Chapter I Verse VI - Generalize-nation
Well a lot of Bahamians enjoy generalization. 3That sentence is one example. But how much does it affect us? How much do we really believe that the people around us do things because they are black, white, fat, rich, female, stupid? What are some of the most basic assumptions we make in this country?
White skin = rich or at least got more money than most, has a superiority complex
Dreadlocks, corn rows = smokes weed, rebellious
Tight/revealing clothes = has sex a lot, vain
Dressed in a suit = not dangerous, good job
Male of Haitian descent = landscape engineer, violent
Black = was born with rhythm, is better suited to crime than other races
Young = has no good ideas, wants to destroy the country
How often are these assumptions really true? How often do we pre-judge people so much that we see what we want to see and miss the chance to learn something from someone different? A lot of the time we might learn that we are not that different from each other. Yes, a lot of the assumptions we make about people are based on experience but we have to consider things carefully.
Marion Jones lied about steroid use. That makes her a liar. She is also black, American and a woman. Does that mean that black American women lie? Yes. Does that mean that all black American women lie? No. Does that mean that some liars are black American women? Yes. Bottom line: If you are trying to figure out if someone is lying to you, it is not very useful to know whether they are a black, American or a woman. This is true of nearly all our assumptions.
We see some movies with Asian people fighting and suddenly everyone from the east is a deadly ninja. How many Asian people have we really studied? How many of them have ever done even one fighting pose? There are more than 1 billion people in China alone. So even if you have met one million Chinese people you have still met less than .1%. Do you really want to make assumptions about 1 billion people based on less than .1% of the population? How would people judge The Bahamas if they picked the most famous .1%?
We also define each other in strange ways. People are considered successful based on how much money they have instead of how happy they are, they are black because of the music they listen to instead of their skin colour and smart based on the clothes they wear instead of their ability to achieve goals.
The thing is, that method is just not efficient, it paints a false picture. So while it’s okay to say that you have seen differences between black and white people when they dance, it’s not okay to assume that the person you just met can or can’t dance because of their skin colour. Why not ask them if they can? Better yet, why not ask them if they like to dance?
- Dsus Pays
White skin = rich or at least got more money than most, has a superiority complex
Dreadlocks, corn rows = smokes weed, rebellious
Tight/revealing clothes = has sex a lot, vain
Dressed in a suit = not dangerous, good job
Male of Haitian descent = landscape engineer, violent
Black = was born with rhythm, is better suited to crime than other races
Young = has no good ideas, wants to destroy the country
How often are these assumptions really true? How often do we pre-judge people so much that we see what we want to see and miss the chance to learn something from someone different? A lot of the time we might learn that we are not that different from each other. Yes, a lot of the assumptions we make about people are based on experience but we have to consider things carefully.
Marion Jones lied about steroid use. That makes her a liar. She is also black, American and a woman. Does that mean that black American women lie? Yes. Does that mean that all black American women lie? No. Does that mean that some liars are black American women? Yes. Bottom line: If you are trying to figure out if someone is lying to you, it is not very useful to know whether they are a black, American or a woman. This is true of nearly all our assumptions.
We see some movies with Asian people fighting and suddenly everyone from the east is a deadly ninja. How many Asian people have we really studied? How many of them have ever done even one fighting pose? There are more than 1 billion people in China alone. So even if you have met one million Chinese people you have still met less than .1%. Do you really want to make assumptions about 1 billion people based on less than .1% of the population? How would people judge The Bahamas if they picked the most famous .1%?
We also define each other in strange ways. People are considered successful based on how much money they have instead of how happy they are, they are black because of the music they listen to instead of their skin colour and smart based on the clothes they wear instead of their ability to achieve goals.
The thing is, that method is just not efficient, it paints a false picture. So while it’s okay to say that you have seen differences between black and white people when they dance, it’s not okay to assume that the person you just met can or can’t dance because of their skin colour. Why not ask them if they can? Better yet, why not ask them if they like to dance?
- Dsus Pays
Labels: assumptions, Bahamas, generalizing, judging, Nassau, New Providence
posted by Dsus at
3:00 AM
4 Comments:
perception is a funny thing bro. I guess it's easier to assume and stay away than to find out and help. That takes being close and taking on each others feelings and souls.............................Satyagraha bro...........(tips hat)
Perception is what it boils down to... the way we perceive each other as well as our own selves... far too many times we often strike out at others for the lack of our very own self esteem. We see someone else happy or content and rather than finding ways to make our own selves happy or content we find our happiness in causing miscontent in others.
give thanks bredren.. bout time ya;ll got off ya'lll asses...
blu
Personally i think alot of the basic perceptions are dying, but maybe its just the people around me...the fact that ppl tend to hang around others just like them only adds to their false perception and stereotypes about others. If everyone actually made an effort to get to kno ppl unlik themselves it wud def help.
P.S. (and the main reason i wanted to comment n e way) "Landscape engineer " hehe cute. Who calls their yardman that, haitian or bahamian
::Shanell not Chanel or Shanelle::
Lol I really like the examples of stereotypes that you used. White skin=got money, dreadlocks=smokes weed, revealing clothes=vain, suit=good job, Haitian male=violent, black=better suited to crime, young=wants to destroy the country.
I have no idea how many of those generalizations and assumptions are really true. As it happens though I've made my fair share of them and I'm very aware of it. I like to think that I do not allow it to determine my behavior towards others. I love getting to know people as individuals.
It's extremely dangerous to define people as such though. We all have red blood but it's not until we really need our brother or sister that any differences truly disappear.
Love unconditionally. It's a good rule.
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