My composition class was discussing argumentation, and I mentioned that bias is often encountered when trying to persuade others to accept one’s point of view.
“Are bias and prejudice the same thing?” a student asked.
Caught off guard, I read the dictionary’s definitions: Bias is prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another; prejudice is a preconceived opinion, not based on reason or actual experience. The dictionary and I collaborated in creating more confusion.
“If the dictionary says bias is prejudice, doesn’t that mean prejudice is bias?” someone asked. Students love to stump teachers, and I was stumped.
Seeking an escape, I pointed out that, of the two terms, more negative connotations are associated with prejudice because it often refers to one person’s tendency to dislike another person because of his religious beliefs, race, nationality, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and so on.
Realizing I was getting nowhere and relieved that the class was about to end, I challenged the students to clear up the confusion by writing a composition about an experience in their lives that involved prejudice or bias. As it turned out, the kids did a much better job of differentiating between the two terms than I did.
One girl defined prejudice by relating an incident in which prejudice and lack of prejudice were juxtaposed. Creating her own version of a story someone emailed her, she wrote about a family picnic. Following is part of her composition:
With blankets spread under a shade tree, we were enjoying ourselves. An old man in ragged clothes, whose beard was streaked with tobacco stains, sat on a nearby bench. We ignored him — all except my little brother. Man and boy couldn’t take their eyes off each other.
“Well, hello there, little fella. Tell me what your name is,” the bum said. Grinning toothlessly, my brother said, “Lamar.” Then the two began making funny faces at each other. For the rest of us, the picnic’s jovial atmosphere began to fade.
As we prepared to leave, the old man walked over to Lamar and picked him up.
My parents were stunned — not only because their defenseless son was in the arms of a stranger, but also because boy and man seemed to bond with one another. The old man’s eyes became moist as the child tugged at his whiskers. Gently, he patted Lamar’s back, gave him a kiss, and walked toward my mother.
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“Ma’am, this is such a beautiful little boy,” the stranger said. “Thank you for allowing me to hold him.”
When he gave Lamar to Mother, the little boy held tightly to the old man, whose eyes closed as he savored the precious moment.
The student’s composition ended with this comment: “Sometimes, prejudice is an unfounded reaction to another person. That is so wrong! Whereas my parents and I disliked the old man, my brother bonded with him, human to human.”
When confronted with prejudice or bias, we should all try to be like Lamar.
Jimmy Reed is an Oxford, Mississippi resident, Ole Miss and Delta State University alumnus, Vietnam Era Army Veteran, former Mississippi Delta cotton farmer and ginner, author, and retired college teacher.
This story is a selection from Jimmy Reed’s latest book, entitled The Jaybird Tales.
Copies, including personalized autographs, can be reserved by notifying the author via email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).
My composition class was discussing argumentation, and I mentioned that bias is often encountered when trying to persuade others to accept one’s point of view.
“Are bias and prejudice the same thing?” a student asked.
Caught off guard, I read the dictionary’s definitions: Bias is prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another; prejudice is a preconceived opinion, not based on reason or actual experience. The dictionary and I collaborated in creating more confusion. 
