Stereotypes; the inevitable perpetuation of discrimination

Stereotypes are talked about a lot in the media. Let’s face it; there all around us. We face stereotypes on the bus on the way to school or work, we face stereotypes when applying for a job, or simply walking down the streets. And more often than not, we face so many stereotypes, that not only do we believe them whole heartedly, we help to make them a reality.

Imagine walking home from work  at around nine o’clock in the evening on a long, very quiet back road. The street lights are on and you are reflecting on the stresses at work or that boss that got on your nerves today. All of the sudden you look about thirty meters in front of you and you see three young men. They are winter jackets and baggy jeans. As you begin to closely look at these three males, their jovial, bouncy way of walking, their rough and jagged looking apparel and their strong and abrupt voices in the silence of the night; you begin to create an escape plan. Just in case, you start to think about all of your personal belongings and what you should do should these rowdy gangsters decide to turn their attention you poor defenseless you. You begin to think about how hopeless you would be if the decided to rob you. And without even thinking, you cross the road and walk on the other side. ‘just in case’.  Are you a racist? Was that discriminatory or prejudice? Did you prejudge someone because of the way they looked? Or were you just making sure that you didn’t get robbed. After all you have a phone, $35.00, and iPod and that watch your mother gave you last Christmas. The last thing you want to do is risk it by walking past the crowd of potential killers.

I can speak so vividly about these types of things because all my life I’ve been that black guy down the street. A six foot five inch young man in a winter jacket ready at any time to leap out of my reserved manner and rob you for all you’re worth.  I’ve had to watch countless people walk to the other side of the road, follow me into isles in the supermarket asking ‘can I help you?’ in a concerned but obviously pre-conceived way. And if I had anything to say to all these people who were instinctively racist and discriminate, I would say; Hi, my name is Jordon.