Don't Stereotype Me

African Americans are constantly stereotyped based on narratives from years ago. Why? 

A stereotype is a belief about a group of people that is misrepresented or over-exaggerated to the point that it becomes harmful. For centuries, African Americans have been stereotyped in ridiculous ways, from what they eat to how they talk. This made me question whether these stereotypes have any truth to them or if they just come from ignorance.

One of the most common stereotypes I hear is that all Black people eat fried chicken. The reaction when a Black person eats fried chicken is noticeably different from when anyone else does. People chuckle and laugh when an African American eats fried chicken but when someone else does it, it's normal.  This stereotype traces back to the 1915 silent film Birth Of a Nation, which portrayed the Ku Klux Klan as heroic and depicted Black people as uncivilized. In one infamous scene, a Black man is shown eating a fried chicken drumstick in an animalistic manner, not to suggest preference, but to reinforce the idea of inferiority. The roots of this stereotype go even deeper: during slavery, enslaved African Americans were often permitted to raise chickens because poultry was not considered valuable meat. They used every part of the animal out of necessity, not choice.

(Photograph: Washington Education)

Fried chicken is something you eat with your hands, and even though a lot of people love fried chicken, it is NOT just African Americans; people use this stereotype to portray incivility. While today it may be funny and often used as a joke, many African Americans are uncomfortable eating fried chicken in public places due to this untrue stereotype.

In 5th grade, a classmate asked me why I sounded “white.” This made me wonder what it meant to sound “black.” It really bothers me that people think African Americans are all supposed to sound alike or act alike, and when you don't fit that narrative, you're either not black enough or want to be “white.” This stereotype comes from the slavery era, when enslavers tried to justify having slaves by saying they had a low IQ.  This stereotype is extremely harmful because it makes African Americans feel they have to choose between staying true to themselves and being seen as smart. This stereotype makes people jump to conclusions if African Americans don't talk a certain way; if they don’t sound “white”, they are believed to be uneducated. 

My whole life, I saw shows and movies that portrayed African American women as aggressive and loud, including films created by African American men. But this isn't just a movie stereotype; this is something that many people believe about African American women. There are even black men today who say they won't date black women because of these stereotypes. I find that pretty weird, given that they most likely came from a black woman! In the 19th century, making fun of African Americans in comedy skits was very popular. They would have overweight white men in blackface portray black women as unfeminine. They portrayed black women as aggressive with men and communicating by screaming and fighting. In 1962, Malcolm X said that the most disrespected person is the black woman. I think that it's still true to this day. Michelle Obama has been called aggressive, loud, and too outspoken on numerous occasions by far right social media accounts, including by President Trump. 

(Photograph: @BET/Instagram)

The stereotype that African American men are all criminals has caused African American parents  to have to start having the “talk.” The talk where your parents tell you, when you're stopped by the police, to always keep your hand on the steering wheel, don't make any sudden movements, and don't talk back. Like the stereotype of African Americans being unintelligent, enslavers tried to justify treating African Americans horribly by calling them beasts, and after a while, they started linking black men to crime. Black men can't even wear a hoodie without being accused of doing something suspicious. Trayvon Martin was shot and killed on February 26th, 2012, for simply wearing a hoodie and having Skittles in his pocket. George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain, spotted the 17 year old Trayvon Martin walking in the neighborhood with a hoodie and immediately thought he was suspicious. He called 911 and when the dispatcher told him not to do anything he ignored it completely. Soon later Trayvon was shot and killed by a man who didn't even know him.  It took 6 weeks for the police to finally arrest him and he was never convicted of murder. His fear was fueled by his imagination of a black criminal, leading to the unjust killing of an innocent young man.

The percentage of black people who get stopped by the police compared to white people in 2024

These stereotypes have been perpetuated for centuries, causing significant damage to the African American community. Humanity scholar S.R. Toliver argues that “Representation is a powerful tool that can inspire communities and amplify the voices of marginalized groups across the globe.” When the media represents false stereotypes, it amplifies stereotypes. Just as powerful is good representation. Accurate representation matters because the media influences what people believe is real.