What Are Racial Stereotypes?

Racial stereotypes are automatic and exaggerated mental pictures that we hold about all members of a particular racial group. When we stereotype people based on race, we don’t take into account individual differences. Because our racial stereotypes are so rigid, we tend to ignore or discard any information that is not consistent with the stereotype that we have developed about the racial group.

How Do We Develop Racial Stereotypes?

We develop our racial stereotypes in a variety of ways. On a very simplistic level, it’s human nature to categorize people. It’s our way of making a complex world simpler. From an early age, we learn to place people and objects into categories. However, when we’re very young, we tend to put less of an emphasis on attributing values to these categories. As we grow older and are influenced by parents, peers, and the media, our tendency to label different racial groups as superior/good or inferior/bad increases significantly. Additionally, the less contact we have with a particular racial group, the more likely we will have negative feelings about the group. Also, any negative experiences that we have with a member of a particular group will strengthen our racial stereotypes and create fears about particular races. Based on our fears, we then develop an us-versus-them mentality that tends to be self-protective in nature. As a result, we miss opportunities to learn and thrive from our differences.

Are Our Racial Stereotypes Harmful?

Some people might say, “There’s no harm in having racial stereotypes or making racial/ethnic jokes based on stereotypes. People these days are so politically correct and should just loosen up. Anyway, there’s always a kernel of truth in every stereotype.” In some instances, all of the above might be true. However, in most cases, racial stereotypes are harmful because they ignore the full humanity and uniqueness of all people. When our perceptions of different races are distorted and stereotypical, it’s demeaning, devaluing, limiting, and hurtful to others. In some cases, people who are repeatedly labeled in negative ways will begin to develop feelings of inferiority. Some times, these feelings of inferiority can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies that perpetuate the stereotype. Racial stereotypes can also foster feelings of hate and aggression that might lead to a false sense of entitlement and superiority. For those individuals who have power, this can lead to their engaging in discriminatory and racist practices.

How Do We Overcome Our Racial Stereotypes?

Because of their harmful effects, we should make a real commitment to try to overcome our racial stereotypes. This can be achieved by first acknowledging that we’re human and that we do harbor racial stereotypes. Next, we should work to become more aware of our inner thoughts and feelings and how they affect our beliefs and actions. When we have a stereotypical thought about a racial group, we should follow it up with an alternative thought based on factual information that discounts the stereotype. We can obtain this factual information by leaving our comfort zones and exposing ourselves to people of different races. Also, we should be willing to engage in honest dialogue with others about race that at times might be difficult, risky, and uncomfortable. We should also seek out media portrayals of different races that are realistic and positive. Attending churches, plays, concerts, and movies that celebrate diversity will also broaden our worldviews.

As we gain more awareness and knowledge about racial groups, not only will our racial stereotypes lessen, but we will also become better equipped to educate and challenge others about their racial stereotypes. As we change ourselves, we can elicit changes in others through our examples and the quality of our conversations. In doing this, we work to create a society in which all races are valued, appreciated, and embraced.

Are YOU Prejudiced?

prej·u·dice

1. an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
2. any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable.
3. unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, especially of a hostile nature, regarding a racial, religious, or national group.
4. such attitudes considered collectively: The war against prejudice is never-ending.
5. damage or injury; detriment: a law that operated to the prejudice of the majority.

You are most likely prejudiced if...

...you think someone is incompetent or dumb, if they have a thick accent (regional or foreign)
...you assume a woman or minority in a position of power, usually reserved for white men got it through affirmative action... not their own merits.
...you feel competitive with people of other ethnic or racial backgrounds.
...you find yourself in a neighborhood that mostly has people of a different race, and feel nervous.
...you look down on people who date outside their race or ethnic group... or date people of the same gender.
...you assume that racial / cultural stereotypes are almost always true. That's how they become stereotypes.
...you believe that some ethnicities and cultures are inferior to others.
...you pretend to be accepting, tolerant and open-minded in public but, behind closed doors (or online) you reveal what you really think.

This is a good start at overcoming rampant ignorance and prejudice.
http://queergiftedblack.tumblr.com/post/25413962820/100-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-africa

kingston277: This is a good start at overcoming rampant ignorance and prejudice.
http://queergiftedblack.tumblr.com/post/25413962820/100-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-africa

Agreed!

Sheenor:

It's not easy moving out of your comfort zone!

I think the best way to overcome racial prejudice is to assume the position that people are not prejudicing you, basically giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, and assuming the best of their intentions. Because if you constantly worry about what people's perceptions of who you are and whether they're prejudicing you, you might fall into the trap of starting to believe that what they're thinking is true.. so try to treat everyone the same. Accept that there might be a few prejudicial, racist people, but do not assume the worst. Rather assume the best, and the energy you portray will reflect back to you. People will like your positivity more, and you avoid prejudicing people as being prejudiced

Racism cannot be eradicated. I Hate brown people

what

.

Good information served hot at the right time, i have seen reasons i missed nairaland when it was hacked.

God bless u nairaland!!

One of the 'Nigerian' stereotypes I have not yet understood is the one against the Igalas. I once had this very nice igala co-worker, we made quite a good team. However, everybody kept warning me to be careful and saying things like 'keep your distance o!', 'try not to offend him o!' 'always annoint yourself (and your seat) with holy oil' blablabla.... It was very annoying

This is technically simplistically hard to grasp. And what's de relevant of de topic to a born again christian?

Stereotype has done more harm than good,we tend to be more conscious if we learn that a person comes from certain tribe,or race. Funniest thing is that most people kind of behave like the way they are assumed. Eg,most people assume that anything bought in Alaba Int'l market is fake,or over priced,and if care not taken,you end up buying fake,what do we call that?..

Prejudice is a decease of the heart. It has no cure. No matter how much you try to get over it,it finds it way back.

Am Igbo, the stereotype that comes with being igbo is too much. Imagine stepping foot outside igbo and every other tribe hounding you. Once, they resulted to telling me "go back to your village, you pple would come here to steal and corrupt us". These are the same pple that think whites are racists

The best way to overcome stereotype is to ignore the people involved, ignore their ignorance and after a long while of ignoring them...they leave you alone and result to seeing you as a greater power

**in 2face voice**
for instance, say i b d 1 wey dey mak plans,.......

youngice: EXAMPLES OF STEREOTYPE IN NIGERIA
-ALL Igbos like money.....
-ALL Yorubas are dirty
-ALL Benin people are juju people
-ALL Calabar girls are promiscuous
-ALL Hausas have affinity towards boko-haram


HOW DO WE KNOW,WHY DO WE FIND IT SO EASY TO BELIEVE

..

Even someone who has never lived among these people will still believe it.

Imagine the Calabar babe one: I never seen a cheating married Calabar lady but have seen from some other supposedly "not promiscuous" tribes.

Or the Benin & Juju one: Never heard of a forest full of victims of human scarifice in Edo side.

nature will always have it place sequentially

Cannt Religion take this away, or Do the Churches/mosques preach HATE

zelda4u: I think the best way to overcome racial prejudice is to assume the position that people are not prejudicing you, basically giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, and assuming the best of their intentions. Because if you constantly worry about what people's perceptions of who you are and whether they're prejudicing you, you might fall into the trap of starting to believe that what they're thinking is true.. so try to treat everyone the same. Accept that there might be a few prejudicial, racist people, but do not assume the worst. Rather assume the best, and the energy you portray will reflect back to you. People will like your positivity more, and you avoid prejudicing people as being prejudiced

You have a point here. Hope all these racist here were wiped away with the older similar threads during the nairaland "time travel"

youngice: EXAMPLES OF STEREOTYPE IN NIGERIA
-ALL Igbos like money.....
-ALL Yorubas are dirty
-ALL Benin people are juju people
-ALL Calabar girls are promiscuous
-ALL Hausas have affinity towards boko-haram


HOW DO WE KNOW,WHY DO WE FIND IT SO EASY TO BELIEVE

a point here too! also the case of tagging ones ethnic identify to his person when addressing or calling the persons attention...

Racial stereotypes atimes look like sentiments & favouritism.

Yomieluv: Stereotype has done more harm than good,we tend to be more conscious if we learn that a person comes from certain tribe,or race. Funniest thing is that most people kind of behave like the way they are assumed. Eg,most people assume that anything bought in Alaba Int'l market is fake,or over priced,and if care not taken,you end up buying fake,what do we call that?..

Self-fulfilling prophesy

I am a stereotypist

hh