Stereotypes

Every day we naturally evaluate other people. Stereotypes: widely held but fixed are oversimplified images or ideas of a particular type of person or thing. These stereotypes can be constructed by beliefs that all members of certain races share certain types of characteristics. Being African American, there are many racial stereotypes that I come across. The following Two situations are examples of how I felt that I was being racially stereotyped. One in particular, is when my teacher made a comment to me about the refund I was receiving for a trip and another about giving me her cell phone number in case of emergencies at the trip. My teacher was giving me a refund for a trip that I went on and she asked me if I was I going to give the money to my mother. She never asked anyone else and I felt targeted because I was the only African American going on the trip and I was the only one asked this question. The second comment that was made to me by the same teacher about her giving all the students that were going on the trip her cell phone number so we can know where she was when we needed her on the trip. Once again only said to me, not to give her cell phone number out to anyone because I know “some bad kids”. I don’t feel as if it is was intentional but then it makes me think: Does she feel as if I am irresponsible and a thief because of the color of my skin? Does she feel that all African Americans are untrustworthy? As an African American female, I feel as if I shouldn’t be stereotyped because of what other members of my race decide to do. I am a black INDEPENDENT developing young woman who is very trustworthy, responsible and will never take something that doesn’t belong to me.