When you look at a picture of an iceberg, you typically only see 13% of the iceberg, the portion above the water line. You do not see the 87% that is under the surface of the water. Similarly, when you meet someone, you only see the 13% of who they are that lies above the surface. We only see the p hysical characteristics of the individual and do not quickly get to know the 87% of who the person truly is below the surface. The United States is home to people from many different cultures and religious backgrounds. People worship God in a variety of different ways. One can easily go about their life without knowing how someone who has different beliefs than them worships or the different practices they follow. We can look from the outside at the 13% or we can take intentional time to learn more. Getting to know people beyond the 13% has allowed me to look beyond the superficial to see underneath the surface. Kevin L. Booker Jr. According to the research done by Mahzarin Banaji and Anthony Greenwald, all people have unconscious or implicit biases. Unconscious biases are automatic thoughts, judgments, and beliefs about others based on factors that include gender, age, race, or appearance. This is something that all people have in common. Everyone has unconscious biases. If unchecked, unconscious biases can lead to treating others unfairly, continuing to spread biases, and preventing oneself from growing and learning about others. To identify our unconscious biases, one must educate oneself about cultures unlike one’s own. We all have unconscious biases shaped by our experiences and influenced by the media and other sources of information. If we want to be inclusive individuals, we must actively expand our understanding and get to know others beyond what we think we know, to grow as humans. One way I have done this is through my weekly practice of visiting different Christian churches to worship. For a long time, I have attended a variety of services on Sunday mornings, including Baptist, Catholic, nondenominational, congregational, and others. Experiencing the different ways Christians worship and honor God has given me a different perspective on who God is and the many ways people practice and live out their faith. I have taken this practice even further by also visiting mosques, synagogues, and Buddhist rituals to learn more. Beyond attending worship services, there are many other ways one can learn about different faiths and worship practices. The Muslim Coalition of Connecticut (MCCT) is an organization in Connecticut formed to educate others about Islam. The MCCT was formed in 2004 in response to the need to build a positive community after the 9/11 attacks. They seek to educate the community about Islam and their practices. For the past 20 years, they have hosted a Taste of Ramadan event, sharing their culture and religious practices with the Connecticut community. I had the distinct pleasure of attending this year’s event, where I heard from a diverse group of Muslim people who shared about their faith journey and what Ramadan means to them. Everyone in attendance broke the daily fast together by sharing a meal after sundown. It was a very educational experience, and I left with a much deeper understanding of Ramadan and its impact on the Muslim community. In an interview with Ghoufran Allababidi, a Muslim-American who is part of the MCCT, she shared how important it is for events like this to help others understand their neighbors. She shared that they invite others to join events like the Taste of Ramadan to help “build a bridge between people.” She further said, “You are on that side practicing your beliefs, and I am on this side practicing my beliefs. We are never going to get together unless we have that bridge, which is knowledge and education.” Through the interview, she shared that common misconceptions about Islam can hinder positive relationships. She stressed that to be a community, you must know more about one another – “I want to feel I am part of the community. So, I want people to know me and know who I am, what my beliefs are, and I want to learn about their beliefs.” Currently, I am a member of the Greater Hartford Rekindle Fellowship, which brings together people from the Jewish and Black communities to learn from one another. Rekindle Fellowship is a national group that meets in smaller communities throughout the country. Its mission is to bring Black and Jewish leaders in the community together to engage in discussions, challenging dialogue, relationship building, and action taking to create sustained social change across different communities.  “By rekindling the strong relationships and collaborative action between the Black and Jewish communities that were built during the Civil Rights Movement, we can accelerate our collective impact and increase equity.” Participating in this group has helped me grow and learn more about the history of Black and Jewish communities in the United States. The readings and discussions have pushed me to consider different perspectives and to understand more deeply the historical implications that have led us to our current reality.  I had the opportunity to interview one of the Jewish participants in the program, Alan Berkowitz. Through his interview, he stressed how important it is to go beyond what you know to learn about other people who may appear differently from you. Alan shared that many people have irrational fears of people who are Jewish or of other religions that block them from truly getting to know one another. He stressed the urgency for people to seek one another out in community through conversations and education to learn more about one another. As the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” We can continue living at the surface and allow biases to perpetuate misunderstandings. Or, we can choose to educate ourselves, step out of our comfort zone to attend something new, and learn about another religion, faith, or culture. Some people are afraid to learn about others because, in doing so, they would deny truths they believe. However, expanding your understanding helps you better grasp your own faith and strengthens your ability to explain it to others who may not share your beliefs. In a world full of hate, choose to educate yourself. Take opportunities like attending the Taste of Ramadan, joining groups like Rekindle Fellowship, and attending other faith services to broaden your view of others and help you live below the surface. Continue getting comfortable being uncomfortable, which enables you to learn more about yourself and embrace the differences in others. Push yourself to see people beyond the 13%. Kevin L. Booker, Jr. of New London is a former member of the Connecticut Mirror’s Community Editorial Board. ...read more read less