As I grew up in Chicago, I would notice a theme amid a lot of black people. I had a lot of friends that wanted to fit the "black" way of life by wearing a certain type of clothing, playing basketball, and acting "ghetto".
My friend Jalen with a Doo-rag
Many of my black friends would carve designs in their hair, wear chains, always wear their hat backwards, and usually wear a backpack with either a superhero or a comedic character.
My friend Darvelle's designed hair
My friend Malcom's necklace, backward's hat, backpack, and tattoos.
My friend Prentice and his posse/gang in a graffiti filled alleyway
Dennis Rodman's crazy hair and tattoos
One time I was talking to my black friend Joseph who told me he hates being stereotyped like everyone else. Joseph was a very intelligent student and did not like the ways that blacks were stereotyped. Joe was not athletic and he never wore a chain in his life. Joe was an honor student and liked to play the saxophone in band. He got constantly teased for not being black enough and many people did not consider him part of their culture. While he lived in an average house, his brothers and sisters were very educated, and he just wanted to be treated like everyone else.
I believe that sometimes we stereotype black people as people who always like to play basketball, or people who dress differently, and look "ghetto". While a lot of black people may dress differently, or may play basketball it does not mean that all black people are like that. Some black people may have grown up in a different culture, but they are all individuals and can be whoever they want to be.
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I grew up in a very diverse area as well (Bay Area, CA) so I can relate to you on this. Although I came across many African American males who did certainly match this stereotype, there were many others who did not, and they had trouble being taken seriously. They said that most people were surprised if they were successful in school, didn't play basketball, or had no criminal record. I think it is sad that our society, and Provo especially, cannot break this stereotype of young black men.
ReplyDeleteI agree that when your a minority there are almost expectations you feel you should meet, many people assume I'm amazing at soccer because I'm Hispanic but I kinda suck at soccer.
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your post. It's interesting that stereotypes and single stories are not only perpetuated from the outside, but can be reinforced from the inside as well. If you appear to fit into a certain category or stereotype, you'll probably receive pressure to conform yourself more into that stereotype so that you will fit in. Rather, we should be accepting of everyone for who they are and not require them to conform to a certain social group.
ReplyDeleteThere is just too much of a generalization of black guys. i know guys who balled but were smart or dressed different. I also know guys who couldn't touch the net but they love to dress like you might expect a ball player to. We see only so many dimensions in media or in Utah culture. That also puts pressure on black guys to fit in to some degree whether they are in a more black community or one where they stick out and feel the need for that identity.
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