeast U.S. selected to host “The Bias Inside Us” for the 2022-23 touring season. The Smithsonian’s exhibit will travel to 40 communities across the country through 2025. UNCW assisted the Cape Fear Museum and other community partners in bringing the exhibit to Wilmington. “The Bias Inside Us” offers an opportunity to learn how to challenge bias in the world through awareness of one’s own bias.

“We are grateful to the Cape Fear Museum for leading the collaboration to bring this exhibit to the region,” said Dr. Donyell Roseboro, UNCW’s chief diversity officer. “The museum staff has been pivotal in connecting our racialized history to present lived experiences, and this nationally recognized exhibit brings us in conversation with the nation.”

Communities selected for the exhibit submitted proposals to show how the project will be used to build capacity. A Smithsonian-led project team worked with community leaders to develop a customized plan for community-initiated programming.

“The Cape Fear Museum deeply appreciates the community partners that assisted in bringing the Smithsonian’s ‘The Bias Inside Us’ to Wilmington,” said Kate Baillon, manager of collections and exhibits. “Because of the UNCW Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, New Hanover County’s Office of Diversity and Equity, the New Hanover County Public Library, and New Hanover County Schools, we were able to communicate the impact and opportunity that an exhibit addressing implicit bias would offer to our community.”

“The Bias Inside Us” is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and is supported by The Otto Bremer Trust. Learn more about the exhibit at the Cape Fear Museum website.

-- Venita Jenkins