Conversation in a Greyhound Bus Depot Coffee Shop
“Say buddy are yew a injun?”
“Yeah, man.”
“What kind?”
“MEXICAN”
“O, ah thot yew was a real injun.”
As he proceeded to tell me
(quite boringly)
About his 1/64th blood quantum
And his Cherokee PRINCESS grandmother;
My prison-like coffee was getting cold,
The bus was pulling out…
And it was time to go![1]
Implicit bias is real, and most people’s minds are not trained to recognize it. In her book Sway, Pragya Agarwal describes unconscious bias as brought about through experiences or perhaps culture, whereas explicit bias involves the intentional views of hate or discrimination.[2]
In the poem above, Conversation in a Greyhound Bus Depot Coffee Shop, writer Raul R. Salinas, who I also worked under as my mentor for 11 years, describes an exchange with a stranger at a bus station. The stranger addressed him as “buddy” and went on to say he assumed Raul was “a real injun.” This example of implicit bias is based on the man’s preconceived stereotypical ideas about Native American identity. It could be argued the exchange was one of explicit bias, but without any open hostility, the stranger more likely demonstrates an unconscious bias about who a “real” Indian is.
Another area in which I am starting to see implicit bias more frequently is in what it means to be Christian. The term no longer conveys a standard vernacular as it once did. With the rise of nationalism, polity, and cultural Christianity, someone claiming a Christian identity almost needs to qualify themselves by describing how they follow the Biblical principles of Jesus.
In his book Into the Heart of Romans, N.T. Wright offers a useful description of what it means to be a Christian. He says it involves participating in the story of Jesus—specifically, in his life, death, and resurrection—which is the primary way Christian identity is defined. He emphasizes that being a Christian is not merely about agreeing with a doctrine or following a moral code but about being incorporated into the community that Jesus established through his actions and teachings.[3]
Intuition or the Holy Spirit?
Another aspect of the book I enjoyed was the segment on intuition. According to the Myers-Briggs test, my personality type is INFJ, which means I am an introvert with intuitive feelings and judging traits.[4] The Holy Spirit guides my path. In other words, I live primarily by System 1 thinking in the dual process theory defined by Daniel Kahneman in Thinking Fast and Slow, which means I operate in a typically fast, subconscious, automatic, and, unfortunately, prone to errors sometimes. On the contrary, System 2 thinking is slower and more conscious, making thoughtful, complex decisions easier.[5] Until now, I never questioned how my typical System 1 operation mode impacts my work.
In Sway, Agarwal defines intuition as a “Secret inner voice…shaped by the perception of something visible around us, such as a facial expression, a tone of voice or a visual inconsistency so fleeting that often we’re not even aware we’ve noticed it.”[6] In other words, she is describing a gut instinct as implicit bias.
As much as I value the incredible work this author has done in writing this book, I tend to see things in part as she describes them but also through a faith lens. The Bible offers several verses about how the Holy Spirit communicates with believers.
In John 14:26, Jesus says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” I also believe the Holy Spirit communicates through inner promptings, feelings, or convictions that guide believers in their thoughts, decisions, and actions, also known as the still small voice. During times of turmoil, the peace that gives assurance to believers comes from the Holy Spirit, which is far more powerful than an assumption of implicit bias.
Conclusion
As I think about implicit bias, Christian identity, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I believe it is important to be self-aware and seek spiritual discernment. We have to be open to recognizing hidden biases that overtly or covertly shape our thoughts and actions, which can be especially difficult in today’s complex culture. But even more important is our pursuit of a deeper relationship with God, one that the Holy Spirit leads toward truth, compassion, and a desire for a deeper understanding of faith, people, and circumstances.
While implicit biases can cloud our judgment, the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit can guide us toward grace, wisdom, and clarity. I am interested in continuing to explore this theme through further coursework in the coming weeks and months.
[1] Raúlrsalinas. Indio Trails: A Xicano Odyssey through Indian Country. 1st ed. San Antonio, Tex: Wings Press, 2007. P.3.
[2] Agarwal, Pragya. Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Bias. Bloomsbury sigma series. London: Bloomsbury Sigma, 2020. P.16.
[3] Wright, N. T. Into the Heart of Romans: A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Academic, 2023.
[4] “INFJ Personality (Advocate) | 16Personalities.” Accessed March 1, 2025. https://www.16personalities.com/infj-personality.
[5] Kahneman, Daniel. Thinking, Fast and Slow. 1st pbk. ed. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013.
[6] Agarwal, Pragya. Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Bias. Bloomsbury sigma series. London: Bloomsbury Sigma, 2020.P.28.
About the Author
Jennifer Eckert
Operations and fundraising director, people connector, believer in second chances, fights poverty, supports justice reform, lives a life integrated with Matthew 25.6 responses to “Conversation in a Greyhound Bus Depot Coffee Shop”
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Jennifer,
Thanks for bringing in the work of the Holy Spirit. How might you rely on the Holy Spirit in a situation when you would otherwise be prone to bias?
Hi Adam,
I think tapping into the power of the Holy Spirit in a tenuous situation where I might be biased means I should consider operating with more of a system 2 approach. At a minimum, I should pause to recognize my immediate response and then test it to understand why I feel that way. It is about being intentional to self-assess my own thinking before responding.
Hi Jennifer, I appreciate your inclusion of the Holy Spirit and discernment in this topic. Do you find that when seeking the Holy Spirit, your biases (intentional and unintentional) have reduced as a result? Also, how big of a struggle is it to lean into the Holy Spirit in these instances, as many in similar settings may default to knowledge and emotion?
Thanks, Daren. To answer your first question, my awareness of bias (intentional or unintentional) has definitely increased. I am still practicing the “pause, think before responding, understand the why behind my response.” Have any of my biases reduced? Yes, in some cases, they have. But in other cases, I probably need to dig deeper. Still, I’m grateful for the ability to lean on the Holy Spirit and listen for discernment.
To answer your second question, it can definitely be a struggle to lean into the Holy Spirit, especially in high-emotion situations where there is also a base of knowledge. Again, it’s all part of practicing living in sync with God, and not the world. The most difficult aspect is how fast-paced things are, which sometimes causes me to want to respond quickly without fully thinking things through. As you already know, pausing to pray and listen is a skill that has to be cultivated but gets stronger over time.
Great self-awareness Jennifer. I really appreciate the connection between the Holy Spirit and how God made us with “intuition” or a “gut feeling.” But as we know, not all gut feelings are helpful.
In what ways can believers cultivate a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s guidance to counteract implicit biases in their daily interactions?”
Yes, you are so right, my friend. Not every intuition is our friend. A couple of things I am practicing to strengthen in habit include daily prayer and reflection. I pray daily already, but I don’t stop to reflect as often. Sometimes, the noise in my mind is too loud, but I am getting better at listening – in the world and in my prayer conversations with Jesus. The lessons through school are helping me become more self-aware, which brings humility, but I still need to slow down and REALLY try to grasp the big picture around me rather than moving forward on “decision nuggets.” All of this is part of a growth mindset, which is bringing me closer to the Lord – my ultimate goal and reason for joining this program.