Personal Narrative-Racial Stereotypes

There were so many different nationalities that made of the school is was like a miniature melting pot, and this allowed me to see things about not only my culture but others as well that I have never seen before. For instance too often, "racism" is seen as a social phenomenon that happens to black people, but it happens through black people as well. That is, the negative affiliations hurled upon black people and black culture that paint how we perceive EACH other. Blacks & whites receive the same anecdotes & images that perpetuate common stereotypes of black criminality & flippancy while systematically synonymizing white culture with American values. Its to be expected for there to be an observable impact on black intragroup perceptions. Nevertheless,

worried that they may wonder why she was there or question why a white person would be at

When I was trying to find the makeup and looked for help I found the only African-American sales person was a male, so I did not approach him for assistance with makeup. The only customers I spotted were European-American and Hispanics. While checking out the cashier I had was African-American and when I explained the assignment to her the response I received was good luck with that. I asked her about finding the items and she looked at me smiling and said probably won’t find that stuff in this store.

I once went with my family to an accessory shop where the cashier was a white woman. As we were checking out the items, she told

Sometimes I find myself encountering a situation with people of other races and having preconceptions of how they will behave. I often buy into the stereotypes portrayed by the media. I remember watching an episode of the show What Would You Do which tested how the public responded to two people of different races doing the same thing: trying to steal a bike. The majority of people that passed by were more suspicious when the African American man was attempting to take the bicycle. On the other hand, only a couple of people stopped the caucasian male. Subconsciously, I know that I would probably react in the same manner as the first group. I know that I am not as open-minded as I should be with other races, but I am slowly becoming more accepting of others. Over the last four years of my high school experience, I have met wonderful people from other

On research day I attended a local restaurant called Cracker Barrel. When I walked in I observed the place and automatically noticed a person of color at the hostess stand. As she escorted us to our table I looked around to observe all of the waitresses on their attitudes towards the customers. I walked around the store and to the bathroom and that is when I noticed most of the waitresses were not of color. The managers were as well not of color and neither was the cashier, which was really shocking to me because in most establishments there are people of color working the cash register. I personally know

There was an old “CRT” TV, like the type that had littered the shelves of my brother’s pawn shop, hitched up against the corner of the convenience store I had just walked into. Although the image was blurry, I recognized immediately what was showing. I placed the hood of my sweatshirt over my head and walked in, my hands stuffed in the two pockets on either side of the sweatshirt. I cursed the fact that the sweatshirt had the words “Donovan’s Fight Club” in big, decorative cursive letters on the back, embroidered by the lady down the street from the club. I grabbed the milk I had come in for and scooped up a bag of Skittles for Margie. Then I walked up to the counter, pulling out a wad of bills from my back pocket. The attendant, much to my

When I walk into the store usually sales associates are very friendly and always trying to help me out. I’ve noticed white people don't get the same attention, I’ve worked in Macy’s in Towson mall and seen it from my own eyes.

My family was one of the few white families around. This made the struggle to survive the neighborhood even harder than it was for others. It was a reverse racism--I was teased because I am white. Still, it did not make me prejudiced at all. My godmother was black and most of my friends were black. I used to beg my godmother, Deanna, to put my hair in corn rolls, tiny braids with beads on the end. It would take hours and was very painful, but I took the pain in order to fit in.

Ironically, even though my generation tends to be more liberal that certainly has not been the case for my friends. Specifically, my male friends tend to fit every “redneck” stereotype and are hard core republicans. Coming from a small school, I was stuck with them regardless of if I liked it a lot. Surprising, I grew to love it and look it as another opportunity. I tend to be very outspoken with people I feel comfortable around. Because of this my friends are sure to know where I stand on issues. Being the only direct and vocal democrat in our friend group set me for endless debates, name-calling, and even an occasional agreement. The debates I had with my friend were often long and aggressive, especially when I tend to be the lone wolf in

prejudice, no matter how much he or she may try to avoid being racist. One cannot become completely divorced from his culture and therefore should try and be as aware of it as possible.

To the people in markets, just because I look Mexican please don’t assume I can speak Spanish because trust me I will disappoint you. A long time ago I had a pretty awkward encounter with an old man at seven-eleven. If I’m being completely honest this was about a month ago. Well for starters, it was a

Sometimes I want to go inside, but I do not because I know the reactions of the employees once I set inside.There has been times where I walked into a store and was not greeted at the door, but the next person which was white person was. It would be proper to greet someone as he or she enters the store. Not being asked “ do you need any help?” or greeted by at least employee makes me feel unwelcome in a store. Many times I am glanced by them, but apparently I’m not worth their time and effort because I am a minority. I am astounded by the fact that these workers stay silent as they see me in the store. These workers feel as that it is a waste of time to ask me because they think I cannot afford anything sold in there. When this happens, I simply walk back out or I decide to stay, but to just not spend my money in there since I am not welcomed. However, there are times when I need to buy something and the workers do a 360 and their attitudes completely change towards

In line at Toy Warehouse, White women will often display there impatience at having to wait in line by rolling their eyes at other White people trying to see a sign of recognition that he service they were receiving was inferior because most of the cashiers were African-American women. Another example of White privilege was when an African-American manager was training Williams and customers were getting irritated. They elbowed themselves up to the counter and told Williams to call someone else up to the register. When Williams told them that she was the one being trained, the women seemed embarrassed by their presumption. Male privilege was also a problem. At Diamond Toys when men would come into the store to shop, they expected everyone to help them at the drop of a hat. One man got angry because they could not find the upc code for a Barney sippy cup and made Williams call the store director and he told both of them what he thought of store operations. He then threatened to write up a critique and submit it to a business journal for publication unless they sold him the sippy cup. Other men did things that they were told not to, like use the phone and others still would bring in lists and expect the workers to go get the toys for him like at Toy Warehouse.

I have no doubt in my mind I contain a small bias against people of different ethnic backgrounds. This is something that I am trying very hard not to obtain but just like Allan G. Johnson mentioned in Power, Privilege, and the Difference, we are ultimately scared of the unknown, and because the unknown scares us, we form a bias against them in order for us to explain a reason that we are scared.