"Instead of being presented with stereotypes by age, sex, color, class, or religion, children must have the opportunity to learn that within each range, some people are loathsome and some are delightful." (Margaret Mead) There are times when I joke with friends about the preposterous and disrespectful stereotypes that society and social media has created about people. One of my friends in particular, is sensitive to these stereotypes, which is firsthand proof for me that these are not just "harmless jokes". How my friend has reacted at times shows me that these stereotypes affect what people think of her before they even get to know her, because of the moronic "jokes" and stereotypes told about Pacific Islanders. Yet to show how truly childish and harmful these stereotypes are, even adolescents and those 4th Grade and over are fooled into think these should be taking lightly. Most people who are proud of who they are fear that stereotypes could possibly ruin their future.
As an African Male (American Citizen) born in Bori Rivers, Nigeria, the reaction from most of peers when they hear of where I'm from is always the same. Their are silly little jokes told, especially those based off of social stereotypes, like for example; the assumed "lack" of civilization, hunting animals for food, slave jokes, being athletic only because of the continent where I was born, and eating a lot because I am constantly "starving", etcetera. Some of those are, as I said, harmless, forgotten as soon as they are said. To tell the truth, I was on both the giving and receiving end of these jokes. However, I know that there are even worse cases of this, I know that there are people who believe many African-Americans are not educated, are fools, and have no goals in life, and those are the types of stereotypes I want to avoid. I don't want people to look at me and say "He's not going anywhere in life," or "he's not focused on anything," or anything along the lines of "He'll just let you down... he can't be trusted". It scares me to think of the possibility that people I've never met before think these things as I'm greeting them, that these people think their is no chance I could be anything more than what they hear from stereotypes, and that the social expectation of the things I could accomplish in life is limited.
Very well said, I agree with your blog completely, it is amazing to see how ignorant people are of Africans, but I do not blame them, the media and well-meaning charity funds portray Africa as a savage wasteland full of poor, starving, and uneducated people. The truth is that many Africans are doing well in the U.S. In some tests native Africans scored higher on tests than american born children. Not everything in the media is true, they play on your thoughts and emotios. If you had to give up your nationality to stop the ridicule would you do it?
ReplyDeleteTo me sterotypes is just an other way of saying racisum. The only difference is that in sterotypes you can talk about color, hair, religion,ect. Everybody think that all I do is sports, well that is not true. I love to do sports but without education I would not have sports. Some of my family members are surprised when I tell I got stright A's. Sterotypes can also be used for bulling.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your blog. I don't understand what difference it makes that you are different. Maybe those people that talk bad about you are just "haters". Everyone loves haters, when you have haters you should just want to be even better just to make them mad.
ReplyDeleteI really love that you used stereotypes as your topic. I totally agree with you although I may not know exactly how you feel. I absolutely hate that, unfortunately these stereotypes are taken lightly and sometimes are a everyday joke to some people.And unfortunately the fact that a person is of a different race, religion or culture background can easily change a persons thoughts about someone. Do not let those people bring you down or tell you what you can and cannot do because I believe that you can do whatever you set your mind to. No matter what race, religion or gender you are everybody should have the same chance to be successful and prove to someone that they can do it.My question for you is, how prove to others that stereotypes should be taken seriously?
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