The Jacket

Bias is defined as a disproportionate level of judgment toward someone without reason. Implicit bias is an unconscious form of bias influenced by societal views, and The Jacket explores how the biases we don’t know we hold can be harmful, both to ourselves and others. Through Phil’s character arc and his relationship with Daniel, the novella emphasizes the importance of understanding and overcoming the biased assumptions we make.

Phil’s initial judgment of Daniel shows the trouble assumptions can cause. Due to a combination of factors (including upbringing and societal messaging), Phil has unconscious negative attitudes toward Black people that lead him to believe the only way Daniel could have gotten the jacket was to steal it. In his limited understanding, there can’t be another explanation. Once Phil calms down and learns who Daniel’s grandmother is, the truth becomes clear, showing how the automatic nature of implicit bias prevents us from thinking rationally. Phil was already under stress when he saw Daniel wearing the jacket (worrying about finding his brother and being late for class), and this stress, along with the brain’s tendency to categorize information, triggered Phil’s unreasonable reaction. If he had stopped to think, he may have talked to Daniel first and asked about the jacket.