Both my life experiences and the course have combined to provide me with, I believe, a better understanding of the many ways in which racism exists for me as a black male. I have come to realize that stereotyping occurs in distinctly different forms; more exactly, in my personal life and interactions, I encounter virtually no discrimination that I may perceive but, in distanced contacts or in interactions with strangers, there are times when I believe assumptions are made about me. These assumptions are subtle and may be only my perceptions. At the same time, and especially in public space, I believe this is the reality. If there is anything I have come to accept, in fact, it is that degrees of racism, or stereotyping in general, are virtually woven in the fabric of society, and are so ingrained, many people, including myself, are not even aware that we are basing ideas about people only because of preconceived expectations. As a black man, I feel this, yet I also believe that women, the elderly, other ethnic groups, and all marginalized people encounter the same, varying kinds of stereotyping.
In reviewing my journal accounts, the mentioned duality of experience stands out for me. On several occasions, I recorded personal, social contacts and struggled to define how those involved, well known to me, were exhibiting certain behaviors I felt were generated by their ideas of who I was as a black male. This was difficult to explain but, on reflection, I experienced a kind of “reverse racism”; for example, a newer friend seemed to be more interested in what I thought about a certain film we had seen because he seemed to think that, as a black man, I would know if the movie was discriminatory in any way. More exactly, he was trusting me to be an authority because of my race. Another experience related to a simple walk down the street. As happens with other black men I know, the person walking ahead of me quickened their pace after seeing me behind them. Of course, I cannot know if this was fear based on my color, but I believe it was.
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In considering the text, the incident of the person walking more quickly seems to reflect implicit bias based on circumstances. I was a stranger and a male, which already may be perceived as threatening in a public space. However, it seems the deciding factor was my race. Media in all forms perpetuates racial stereotypes, which fuel implicit bias (Blaine, 2017, p. 71). I myself have seen reports and programs in which white characters assert that, although they do not wish to be racist, it is better to be “safe” in such situations. What such thinking fails to recognize is that this is discrimination or racism as powerful as any other form. As to the friend and the film, that incident suggests stigma consciousness: “Positive, well-intentioned actions toward stigmatized people tend to reflect stereotypic ideas” (Blaine, p.227). Simply, my friend was patronizing me without being aware of it, as a way of compensating for possibilities of stereotyping in himself.
During the class, I would have to say that I experienced a significant range of emotions, and the initial one was related to a moderate anger. There was, and is, a part of me that refuses to accept that we even must study discrimination and stereotyping today, given the lengthy history of these qualities as so consistently being negative. My minimal anger, however, changed as I became more aware of my own biases. This in turn created a feeling of sadness, and one that remains with me. I am inclined to think that perhaps stereotyping is so ingrained in us as social human beings, discrimination and racism will always exist to varying degrees. I may resent being stereotyped but I am also responsible for any bias I hold, and I fear that making assumptions about others who are “different” may be just too convenient, for people to ever evolve away from the practices.
Then, I have essentially learned nothing about others that I have not learned about myself. If it is easy for a black man to be aware of being stereotyped, this is a reality faced by virtually everyone in the society who is not white, male, heterosexual, and relatively young. I have certainly learned that different types and degree of bias is a part of most, if not all, others. I think, however, that the critical element here lies in understanding intent. Degree is extremely important; I may object to being patronized, but that at least reveals some motive to not be biased in a hostile way. I then more feel that our larger obligation when we consider others is to try and identify how they permit bias to exist in themselves.
If I have learned anything about myself, it is that I tend to have knee-jerk reactions, and/or expectations of encountering levels of discrimination, and either positive or negative. This relates to the further learning that, in a sense, being part of a marginalized community carries with it responsibilities beyond those who discriminate. We must look deeper, just as we must be the ones dealing with the effects of stereotyping. I have some resentment about this as well, but I try to take the broader view that those who carelessly act on bias deny themselves a great deal of the human experience.
In conclusion, I am most aware that, no matter how we applaud diversity openly, real diversity is a difficult achievement at best, and for all of us. I intent to try to build on my awareness of stereotyping in myself and others, as I think we all should. More than this, any genuine acceptance of diversity translates to another acceptance: there will be no final “state of grace.” As human beings shaped by norms in the society, understanding others for why they are, and beyond what they appear to be, is the course we must take as a society and as individuals.
- Blaine, B. E. (2017). Understanding the Psychology of Diversity (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.
