--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So if whites see a black face shown at a…" description: "\"“So if whites see a black face shown at a subliminal speed, the amygdala activates.10 But if the face is shown long enough for conscious processing, th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_black-face_so-if-whites-see-a-black-face-shown-at-a_1244754.png" --- # So if whites see a black face shown at a subliminal speed… ![“So if whites see a black face shown at a subliminal speed, the amygdala activates.10 But if the face is shown long enough for conscious processing, the anterior cingulate and the “cognitive” dlPFC then activate and inhibit the amygdala. It’s the frontal cortex exerting executive control over the…” quote by Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_black-face_so-if-whites-see-a-black-face-shown-at-a_1244754.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_black-face_so-if-whites-see-a-black-face-shown-at-a_1244754.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_black-face_so-if-whites-see-a-black-face-shown-at-a_1244754.png) > ““So if whites see a black face shown at a subliminal speed, the amygdala activates.10 But if the face is shown long enough for conscious processing, the anterior cingulate and the “cognitive” dlPFC then activate and inhibit the amygdala. It’s the frontal cortex exerting executive control over the deeper, darker amygdaloid response.”” [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Briefly describes how quick, unconscious perception of race triggers fear responses, while conscious processing can regulate them. **In simple terms:** Fast bias triggers fear; thinking can calm it. Key Takeaway Use conscious thought to counteract instinctive bias. Themes bias neuroscience emotion Mood analytical educational Type lecture scientific explanation When to use this quote - workplace training - education - policy making - personal reflection Key Concepts amygdala prefrontal cortex cognitive control Questions to Reflect On - How can you train yourself to notice bias? - What strategies help sustain conscious regulation? A Different Perspective Regulation depends on awareness and effort; not all can easily engage higher cognition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amygdala Activates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amygdala-activates-2194596/) [Amygdala Frontal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amygdala-frontal-3899495/) [Black face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-face/) [Cortex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cortex-283580/) [Darker Amygdaloid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darker-amygdaloid-3899497/) [Frontal Cortex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frontal-cortex-579848/) [Speed Amygdala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed-amygdala-3899496/) ## Related quotes > [“Chapter 3 discusses some unsettling research—stick your average person in a brain scanner, and show him a picture of someone of another race for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/chapter-3-discusses-some-unsettling-research-stick-your-average/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Joseph LeDoux at New York University has shown how the BLA learns fear.fn14,20 Expose a rat to an innate trigger of fear—a shock. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/joseph-ledoux-at-new-york-university-has-shown-how-the-bla-learns/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“We process emotionally salient information more rapidly and automatically, but with less accuracy. Frontal function—working memory, impulse control, executive decision making, risk assessment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/we-process-emotionally-salient-information-more-rapidly-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“What does the frontal cortex do? Its list of expertise includes working memory, executive function (organizing knowledge strategically, and then initiating an action based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/what-does-the-frontal-cortex-do-its-list-of-expertise-includes/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [The frontal cortex is an incredibly interesting part of the brain - ours is proportionately bigger and/or more complex than in any other species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-frontal-cortex-is-an-incredibly-interesting-part-of-the-brain/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [It's great to have a buff frontal cortex to do that harder thing - for example, help a person in need rather buy some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/it-s-great-to-have-a-buff-frontal-cortex-to-do-that-harder-thing-for/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Damasio has produced an influential theory about emotion-laden decision making, rooted in the philosophies of Hume and William James; this will soon be discussed.61…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/damasio-has-produced-an-influential-theory-about-emotion-laden/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“THE DELAYED MATURATION of the frontal cortex suggests an obvious scenario, namely that early in adolescence the frontal cortex has fewer neurons, dendritic branches,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-delayed-maturation-of-the-frontal-cortex-suggests-an-obvious/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“how acute stress strengthens connectivity between the frontal cortex and motoric areas, while weakening frontal-hippocampal connections; the result is decision making that is habitual,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/how-acute-stress-strengthens-connectivity-between-the-frontal-cortex/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [The frontal cortex doesn't even fully develop until age 25, which is wild!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-frontal-cortex-doesn-t-even-fully-develop-until-age-25-which-is/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“probably the most important fact about genetics and culture is the delayed maturation of the frontal cortex—the genetic programming for the young frontal cortex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/probably-the-most-important-fact-about-genetics-and-culture-is-the/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [But often, it's easier to resist temptation with distraction, or to be so inculcated in doing the right thing that it's automatic, outside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-often-it-s-easier-to-resist-temptation-with-distraction-or-to-be/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Work by Martha Farah of the University of Pennsylvania, Tom Boyce of UCSF, and others demonstrates something outrageous: By age five, the lower a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/work-by-martha-farah-of-the-university-of-pennsylvania-tom-boyce-of/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Most broadly, the PFC chooses between conflicting options—Coke or Pepsi; blurting out what you really think or restraining yourself; pulling the trigger or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/most-broadly-the-pfc-chooses-between-conflicting-options-coke-or/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“The brain is heavily influenced by genes. But from birth through young adulthood, the part of the human brain that most defines us (frontal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-brain-is-heavily-influenced-by-genes-but-from-birth-through-young/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## More by Robert M. Sapolsky > [“Secure-attachment 7Rs show more generosity than average. Thus 7R has something to do with generosity—but its effect is entirely context dependent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/secure-attachment-7rs-show-more-generosity-than-average-thus-7r-has/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Finally, for the same criminal conviction, the more stereotypically Af-rican a black individual’s facial features, the longer the sentence.15 In contrast, juries view black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/finally-for-the-same-criminal-conviction-the-more-stereotypically-af/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“So testosterone does subtle things to behavior. Nonetheless, this doesn’t tell us much because everything can be interpreted every which way. Testosterone increases anxiety—you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/so-testosterone-does-subtle-things-to-behavior-nonetheless-this-doesn/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“pain makes aggressive people more aggressive, while doing the opposite to unaggressive individuals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/pain-makes-aggressive-people-more-aggressive-while-doing-the-opposite/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Thus, for our purposes, genes aren’t about inevitability. Instead they’re about context-dependent tendencies, propensities, potentials, and vulnerabilities. All embedded in the fabric of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/thus-for-our-purposes-genes-aren-t-about-inevitability-instead-they/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“If we accept that there will always be sides, it’s a nontrivial to-do list item to always be on the side of angels. 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Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“No brain region is an island, and the formation of circuits connecting far-flung brain regions is crucial—how else can the frontal cortex use its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/no-brain-region-is-an-island-and-the-formation-of-circuits-connecting/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“We process emotionally salient information more rapidly and automatically, but with less accuracy. Frontal function—working memory, impulse control, executive decision making, risk assessment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/we-process-emotionally-salient-information-more-rapidly-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Most broadly, the PFC chooses between conflicting options—Coke or Pepsi; blurting out what you really think or restraining yourself; pulling the trigger or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/most-broadly-the-pfc-chooses-between-conflicting-options-coke-or/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“One stretch of the gene is repeated a variable number of times, and the version with seven repeats (the “7R” form) produces a receptor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/one-stretch-of-the-gene-is-repeated-a-variable-number-of-times-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“some people always get more than their share of equality than others”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/some-people-always-get-more-than-their-share-of-equality-than-others/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [It's probably even the case that if you stoked up some Buddhist monks with tons of testosterone, they'd become wildly competitive as to who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/it-s-probably-even-the-case-that-if-you-stoked-up-some-buddhist-monks/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) [Explore all 280 Robert M. Sapolsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## More Black face quotes > [I've heard that Black people and Black faces don't sell magazines, but one day you're going to beg me to be on there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-ve-heard-that-black-people-and-black-faces-don-t-sell-magazines-but/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [In all my years in show business - on stage, clubs and TV shows - my audience has been 75 percent white. In Las…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nipsey-russell/in-all-my-years-in-show-business-on-stage-clubs-and-tv-shows-my/) [Nipsey Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nipsey-russell/) > [Better have a black face than be worried about black deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/better-have-a-black-face-than-be-worried-about-black-deeds/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Growing up, a black face on TV was really rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/growing-up-a-black-face-on-tv-was-really-rare/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [“At my first neighborhood community meeting, I faced nine worn, black faces and two white ones. I was easily the youngest person there by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-foley/at-my-first-neighborhood-community-meeting-i-faced-nine-worn-black/) [Aaron Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-foley/) > [I hope there is something worthy in my writings and not merely the novelty of a black face associated with the power to rhyme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laurence-dunbar/i-hope-there-is-something-worthy-in-my-writings-and-not-merely-the/) [Paul Laurence Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laurence-dunbar/) > [Seven out of 10 black faces you see on television are athletes. The black athlete carries the image of the black community. He carries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/seven-out-of-10-black-faces-you-see-on-television-are-athletes-the/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [“...to handicap a student by teaching him that his black face is a curse and that his struggle to change his condition is hopeless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson/to-handicap-a-student-by-teaching-him-that-his-black-face-is-a-curse/) [Carter G. Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-g-woodson/) > [I think you can be politically incorrect, but there's some responsibility with that. You've got to make sure that you are not condoning or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-baron-cohen/i-think-you-can-be-politically-incorrect-but-there-s-some/) [Sacha Baron Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-baron-cohen/) > [“Every morning when I wake up and look in the mirror, I see a black face and I love it. Sure, I've been to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-baszile/every-morning-when-i-wake-up-and-look-in-the-mirror-i-see-a-black/) [Natalie Baszile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-baszile/) > [I came across a photograph of him not long ago... his black face, the long snout sniffing at something in the air, his tail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-morris/i-came-across-a-photograph-of-him-not-long-ago-his-black-face-the/) [Willie Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-morris/) > [Father was an atheist; he had even joined the Skeleton Army - a club of men who went about in masks or black faces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/father-was-an-atheist-he-had-even-joined-the-skeleton-army-a-club-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Spatial racism, the erasure of black faces in a predominantly white city, is in full effect in both Crown Heights and Center City Philadelphia.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-butler/spatial-racism-the-erasure-of-black-faces-in-a-predominantly-white/) [Anthea Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-butler/) > [A body would think that your heart was as black as your face. People thinks now that sweeps is black all through instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-n-lee/a-body-would-think-that-your-heart-was-as-black-as-your-face-people/) [Robert N. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-n-lee/) > [“After living in Smokey Hollow these three months my bearded face was darkened to a tan, and for more than a moment, I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jenkins/after-living-in-smokey-hollow-these-three-months-my-bearded-face-was/) [Peter Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jenkins/) [Browse all 38 Black face quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-face/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So if whites see a black face shown at a subliminal speed, the amygdala activates.10 But if the face is shown long enough for conscious processing, the anterior cingulate and the “cognitive” dlPFC then activate and inhibit the amygdala. 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