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Most people "buy into" negative stereotypes by experiencing them in real life, not just because they have been told about them. Just as we tell children that the stove is hot, human nature and the experience of learning what is true will cause many an experimenting child to touch it just to make sure he is being told the truth. In the same way most humans observe each other to confirm or deny if the stereotypes are true.
That places the responsibility of how a group is perceived on the individual who identifies with that group. We each are individually responsible for how we represent our groups whether it's a Mom's club or a racial group.
What I struggle to say is that it is not enough to try to silence those who spout stereotypes as they are not the ones responsible for the existence of them.
This is a positive message because it means that we each have it within our small realm of control to slowly help make a difference.
Could it be that a large percentage of Hispanics are white? For example Marco Rubio ancestry is Cuban byway of Spain. In reality he is of European decent. Same with Ted Cruz. Cruz' mother is white and his father is Cuban. However Cruz' parental grandparents are from the Canary Islands in Spain. Ted Cruz is call Hispanic but he is of European decent.
So somehow being from Spain you are not considered Hispanic?
That places the responsibility of how a group is perceived on the individual who identifies with that group. We each are individually responsible for how we represent our groups whether it's a Mom's club or a racial group.
If this were true, there would be no need for stereotypes. We could all simply observe and learn and that would be that. So what then are the purposes of all these negative stereotypes perpetuated by whites and natives against non-whites and non-natives? Are there any at all beyond simple hatred?
If this were true, there would be no need for stereotypes. We could all simply observe and learn and that would be that. So what then are the purposes of all these negative stereotypes perpetuated by whites and natives against non-whites and non-natives? Are there any at all beyond simple hatred?
Stereotypes aren't dreamed up out of thin air by people who hate. Rather I think the hate comes from observing something which the eye of the beholder views as negative. No stereotype is totally true and not all stereotypes are necessarily negative.
They are a result of observation of a common occurrence which is then wrongly applied to a whole group. The less of that group who conform to the stereotype the less the stereotype has accuracy.
For instance, the idea that whites and natives perpetuate negative stereotypes against non-whites and non-natives is a stereotype subscribed to by people who have observed a lot of this happening. Every time a child who is told this sees it happening the more he will believe that it is true of all.
Stereotypes are neither needed or not needed. They are just generally observed traits. When the traits disappear the stereotype no longer applies.
So blacks should simply stop eating fried chicken and watermelon? I'm afraid you're not able to face up to the actual problem here.
Strangely enough, when I go into grocery stores, I won't buy watermelon. I will eat, but then, I have always assumed that everyone eats watermelon, which is true. However, Blacks get stereotyped for eating watermelon. For that reason, yes, I will eat watermelon. That note, I won't buy it, nor will I eat it outside of my house.
The stereotypes of blacks craving fried chicken and watermelon were advanced by unabashed RACISTS for purposes of denigrating any person with a single drop of black blood in his veins. These were and still are venal and ignorant people. It is with THEM that the problems lie.
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