Kimberly Thomas Rapp

Ms. Rapp is the director of policy advocacy at the Equal Justice Society. She introduced to us the concept of social cognition studies as a scientific basis to understand and address structural racialization in overcoming "intent" in racial discrimination cases. She said, "All of us, regardless of race, have cognitive biases that influence how we perceive and make decisions. The behavior of human beings is often guided by racial and other stereotypes of which we are completely unaware."

As this concept is scientifically-based, it can be used to turn the tide against the intent-based, color-blind status of race discrimination jurisprudence.

She then introduced the keynote speaker, Professor John Powell.