Stereotyping is by far one of the most common denominators when it comes to societal relationships. However, its symptoms go so unnoticed because stereotypes are embraced by our society. Now, there are some that agree that stereotyping is a defense mechanism and is a needed characteristic, i agree with this to a certain extent. It is essential to be judgmental when it comes to people's actions and your dealings with them because people's actions are pretty much who they are. If a person is involved in illegal activities or immoral issues of some kind, then, it is ok to make the judgment that this person is not the kind of person I want to be around. Intuition is a key power in this world we live in, and it is important that you are able to recognize flaw, fake, and deceitful attitudes as soon as possible. The book, "What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School," speaks thoroughly about the importance of being able to read people and act accordingly. They stressed that what they don't teach you at Harvard is what they can't teach you, and that is common sense and the ability to use your intuition. On the other hand, to judge a person merely off of his/her appearance is absolutely insane. It also causes social divide.
I was in the mall just a couple of weeks ago when I was the victim of a stereotypical mind. I was approaching this white lady and her kid. I wasn't actually approaching them but I was about to walk pass them. Once the lady spotted me she grabbed the kid firmly saying "stay close to me." I was so hurt by her reactions towards seeing me. You see, I don’t consider myself the average young black male. Especially coming from the type of environment I came from. I am an extremely caring person that dreams of the days when we truly see each other as one. I even have a clothing line and it focuses on self-development and self-knowledge as a way to unify our nation by helping us to see ourselves in each other. Like I said before I am a loving and caring individual. However, at that moment i was seen as a black dude with dread ready to prey on an innocent mother and her child.
Although, it was her actions that made an impact on me, I didn't blame her at all for my disappointment. Poor lady was only looking out for the well-being of her child, and if the media is always saying "be on the lookout for young black men", then, that’s exactly what’s she's going to do. From watching the tube she knows that blacks are responsible for 52% of the Nations homicides. So when she sees a black man, especially a young black man with my features, she is immediately nervous and wonders what I might do to her and her child. what she doesn't seem to realize is that people are individuals and it’s not the color of the skin and they way people look that makes them who they are. It’s the life they have lead and the things they've been exposed to that determines there values.
Stereotypes make our country a paranoid place to live. They keep a cloud of suspicion over us, and instead of collaborating with people that look different or have different backgrounds we keep our distance from them. By being restricted to only dealing with certain looks, blood types, and whatever else that separates the masses other than their heart we miss out on the chemistry developed by the mixture of different ideas and cultures. Hopefully, with the help of Historie Clothing Group and The Rebuild Foundation we can close the gap brought on by racism and stereotypes and move on to a time where we actually are our brother’s keeper.
I was in the mall just a couple of weeks ago when I was the victim of a stereotypical mind. I was approaching this white lady and her kid. I wasn't actually approaching them but I was about to walk pass them. Once the lady spotted me she grabbed the kid firmly saying "stay close to me." I was so hurt by her reactions towards seeing me. You see, I don’t consider myself the average young black male. Especially coming from the type of environment I came from. I am an extremely caring person that dreams of the days when we truly see each other as one. I even have a clothing line and it focuses on self-development and self-knowledge as a way to unify our nation by helping us to see ourselves in each other. Like I said before I am a loving and caring individual. However, at that moment i was seen as a black dude with dread ready to prey on an innocent mother and her child.
Although, it was her actions that made an impact on me, I didn't blame her at all for my disappointment. Poor lady was only looking out for the well-being of her child, and if the media is always saying "be on the lookout for young black men", then, that’s exactly what’s she's going to do. From watching the tube she knows that blacks are responsible for 52% of the Nations homicides. So when she sees a black man, especially a young black man with my features, she is immediately nervous and wonders what I might do to her and her child. what she doesn't seem to realize is that people are individuals and it’s not the color of the skin and they way people look that makes them who they are. It’s the life they have lead and the things they've been exposed to that determines there values.
Stereotypes make our country a paranoid place to live. They keep a cloud of suspicion over us, and instead of collaborating with people that look different or have different backgrounds we keep our distance from them. By being restricted to only dealing with certain looks, blood types, and whatever else that separates the masses other than their heart we miss out on the chemistry developed by the mixture of different ideas and cultures. Hopefully, with the help of Historie Clothing Group and The Rebuild Foundation we can close the gap brought on by racism and stereotypes and move on to a time where we actually are our brother’s keeper.
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