Stereotypical
America is the place where we have the liberty to do and or be whatever we please, or do we? We live in one of the most diverse generations of our times. Where compared to back then, we are all equal. America is a place of the free. A place of equality. The land of the opportunity. False.
America is stereotypical.
America has become the land where people think stereotypes are okay. Where it's okay to judge someone based off their appearance because another person has same ethnicity, or religion, that may obtain the same ''typical'' characteristics. The most attacked races by stereotypes are Hispanics and African Americans. The most attacked religion are the Muslims. Todays society has a cruel sense of humor, but most people don't find a problem with it. The thing is, stereotypes were created with the intentions of just being jokes, but they have obviously been taken too far.
African Americans one of the most racist lists of stereotypes. The thought of a black person living in the hood with no job and a drug addiction is what first comes to mind for many people when asked, ''what's the typical black person?'' Black children are also attacked deeply, where as it's common for them to grow up without knowing who their father is. The website kickstarter.com launched a game with the purpose of bringing people together so they can see that stereotyping black people is wrong, but the game just makes it look more acceptable. The link below will lead you to an article explaining how and why to play the game. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/horridcohort/stereotyping-black-people-0
Birmingham Children's Crusade
1963
In the years of 1950s through mid 1960s, America was going through one of it's most segregated eras. Everything was separated; from restrooms to restaurants, to just drinking fountains on the street. African American Stereotypes state that black people can't do anything. That little black children grow up with no future, nor cause. The Birmingham Children's Crusade states otherwise. On May 2nd, of 1963; kids from all over Alabama walked out of their classes and marched over to Birmingham, Ab. It was meant to be a peaceful protest, but on the first day of this movement: hundreds of kids were arrested. There was so many of them that the county jail had to start bringing school buses. The children had been warned, that it may not be a pretty sight. That they might get hurt in the process. But they did not care, because they wanted to fight for what they deserved. Most of their families had already been involved in events for the civil rights movement, such as: other protests, church related talks, speeches, and such. The kids weren't allowed to take part in them for fear that they might get hurt. They too had had enough. The children's crusade, led by James Bevel, took place because they wanted to talk to Birmingham's mayor, to speak about how badly segregation has gotten in their city. However, the response they were looking for was not granted. Police cars started showing up, and eventually firetrucks with their powerful hoses.
As the kids were arrested, many of them were frightened. But they kept fighting. As the days went on, more and more kids started showing up to Alabama. Many of them fearless, just wanting to fight for what they wanted.
This proves, that stereotypes have attacked one of the most powerful races. That African Americans led one of the biggest movements in American history. ''Black children don't know have no future.'' ''Black children don't know anything about politics.'' Black children changed the civil rights movement. As more children continued to show up nonstop, local officials agreed to meet with civil rights leaders with a plan to end protests and do something about segregation. Eventually all children were released back to their homes, but they will never forget their huge roles in the civil rights movement.
Hispanics
The next race that is also deeply attacked, are hispanics. When you think of a Hispanic, you instantly think of a dark fat Mexican named Juan that sells tacos around the corner. As a Hispanic myself, my family and I experience these stereotypes almost daily. The most common stereotype I receive is ''are you illegal?'', then whomever is asking proceeds to laugh and then say ''but seriously, are you?'' It may seem as a joke to others, but I find no laughter whatsoever.
The woman you see above is my beautiful mother. When she was just 18 years old(1986), she crossed the border from Mexico into The United States of America. She jumped the fence, and ran as fast as she could. In 1988, the S. 2141 bill was passed by Congress. It was made to amend the immigration and nationality act to change the level, and preference system for admission, of immigrants to the United States, and to provide for administrative naturalization. Thanks to this bill, she became legal and no longer had to live in fear of being deported. She came here for a better life, and when I tell people that story; they instantly ask ''are you illegal too?'' Now, because my mother was ''illegal'' a long time ago, everyone quickly just assumes that i'm not either.
Almost every other hispanic teenager with non-american parents goes through the same thing. Because we have accents, because we have dark skin, because we have names like Juan or Maria: that must mean we're illegal right? Or that we have 15 brothers and sisters and that we all have a cousin that's a gardener right?
My family and I broke those stereotypes. No, I did not jump the border to get here. I was born here, as well as my father and my only sister. My sister and I speak perfect English. Due to the many times I've been asked if I was illegal, I learned to hide my accent. My parents English isn't bad either. Yes, we do have a big extended family, and we are proud of that. No one in my family is a gardener, nor is anybody part of a gang. An article from 2009 showed that about 97% latino males were not infiltrated in any gang activity. http://www.hispanictrending.net/2009/03/gangster-stereotyping-endangers-latinos.html
As our lovely president states, Mexicans are mostly criminals. Not only does he believe that but he's got his trump supporters thinking that too. More information on that statement https://www.bustle.com/articles/98985-5-utterly-false-stereotypes-about-mexican-immigration-hey-donald-trump-listen-up (#3), he also states that we are lazy and never do anything for ourselves.
The Chicano Movement
The Chicano Movement, also known as the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement. Began in 1967 and did not end until the mid 1970s. It was not only a political movement, but also a cultural movement for Mexican-Americans, as well. Just like the African American Civil Rights movement, we fought for the rights that we did not have. We fought for the injustices' that we were suffering. Long and hard did we fight.
The word Chicano means Mexican Americans born and in America. The Chicano Movement had 3 main goals, which were: restoral of land, rights for farmworkers, and educational reform. The working conditions were terrible, since farmers were out in the sun all day and barely making enough for what they earned. The cChicano Movement endured of a series of protests, young Mexican-Americans came out and fought for the rights we deserved.
Thankfully, Hispanics won two major legal victories. The first—Mendez v. Westminster Supreme Court—a 1947 case that prohibiting Latino school kids to be segregated from white children, since we too went through segregation at this time. The second was the Fourteenth Amendment, which guaranteed equal protection to all racial groups, not just blacks and whites.
This movement proved that we don't just come into the country and expect to be served. Not all of us are lazy criminals infiltrated in a gang. Not all of us have dark skin nor intend on selling tacos as our careers. We, our parents, came to this country to triumph. Stereotypes wanna challenge us? Then so be it.
Muslim Ban 2016
Now this stereotype isn't about a race, it's a religion. Muslims. The Islamic faith has been around since the 7th century. This event takes place in the present, and may possibly even take place in the future.
The most common stereotypes for muslims are that they are terrorists. Everywhere a muslim goes, they get stares. Not only is this on the internet but I too have seen it myself. At airports they get checked extra for their baggage and clothing they wear. This has to do with our dear president as well.
President Donald Trump wants to plan massive deportations for Muslims, calling it the Muslim Ban. He has made terrible accusations of them saying they are all terrorists and need to go back to their country. As well as banning anyone coming from Syria. These stereotypes have caused this man to believe that all muslims, or anyone from the islamic faith for that matter, are terrorists that have no soul.
Ilyasah Shabazz. An activist, motivational speaker, and also the daughter of the influential Muslim American leader: Malcom X. She manages an exclusive youth empowerment program to mentor students throughout the country, and she participates in international humanitarian delegations. Her goal is to “empower future generations through understanding the world’s diverse cultures and historic civilizations.” She is one of the most influential Muslim women in America.
America is the land of the free, right? ''Freedom of liberty'',''Right to live.'' But Muslims are being taken away these rights because of what they believe in. A persons beliefs can be one of the most important things in their life. So being sent away because you have faith in something, is the worst feeling in the entire world. Stereotypes can be stopped. But only if we all try to avoid them.