Negative Racial Stereotypes and Their Effect on Latinos and African Americans
Introduction
Negative gender, ethnic, and racial stereotypes have been in existent since time immemorial. Stereotypes are mostly cognitive structures that are often created from a grain of truth after which they get distorted beyond reality depending on the perceiver’s beliefs, expectations, and knowledge about particular groups. As explained by Staples and Cofer, racial and ethnic stereotypes are constructed expectations that people from a particular race are likely to share particular characteristics which are often negative. The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria by Judith Ortiz Cofer and Black Men in Public Spaces by Brent Staples have both explored the themes of stereotyping and racism based on aspects of gender and ethnicity. Although the practice of ethnic and racial stereotypes started centuries ago, such views are still persistent in the modern-day society. As Staples and Cofer explain, racial stereotyping causes Latin women and African Americans to be considered of diminished ability and competency compared to the whites. Racial stereotyping exemplifies the tendencies of people to hypothesize and view particular phenotypic elements differently due to influences of personal experience, history, and media which often results in negative attributes characterized by bias, discrimination, and prejudice against the racial categories.
Negative Racial Stereotypes and Their Effect on Latinos and African Americans
Racial stereotyping is a phenomenon that prevents an individual from understanding another person from truthful grounds. Stereotypes are generalizations that are often influenced by aspects of past experiences, history, media, or friends. The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria by Judith Ortiz Cofer and Black Men in Public Spaces by Brent Staples provide succinct illustrations of their experiences that shows that stereotyping is a dominant aspect of the American society which are mostly based on gender, ethnicity, and appearances. Cofer and Staples provide a philosophical reflection on ethnic stereotypes through their insights. The assumption by Plous, Scott, and Tyrone Williams (800) that stereotypes are often promoted by historical experiences and media is still applicant today and has been verified by Cofer (3) and Staples (2) through their personal experiences and encounters with Americans. Through these experiences, both Staples and Cofer feels that they have been judged and represented from a false perspective. For instance, although Staples (2) explains that he is a soft boy who hardly throws fists, he has been misjudged for a burglar and a harmful man. In the same manner, racial stereotypes caused Cofer to get assumed for a waitress and a “Maria” or “Evita” on several occasions. As such, this is evident that racial stereotyping creates a negative perception that prevents one from viewing another from a positive perspective.
Racial categorization is a reflection of the process of dividing individuals into distinct groups based on physical features. Plous, Scott, and Tyrone Williams (800) explains, stereotyping of the black community started during the 18th and 19th century which led to the belief that Africans are incompetent and mentally incapacitated. They were grouped under the classification of advanced species of evolved humans owing to the physical features. According to 2019, this group has a thick cranium, thick lips that are protruding, and short black hair, characteristics that caused them to get considered less intelligent and are most suited for difficult tasks such as slavery. These assumptions trickled down to the current society and got evidenced by Staples in that he was mostly associated with the physical, moral, and mental stereotypes associated with the group African American that caused people to run away from him for fear of getting hurt. Cofer (4) explains how she had to overcome racial stereotypes owing to the racial categorization of Latin women as individuals who lack skills and education. As such, they are considered as best homemakers, waitresses, or criminals owing to their colour, language, and accent. This racial categorization based on phenotypic features tends to influence individual feelings and thoughts in a manner that results in bias and prejudice towards the racial categories.
The development of racial categories and stereotypes leads to the development of negative attitudes that are often characterized by discrimination, prejudice, and bias. Negative attitude exhibited towards individuals in this group results in the development of self-esteem, harm, and confidence issues that causes them to suffer from diminished opportunities in the society. Cofer (3) explains that although she was lucky to afford decent education, the Latin women who lack the desired degree of fluency in English language and competency in other essential aspects of life are often required to suffer the consequences of stereotypes which requires them to become “whores” housekeepers, waitresses, or criminals. As Staples explains, racial categorization of black Africans has caused the group to get associated with a negative attitude owing to their physical attributes. Research by Plous, Scott, and Tyrone Williams (806) shows that most people believe that the difference inherent between black and whites in their characteristics are innate rather than learned. This assumption caused him to be viewed from the perspective of a burglar although he was a qualified and certified professor (Staples 5). However, racial categorization created the need to classify him according to his physical features as a violent man rather than an intelligent individual with the ability to protect, educate, and enlighten rather than cause harm.
Conclusion
Racial stereotyping exemplifies the tendencies of people to hypothesize and view particular phenotypic elements differently due to influences of personal experience, history, and media which often results in negative attributes characterized by bias, discrimination, and prejudice against the racial categories. Cofer and Staples have experienced the effects of racial stereotyping which has caused them to get misjudged and categorized based on their phenotypic attributes. Staples explains how he was judged as a violent man while he is a soft and educated man who creates a positive impact on society. Cofer also explains how she was misjudged on several occasions due to her dress code and accent that caused her to be viewed as a waitress or a “Maria.” However, these racial stereotypes are a false representation of individuals owing to beliefs and expectations influenced by history, media, or the society towards them. Despite the struggles associated with racial stereotypes, both Staples and Cofer have made attempts to reduce the prejudice and stereotypes by educating the public based on their individual experiences.
Works Cited
Cofer, Judith Ortiz. The myth of the Latin woman: I just met a girl named Maria. na, 1995.
Staples, Brent. “Black men and public space.” Harper’s Magazine 273 (1986): 19-20.
Plous, Scott, and Tyrone Williams. “Racial Stereotypes from the Days of American Slavery: A Continuing Legacy 1.” Journal of Applied Social Psychology 25.9 (1995): 795-817.